Smart home essentials for living
Technology is taking over our homes in more ways than one. With so many high-tech gadgets on the market, it’s easier than ever to make your home smarter. You can automatically adjust your lights, locks, appliances, and more with a few taps, the sound of your voice, or use your mobile device as a remote control.
Every day, a new gadget or gizmo promises to make our lives easier, faster, or more fun. While some smart devices may be gimmicky and not worth your time or money, others can genuinely improve your life. Keep reading, and I’ll tell you about a few high-tech gadgets that will make your home smarter and easier to live in!
What you’ll need to start turning your place into a smart home
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Before we start getting into smart gadgets and other smart home devices, we need to get into the essential requirements and prerequisites to make your home smarter. Here are the main conditions to get the full benefits of most smart home devices to help you set up a sound smart home system.
Reliable home Wi-Fi
You’ll need a good home wi-fi network coupled with decent internet connectivity. No wi-fi, no smart home.
A smartphone device
An Android phone or IOS is another essential requirement to start making your home smarter.
High-tech gadgets that will make your home smarter
Digital/voice assistant smart devices (Amazon Echo Show, Echo Dot, and Google hub).
Get more productive with an Alexa or Google home assistant
Smart home assistants are one of the best gadgets that can help you save time by automating tasks that would otherwise take up much of your time. They can free up a lot of your time so that you can focus on other things.
They can also help you increase your productivity by helping you stay organized. A digital assistant can keep track of your schedule and remind you of upcoming deadlines. They can also help you keep track of your to-do list and ensure that you complete tasks promptly. In addition, digital assistants can help you manage your email and social media accounts, which can save you time.
Information and answers at the sound of your voice
These smart home gadgets can also help you organize by keeping track of your contacts, files, and documents. They can also help you find information quickly and easily. This can save you a lot of time when locating a specific file or document.
There are many different voice assistants on the market with smart features. The most popular smart home devices in this category are Amazon’s Echo and Google’s Home with Alexa and google assistant, respectively. These devices have a wealth of features that make them perfect for the home. For example, Alexa and google assistant will control your lights, locks, appliances, and more. They play music and answer questions. There are many use cases for one or both of these smart speakers for your home.
The Echo Dot:
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If you’re looking for a smart home assistant that can help you control your lights and locks, Echo Dot is a great option. Echo devices come in handy for older parents or grandparents, It uses Alexa voice control, Amazon’s voice assistant. Echo Dot is a smaller, more affordable version of the Echo, and it’s perfect for bedrooms and small spaces. It can also be used to play music and answer questions, all using voice control. The way I use smart speakers in my home is as follows:
- Echo Dots in all the rooms except the common rooms, such as living rooms. They are used in the bedrooms to turn off all the lights at night and play lullabies for a better night’s sleep and when we wake up in the morning.
- Echo shows in the main room, Living room, and family room.
The Amazon Echo Show:
One of the best smart home devices you can have in your home. I mainly use it in common areas in our home. Living rooms, family rooms, and kitchen are one big room, given that I have an open floor plan. The echo show has a smart display coupled with stereo speakers. These features make it ideal for tying into your home security camera system and watching breaking news from a leading digital publisher or a short recipe video.
The Amazon Echo:
The Amazon Echo is a hands-free smart speaker that also uses Amazon Alexa. It’s one step above the echo dot, which you control with your voice. It can play music, answer questions, read the news, check the weather, set alarms, and control compatible smart home devices. It’s like having your assistant always on hand to help out.
Google Home:
Google Home or google assistant is similar to the Amazon Echo. It’s a hands-free smart speaker that listens for voice control. However, it has some additional features, like recognizing individual voices. Like the Amazon assistant, it has a built-in assistant (google assistant) that can help make dinner reservations or order a pizza. It can give each person in your family personalized information. It can also control compatible smart home devices, including home security systems.
If you ask me which of these smart home brands you should choose for your setup, I’ll tell you this based on my observation over the years of having both Alexa and Google Assistant:
- Google devices are smarter home assistants.
- Amazon devices are more intelligent.
I use google in my home office. It is information-rich. Still, I use Alexa in every other room because they’re more actionable and use the little information they have to better assist me in my day-to-day life.
Smart lights
How to make your home brighter and smarter with smart lights
Smart lighting is a great way to make your home more energy-efficient. You can control these smart light bulbs with voice commands to your home assistant, which come in various shapes and sizes. Smart lighting is a great option if you’re looking for a high-tech gadget that can help you save energy and money.
Philips Hue:
The best smart light bulbs out in the market are the Philips Hue. It is a line of smart LED light bulbs you can control with your smartphone or voice. You can use them to turn on/off, dim, or change the color of the light, as well as set schedules and timers. They’re also compatible with Amazon’s Echo and Google’s Home.
Philips Hue lighting can transform your home into a personal oasis of light. The Philips Hue line of smart LED light bulbs works with your smartphone or voice, allowing you to turn on/off, dim, change the color of the light, set schedules and timers, and more. They’re also compatible with Amazon’s Echo and Google’s Home, so you can use your voice to control them, but there are other alternatives.
The pressure cooker or instant pot
How to make your kitchen smarter with a Smart instant pot
Another smart home gadget you should look to add to your home is a smart instant pot. As we all know, the pressure cooker is a highly versatile kitchen gadget. The smart pressure cooker is a new type that uses technology to make it even easier.
It’s also a great way to ensure that your food is cooked perfectly every time. The smart pressure cooker is designed to be used with an app on your smartphone or tablet. The app allows you to select the perfect cooking time and temperature for your food, so you don’t have to worry about overcooking or undercooking your food. The smart pressure cooker also has a built-in scale to measure the ingredients you need for your recipes. If you’re looking for a way to make your life in the kitchen easier, then the smart pressure cooker is the way to go.
Want to cook smarter or more efficiently?
A pressure cooker, slow cooker, or instant pot is an all-in-one kitchen appliance that can help make mealtime easier. Pressure cookers help to cook food faster by using steam pressure to raise the temperature inside the pot. Slow cookers allow food to cook slowly over time, which can be helpful when preparing dishes that take longer to cook. Instant Pots are a combination of a pressure cooker and a slow cooker. You can use this kitchen appliance to cook various dishes, and each has its benefits.
They are an excellent option for those who need to get food on the table quickly. They can reduce cooking time by up to 70%, which can be a huge time saver. Pressure cookers also help preserve nutrients in food, as they do not require large amounts of water or other liquids. Slow cookers are ideal for dishes that take longer, such as stews or roasts. By simmering food over a period of time, slow cookers help to retain more of the flavor and nutrients.
An instant pot is the best of both worlds.
Instant pots are an excellent option for those who want the convenience of a pressure cooker and slow cooker in one appliance. Instant Pots help you create quick and easy meals and can also be used to cook various dishes.
If you are looking for ways to make your home smarter, consider investing in one of these high-tech gadgets. Pressure cookers, slow cookers, and instant pots can all help to make mealtime more manageable and efficient. With so many different benefits, it is no wonder these appliances are becoming increasingly popular in homes worldwide.
A Smart Kettle (Tea and Coffee). Get all the thrills and none of the fills with a smart kettle.
I love the idea of the tea kettle, I really do, but I’m not too fond of the whistling noises every single morning. It’s like a nonending phone call that you have to pick up. A tea kettle is a must-have kitchen gadget for anyone who loves to drink tea. They come in handy for quickly boiling water to make a perfect cup of tea. They help make other hot beverages like coffee or hot chocolate. Tea kettles come in various materials like stainless steel, cast iron, ceramic, and glass. Some tea kettles have a whistle that alerts you when the water is boiling. Others have a built-in temperature gauge so you can get the perfect brew every time. No matter your preference, there’s a tea kettle out there that’s perfect for you.
A tea Kettle without the noise
The modern-day kettle is a thing of the past! Smart Tea Kettles uses an app on your phone to regulate temperature so you can have perfect cups anytime. And since most smart tea kettles come with various pre-set temperatures, you must select the one that’s right for the type of tea you’re making.
So whether you’re a fan of green tea, black tea, or herbal tea, a smart tea kettle can be the best smart home device to help make the perfect cup every time. They’re also great for making hot chocolate, oatmeal, and other hot beverages.
If you’re looking for a smart tea kettle that will fit your budget and your needs, here are some of the best ones on the market:
Touchless garbage cans.
Reinvent your trash can with a touchless garbage can (hint: come in handy during peak covid in 2020)
Touchless garbage cans are becoming increasingly popular in public places and homes for their hygiene benefits. Unlike traditional garbage cans that require users to touch a handle or pedal to open, touchless models feature sensors that open the lid automatically when a user’s hand or foot is within range. These smart garbage cans help to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria, which can be particularly important in high-traffic areas like office buildings, schools, and hospitals.
Here are your options if you’re planning to buy this gadget
A few different types of touchless garbage cans are available on the market. Some models feature infrared sensors that detect motion. In contrast, others use ultrasonic sensors to see when an object is close by. Some touchless garbage cans are opened with a wave of the hand, similar to how automatic doors work.
Touchless garbage cans are a great way to ensure your home is always clean and fresh. These models often come with built-in sensors that close the lid after a particular time, so you can dispose of any odors without worrying about spilling anything!
Here are some benefits of a touchless trash can
Touchless garbage cans offer several benefits over traditional models. Touchless trash cans not only help to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria, but they also reduce how much waste is left behind in public places. That is because people are more likely to remember to close the lid.
Ultimately, touchless garbage cans are a more hygienic and efficient way to dispose trash.
Smart thermostats
Update your thermostats. They may also be free from your energy supplier.
A smart home is only complete with a smart thermostat. This thermostat allows users to set temperature schedules, track energy usage, and even receive alerts when the temperature in their home changes. Installation instruction is relatively easy for these types of thermostast
Want to save some money on heating and cooling? Keep on reading…
Smart thermostats control both heating and cooling systems. They often come with features like auto-away and vacation mode. It allows homeowners to save money on their energy bills by only heating or cooling their homes when necessary. In some cases, smart thermostats can even learn your daily routine and adjust the temperature accordingly.
If you’re looking for a smart thermostat, there are a few things to keep in mind:
First, you’ll want to choose a model compatible with your home’s heating and cooling system. Check if your hvac system has a common wire, if not, opt for a smart thermostat without c wire.
Second, Consider features like ease of use, energy savings, and remote access.
Lastly, you’ll want to decide whether you want a model with built-in Wi-Fi or one that requires a separate hub.
Smart thermostats are a great way to save money on your energy bills and increase the comfort of your home. If you need help deciding which model to choose, read reviews from other homeowners before making your purchase.
Final thoughts
Many other smart home gadgets can make your home smarter. From Home assistants to thermostats to trash cans, there is a gadget for every need. By taking the time to research your options, you can find the perfect device to make your home more comfortable, efficient, and stylish. I hope this helps you move toward a more intelligent home life.
Here are some cool smart home automation ideas to get you started.
