8 Smart Home Gadgets That Will Come in Handy in Everyday Life
Setting up a smart home doesn’t necessitate complex renovations or an abundance of sensors. In fact, it’s ideal to begin with devices that are simple to install and require no additional equipment. This article introduces eight practical and user-friendly gadgets that will help you dip your toes into the world of smart homes.
8 Best Smart Home Gadgets Used in Everyday Life
A smart home consists of devices that streamline and automate daily activities. These devices enable you to control household appliances, adjust lighting, open doors, cook food, and even check the contents of your refrigerator. With the help of a smart home system, you can bid farewell to concerns about forgotten appliances and unauthorized access to your living space.
The beauty of smart technology lies in its simplicity – it can be easily integrated into your existing home without the need for major design changes. These devices can be conveniently plugged into ordinary sockets or operated wirelessly through remotes, buttons, and phones. Additionally, many of these gadgets run on batteries, making them even more versatile and accessible for use.
Smart Lights
Smart lamps are a great way to control lighting without changing the wiring in the house. These lamps can be controlled from your smartphone and offer features like adjusting light shades and brightness, automatic night lighting, voice commands, and even playing music. A wide range of products are available on the market, from a small portable lamp with a wireless smartphone charger to a complete lighting system for your backyard. Leading brands in this category include Yeelight, Xiaomi, TP-Link Kasa, Philips Hue, and Hiper IoT.
Additionally, there is a growing interest in Nanoleaf wall panels as an alternative to traditional lighting fixtures. You can arrange them in any order you like to create stunning glowing wall art.
Smart Locks
A smart lock is an invaluable addition to a smart home, easily installed on top of existing electronic or mechanical locks. Controlled remotely from a smartphone, these devices can be used on apartment doors, house entrances, offices, garage doors, and gates. Most smart locks utilise Bluetooth for short-range connections to conserve energy and extend battery life. To control these devices from a distance, you’ll need special intermediary solutions and hubs.
Leading smart lock models include the August Smart Lock, which automatically closes doors and provides access notifications, and the Keywe Smart Lock, which allows you to track who accesses the door and when.
Window and Door Sensors
Installing window and door sensors is a smart way to enhance home security. These gadgets are typically installed on doors and ground-floor windows and can perform various actions, such as signaling other systems (e.g., alarms), turning on lights upon entry, and switching off the air conditioner when windows are opened. Most sensors are compact and battery-powered. Popular models include the Xiaomi Mi Smart Home Door/Window sensor and the Life Control model.
Surveillance Cameras
Smart surveillance cameras offer an excellent way to monitor your premises. You can use them to timely detect intruders and keep an eye on children, pets, or elderly family members. Some models come with event logging and video storage options, either on a memory card or in cloud storage. Notable options are the Nest Cam, which has a wide viewing angle and sound recording capabilities, and the Canary camera, which monitors air parameters and sends the data to your smartphone. For outdoor surveillance, the Nest Cam Outdoor with 8x zoom and Full HD resolution is a popular choice.
Climate Smart Devices
Creating a comfortable environment in your smart home is essential, and climate control gadgets play a significant role in achieving this. Smart thermostats can help regulate temperature and humidity, optimise energy consumption, and even set the desired microclimate before you return home. Popular options are the Nest Learning Thermostat 3.0 and the Ecobee4, which can identify cold spots and adjust the climate accordingly. More advanced devices like the Elgato Eve Room can create scenarios for your entire smart home, including controlling a humidifier when humidity levels decrease.
Smart Assistants
For effortless control of your smart home equipment, smart speakers with voice assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri are incredibly convenient. These multimedia platforms can help you find movies, play music, set alarms, answer questions, and more. It’s important to note that most smart speakers are tied to a specific smart home platform, so make sure to choose one that fits your needs. The market offers various speaker models, ranging from small mini-stations for individual use to larger media blocks.
Smart Sockets
If you often worry about leaving electronics on, a smart socket is a practical solution. Designed to look like regular outlets, these small devices can be controlled through your smartphone. Some models come with dimmers to adjust lamps or night light brightness and power consumption monitoring to identify energy-hungry appliances. Popular and budget-friendly options include the Redmond R1S and TP-Link HS100 smart sockets. Some options can even work without a network connection, like the Sapsan PRO 10 Smart Socket, which can be controlled via a GSM connection from your phone.
Smart Home Appliances
Smart home electronics, such as refrigerators, kettles, washing machines, and ovens, also can simplify your daily life. They can reduce cooking and washing time, monitor food availability, and even control other devices in your home. For instance, the Viomi VioBrain smart refrigerator not only provides storage but also displays data from the oven, IP camera, and smart kettle. The Redmond SkyKettle G210S smart kettle allows you to control water temperature remotely, and the Redmond smart oven reduces cooking time significantly. Smart washing machines provide notifications through both sound signals and mobile apps. Smart vacuum cleaners clean rooms autonomously, returning to the charging base when needed.
Building Your Smart Home
You don’t have to purchase all the gadgets listed above at once. Start small with a few controllable sockets, lamps, and sensors to experience the benefits of these intelligent devices. As you become comfortable with these smart additions, you can gradually expand and customise your smart home system. Additionally, ready-made Smart Home sets are available on the market, offering starter kits you can install at once and then supplement according to your needs.
