As technology continues to evolve, people are increasingly coming to rely on new tech innovations to make our lives more convenient and comfortable.
Smart tech may seem like something futuristic, a highly sophisticated home luxury reserved for the elite. But these days, that is simply not the case. In fact, 7 out of 10 homeowners in the US have reported having at least one smart tech gadget in their homes.
So whether you are a homeowner looking to upgrade your home security system, make your daily kitchen routine easier, or automate your home entertainment system, chances are there is a great smart home gadget out there available to you. And even the best smart home upgrades don’t have to break the bank- depending on upgrades and extra features, you should be able to find the right kind of gadget to suit any budget.
Let’s take a look at the five best smart home upgrades for any home.
1. Smart Thermostat
Not only a highly convenient way to automate the temperature inside your home, a smart thermostat can also help you cut down the cost of your monthly energy bills, and reduce your home’s overall carbon footprint.
Smart thermostats can be programmed to automatically detect when someone is in the room, and adjust the temperature accordingly, so your home temperature system is never wasting energy by blasting cool or hot air into a room where no one has been for hours. And you can program your smart thermostat from out of the house, so if you are on the way home from work and it is a freezing, snowy day, you can look forward to arriving home just as the home has heated to a warm, cozy temperature.
2. Smart Home Security System
With 3D imaging capabilities, thermal imaging, round the clock surveillance, and voice-activated features, smart home security systems are keeping homes as safe as possible. Smart home security cameras allow you to access the live video feed remotely from you smartphone or tablet, so you can keep an eye on who has been visiting your home even while you are away on vacation, or just out at the office all day.
As with all smart home gadgets, smart home security systems rely heavily on a strong local internet connection. Make sure your home broadband network is up to date, providing fast, reliable coverage. Otherwise, you might be subject to some home security issues caused by glitches in the internet connection.
3. Smart Surround Sound and Smart TV
You are sitting down to watch a film on the couch at the end of a long day together with your family- everyone is ready, all cozy with snacks, pajamas, and blankets. With everyone in position, have you ever wished you could simply say aloud, “Let’s play the movie!” and it would start? What about adjusting the volume? With a smart home entertainment system, you can do exactly that, boosting or lowering the volume and adjusting the tech specs of your home cinema all from the lazy comfort of the couch.
Plus, a smart TV can record, pause, or playback your favorite programs. And you can program it to customize your recordings and recommendations, so you will never miss new episodes of your favorite series or that movie you have been dying to watch for months. Nothing says luxury like your very own personalized home cinema!
4. Smart Fridge
It happens all too often: you reach into the depths of the fridge shelf to pull out a jar of sauce, an unusual condiment, or some extra special food ingredient, only to find that the top is covered in mold. That jar probably sat there for months, or even longer, with no one remembering that it had already been opened.
Or, the opposite. You are cooking your partner’s favorite meal for their birthday when you realize that you are out of one of the key ingredients, and all the shops are closed. A smart fridge can help prevent both circumstances. Some smart fridges and special smart fridge magnets can automatically detect or make a note of when you have opened a particular jar. This smart kitchen assistant can send you alerts to remind you when it is probably time to throw that jar away.
Plus, some smart fridges come with a screen on the front door, so you can follow along with your favorite cooking demos live in the kitchen, or simply listen to music or podcasts without needing to get your phone messy with food.
5. Smart Shopping List
Speaking of smart fridges, some smart fridges can also automatically compile a shopping list, so you never have to worry about forgetting that one key item that’s missing from your cupboard. Simply scan the barcode of each item you need to renew and your fridge will compile a digital list that it can send straight to your smartphone, ready for you to peruse as you walk up and down the supermarket aisles.
Or you can also utilize a smart home assistant to automatically replenish cleaning or cooking supplies you may be out of- with Amazon Echo, for instance, you can simply tell Alexa you need more of this or that product and within days a new order from your Amazon account will show up on your front porch.
Your Home, Smarter
The five smart home upgrades we have listed above are each amazing additions to any home, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. As you begin to research which smart home gadgets you would be interested in adding to your home, consider your personal needs.
Look for gadgets that suit your lifestyle, and help contribute. Is there any part of your home life or daily routine that you wish could run just that little bit more smoothly? Take stock of your habits and desires as you search for the right smart tech gadgets to install to upgrade your home. At the end of the day, you want your home to be your haven. With smart tech upgrades, you can make your home even smarter.
This article was written by Teresa Bennett. She is a passionate writer and reader. She is fascinated by all things real estate, travel, and health. She lives with her two cats and a dog in a small menagerie.