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The Top 10 Smart Home Ideas

  • mrnmcnair
  • Jul 9, 2024
  • 4 min read

Updated: Jul 19, 2024

Incorporating smart home technology can transform your living space into a more efficient, convenient, and enjoyable environment. From enhancing security to improving energy efficiency, smart home devices offer a plethora of benefits. Here are 10 of the top smart home ideas to elevate your home and lifestyle.


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1. Smart Thermostats of 10 Top Home Ideas

Energy Efficiency and Comfort

Smart thermostats, like the Ecobee SmartThermostat https://amzn.to/4brqZMD, the Honeywell Lyric T6 Thermostat https://amzn.to/3W8lFtl and the Nest Learning Thermostat https://amzn.to/3zsqPr1 allow you to control your home’s temperature remotely via your smartphone. These devices can also learn your schedule and preferences. This allows for optimizing heating and cooling to save energy and reduce utility bills.



Nest Learning Thermostat front display screen
Nest Learning Thermostat
Ecobee Smart Thermostat front display screen
Ecobee Smart Thermostat
Honeywell Lyric T6 Thermostat front screen display
Honeywell Lyric T6 Thermostat



2. Smart Lighting

Ambiance and Convenience

Smart lighting systems, such as Philips Hue https://amzn.to/45MuUT3 and LIFX https://amzn.to/3zqw76l, let you control the brightness and color of your lights with your voice or smartphone. You can set schedules, create scenes for different moods, and even sync your lights with music or movies for an immersive experience.



Philips Hue Starter Kit with two color and white Bulbs, Hub and Switch
Philips Hue Starter Kit
LIFX Smarter Light bundle with two color bulbs and one light strip
LIFX Smart Light bundle kit

3. Smart Security Systems

Peace of Mind

Invest in a smart security system like Ring https://amzn.to/4cLE3h4 or Arlo https://amzn.to/4ciFTWN to monitor your home from anywhere. You'll wonder how you ever got along without it. These systems typically include doorbell cameras or other mountable cameras that can be placed just about anywhere. They offer both wired or wireless choices. Motion detectors, and door/window sensors are also available that can send alerts to your phone if any unusual activity is detected. These systems are fully expandable to accommodate just about any situation. Some systems also offer professional monitoring services and there are other benafits like 24hr timeline recording that allow you to go back and view any past events if neccessary. They're very user friendly and if you're pretty handy you should have no problem installing them yourself.


Ring Doorbell Pro 2 camera front facing
Ring Doorbel Camera Pro 2



Arlo Essential Wireless Security Camera three pack set starter kit
Arlo Essential Wireless Security Camera


4. Smart Locks

Enhanced Security and Convenience

Smart locks, such as those from August https://amzn.to/3LaXu76, Schlage https://amzn.to/4cQzH8u or Yale https://amzn.to/4cJ0Ryt, allow you to lock and unlock your doors using your smartphone or voice commands. You can grant temporary access to guests, receive notifications when someone enters or exits, and even integrate them with your smart security system for added protection.




Yale Smart Lock with Keypad, Lock knob and Phone app displaying home screen
Yale Smart Lock
August Smart Lock and Phone App displaying home screen
August Smart Lock

Schlage Smart Lock with Keypad and standard Keyhole
Schlage Smart Lock


5. Smart Speakers and Voice Assistants

Control Center

Smart speakers like Amazon Echo https://amzn.to/3XRph3X, Google Nest Hub https://amzn.to/4cREpTp, and Apple HomePod https://amzn.to/4cLOhxS serve as the central control hub for your smart home devices. With built-in voice assistants (Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri), you can control your smart devices, play music, check the weather, and much more, all with simple voice commands.



Amazon Echo Smart Speaker displayed with light on
Amazon Echo Smart Speaker
Apple HomePod and HomePod Mini, yellow, displayed side by side
Apple HomePod

Google Nest Hub Speaker with power cord connected
Google Nest Hub Speaker





6. Smart Plugs

Control Any Device

Smart plugs, such as those from TP-Link https://amzn.to/4cQZzRC or Wemo https://amzn.to/45V3jz6, turn any standard appliance into a smart device. You can control them remotely, set schedules, and monitor energy usage. This is a great way to start automating your home without investing in entirely new appliances.


TP Link Tapo Mini Smart Wifi Plug four pack box set
TP Link Tapo Mini Smart Wifi Plug

One Wemo Smart Plug front facing
Wemo Smart Plug



7. Smart Home Hubs

Centralized Control

A smart home hub like The Samsung SmartThings https://amzn.to/4cwr2bd or Wink Smart Home Hub https://amzn.to/3RZBHmF acts as the brain of your smart home, connecting and automating your devices from different manufacturers. This ensures seamless integration and control, allowing you to create complex automation routines (called scenes) for a truly smart home experience. For example, you can control different devices at the same time. Have a room light up in red or blue while simultaneously having the room temperature adjust to 73 degrees. In addition you can also have a ceiling fan turn on in that same room or even in another all at the same time. All these actions combined would be called a "Scene" which you could give a cusom name to like "Relax Time". The possibilities are endless when you combine multiple smart devices together.




SmartThings Hub in box
SmartThings Hub
Wink Smart Home Hub front with light on
Wink Smart Home Hub


8. Smart Home Theaters

Immersive Entertainment

Transform your entertainment experience with a smart home theater system. Devices like the Roku Ultra https://amzn.to/3xCQjBD, Apple TV https://amzn.to/3WaDGah, or Amazon Fire TV Cube https://amzn.to/3RVKCpf, combined with a smart sound system like Sonos https://amzn.to/3XP42zX, provide high-quality audio and video streaming. You can control everything with your voice, from choosing a movie to adjusting the volume.



Amazon Fire TV Cube with Remote and Power Plug
Amazon Fire TV Cube

Roku Ultra Streaming Player shown with remote and box
Roku Ultra Streaming Player
Apple TV 4K 32GB shown with Siri Remote
Apple TV 4K 32GB


Sonos, Four Smart Speaker set showing controls
Sonos Smart Speaker Four Room Set



9. Smart Kitchen Appliances

Modern Cooking

Upgrade your kitchen with smart appliances like the Samsung Family Hub refrigerator https://amzn.to/3VUqKUL, which can show you the contents of your fridge remotely. The LG Smart Wi-Fi Enabled ProBake Convection Oven https://amzn.to/3zvQJtX which will allow you to see what's cooking remotely and the Instant Pot Smart WiFi Pressure Cooker https://amzn.to/3zAgARB, which you can control via an app. These devices all add convenience and innovation to your cooking experience.




Samsung Smart Refrigerator front showing screen and Ice dispenser
Samsung Side By Side Smart Refrigerator

Instant Pot Pro Plus Wi-Fi Smart 10-in-1, Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker shown front facing with Phone App
Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart Pressure Cooker
LG Wifi Smart Convection Oven shown from front displaying knobs, screen, doors and surface top
LG Smart Wi-Fi Enabled ProBake Convection Oven



10. Smart Irrigation Systems

Efficient Gardening

For those with gardens, a smart irrigation system like Rachio Smart Sprinkler https://amzn.to/4bBtGeF and Rachio Smart Hose https://amzn.to/45WB5UP can help you water your plants more efficiently. These systems adjust watering schedules based on weather forecasts and soil conditions, saving water and ensuring your garden stays healthy and lush.



Rachio Smart Sprinkler Controller shown front facing with phone app
Rachio Smart Sprinkler Controller

Rachio Smart Hose Timer shown with WiFi Hub and Phone App
Rachio Smart Hose Timer with WiFi Hub


Conclusion

Integrating smart home technology not only enhances your daily living experience but also offers significant benefits in terms of convenience, security, and energy efficiency. From smart thermostats and lighting to advanced security systems and kitchen appliances, these ten smart home ideas can transform your house into a modern, intelligent living space. Start small or go all-in, and enjoy the many advantages of living in a smart home.

 
 
 

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