The Internet of things has already invaded our homes, but in a good way – not a bad way. Today you can play your favorite songs, switch on your lights or lock the bells with just one voice command or a few swipes.
However, to make your home smart, you must set it up. Sounds like a lot of work? No need to worry! We are here to help walk you through how you can get it done.
Find the best Internet connection available
Your smart homes connection will heavily lean on the Wi-Fi network. To ensure everything runs smoothly, you need a reliable and fast Internet connection.
Location and Internet
One of the first things you should do when choosing Internet services is the effectiveness and cost will depend on where you live. Not just your city or state, at times the street can also affect the effectiveness of your Internet.
Choose A Smart Hub
We largely feel like hubs are stressing for many new smart homeowners, mainly because some content regarding the smart hubs is unclear and confusing.
Technically speaking, a smart home hub functions like a tunnel to connect different devices to one source; for instance, the garden-variety smart hub will have many extra elements. A good example is the Samsung Smart Things hub or Win Hub. The SmartThings and Wink do not have in-built voice control, but these are compatible with different devices.
You’ll also find hubs such as Google Home or Amazon Echo – smart speakers with in-built hubs. They are fancier than other hubs because you can give voice commands and do other things that don’t necessarily involve any hardware.
Get Smart Plugs
Some people choose to start by setting up the smart plug. This is because plugs work with space heaters, fans, curling irons, slow cookers, and lamps, just to name a few. The plugs allow you to automate these things. Not to mention the fact that they are also very easy to setup.
The plugs app will guide you through the installation process. If you own a smart speaker, you can also connect this to the plug for voice control.
Keep in mind that smart outlets are different from plugs, but you can set them up in the same way. There is no need to hardwire the smart outlet in your home.
Get Smart Lights
Lights are a great add-on to your smart home and they are typically the easiest things anyone can set up. You just have to screw them, hook them to your Wi-Fi network, and sync with the smart hub and you’re set.
If you aren’t sure how to connect the light to your Wi-Fi network it’s pretty easy (because there are no screens). In most cases, the light will be detected by your Wi-Fi network and you just have to select it and then link it to the network.
Once you’ve setup the lights, you can have lots of fun. You can easily switch them ON and OFF from any location. Some lights even flicker or change colors depending on the ambiance.
Go Crazy!
After you’ve set up your smart home system, there are many things you can do. You can even link up all your weird home devices such as frying pans, toothbrushes, egg trays, toilets, and forks. Also, you can try a smart aquarium or smart fridge.
Other home items and appliances you can connect into the smart home system include:
- Showerheads
- Pet feeders
- Mops
- Sweepers
- Vacuums
- Dryers
- Washers
- Thermostats
- CO detectors
- Smoke detectors
- Toasters
- Ovens
- Dishwashers
- Canisters
- Flower pots
- Garage doors
- Pillows
- Blankets
- Mattresses
References
Riley, A. (n.d.). How your smart home devices can be turned against you. BBCpage. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200511-how-smart-home-devices-are-being-used-for-domestic-abuse
The easy way to create a smart home (Published 2019). (2019, April 2). The New York Times – Breaking News, US News, World News and Videos. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/02/realestate/the-easy-way-to-create-a-smart-home.html
How to navigate the age of the smart home. (2020, November 24). The New York Times – Breaking News, US News, World News and Videos. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/18/smarter-living/smart-home.html
