What is a Smart Home?

04/04/2018

Smart Homes are becoming increasingly popular in the modern home but many of us aren’t actually sure what having a Smart Home entails.

In this article, we will explain the fundamentals of smart home living and how even making small changes to your home can pull you into this category.

According to Control4, “Home automation is not just about giving you control over one specific aspect of your home, like your lights or televisions. It’s about many of the devices in your home being programmed to work in unison to create events (or scenes) that work to fit your specific lifestyle. For example, maybe you leave the house for work in a rush each morning and often forget that pesky closet light, to adjust the temperature, or to arm the security system. Automation allows—with the press of one button—for all of those things to happen simultaneously.”

In a nutshell, it is installing a system that enhances and simplifies everyday life.

Home Automation can be simplified down into categories:

Entertainment (TV & Music systems)
Home Wifi
Lighting Control
CCTV

So you are probably thinking, I can’t afford to have a smart home? This all sounds very complicated? Why would I want to change the way I’m currently living?

Yes, you’re right, a Smart Home can be expensive to install but this is not always the case. Every property is different, everyone’s needs are different and we will always try to make it an affordable solution for you.

This can be anything from simple lighting control, connected entertainment systems or a complete re-work. We have everything covered and can design your home to be entirely automated, using the very best and latest technology. Savant, Control4, Artcoustic Speakers and Rako Lighting are just a few of the high-end, well-known brands that we work with.

How can this benefit you?

Activate light settings so they can be controlled remotely or scheduled to come on at a certain time. For example, in the morning, increase the brightness gradually so that you can slowly adjust to waking up. Or a ‘goodnight’ button can be programmed which will turn off all lights, lock the door, close the blinds etc. ensuring the house is secure and ready for the whole family to go to bed.
Go away on holiday with the reassurance you can monitor your CCTV from your phone or tablet device. You can even set up alerts for when movement is detected.
Set up your entertainment systems so they can be streamed and controlled in multiple rooms making it easy and hassle-free for the whole family.

Aside from saving time, Smart Home systems can also save you money. For example, lighting can be on programmed on a sensor so that unoccupied rooms are automatically switched off when no movement is detected resulting in light bulbs lasting a lot longer and saving the pennies on electricity. A win win we say.