9 Cool Home Automation Ideas to Make Your Life Easier

Home automation is becoming increasingly popular as people look for ways to make their lives easier. There are many different smart home automation ideas that you can use in your own home, and we’ll talk about some of the best home automation. These ideas include intelligent thermostats, voice-activated assistants, smart locks, smart lights and more!

Here Are 9 Home Automation Ideas:

1. Smart Lights

Smart lights are a fantastic method to get into the smart home market. Your smart light bulb can be turned on or off on a timetable or in response to your phone’s position. Or you may use intelligent lights with other smart home gadgets to develop more complex automation.

What You Need: Philips Hue and LIFX intelligent lights are fantastic options. I’ve heard good things about Eufy and IKEA, but I haven’t used either. Because they’re stable and work with a wide range of smart gadgets, most people choose Philips Hue because it’s reliable and compatible with many systems for a $60 hub.

If you want to keep your present lights, use a smart switch instead of replacing them. Smart switches let you turn the physical button on and off, while bright lights require that the control remains in the on position at all times.

Automation Ideas:

• To save energy, use your bright lights at a lower intensity.
• Before going to bed, turn off all the lights in your house.
• To replicate the sunset, dim your lights to a warmer tone (more crimson) before bed.
• Using a geofence, you may turn off all the smart lights when everyone has departed home.
• Have some lights turn on when you arrive home using a geofence.
• Instead of an unpleasant alarm, use Philips SmartSleep, Casper Glow Lights, or a similar type of smart light to wake you up gradually in the morning.
• Set the lights to flash randomly so that it appears as if you’re home when you aren’t.
• Set a timer for 10 minutes to go. Have a different light or array of lights flash as a reminder to take out the trash.
• At sunset, your outdoor lights will automatically turn on.
• When you start watching a movie, turn off the lights with a smart hub or home assistant.
• When you pause the TV, turn up the brightness on the lights with harmony hub or home assistant.

2. Smart Thermostat

Smart thermostats that are smarter save money by determining when heating and cooling systems should operate based on a timetable. They track trends, recognize occupied rooms, and use a phone’s GPS location to determine when and how to run a specific system.

What You Need: The Nest Learning Thermostat is ideal for people who want to save money without thinking about it. If you’re a hacker and like having more control, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat is compatible with most if not all smart home hub, but it’s more challenging to install if your house doesn’t have a c-wire.

Automation Ideas:

• Change the temperature with your phone’s location (geofence) when you leave or arrive home.
• Take advantage of an intelligent thermostat’s ability to keep the fan running after the compressor shuts off. After they’re turned off, the coils produce cool air, so why not pump that “free air” through your home?
• You’ll be notified when it’s time to change your HVAC filter.
• Set your thermostat to stay at a specific temperature when electricity costs rise above a certain level with IFTTT.
• A warning will be sent to you when the humidity is too high.
• Get a notification when the thermostat’s motion sensor senses movement to let you know someone is home.

3. Smart Locks

My favorite smart home device is a smart lock because it improves my life without extra fuss. It’s an excellent method to track who opens the door and when they do so. Some intelligent locks also unlock automatically as you approach your house. Most smart locks automatically lock once the door is closed or based on a time interval.

What You Need: I like the August smart locks since they’re compatible with all smart home platforms and have user-friendly software. August offers three waves, but none of them has a keypad. The Yale Assure SL Connected By August has a built-in keypad and works with the August app, making it a compromise between both options.

Automation Ideas:

• Create unique access codes for children, visitors, and extended family members. Then, get a phone alert when specific people enter the home.
• Give access codes to people who will only be in charge of your child for a few hours each day, such as nannies or housekeepers.
• When specific individuals come (based on the entry code used), a particular song should play out in your speakers.
• Set your door to lock after a certain amount of time has elapsed. With most smart locks, you may choose intervals ranging from 30 seconds to an hour.
• Use the August Auto-Unlock option to have your door automatically unlock once it is within a few feet.
• Turn on a brilliant light or switch when the door is opened with IFTTT.
• Disarm your security system when the door is opened with IFTTT.

4. Smart Plugs

Smart plugs convert your existing items into smart devices. It’s a fantastic method to link a bare lamp, coffee maker, Christmas tree, or any other electrical device to the internet.

What You Need: The Wemo Mini Smart Plug is a good choice. It’s compatible with all three major smart home platforms (HomeKit, Google, and Alexa), doesn’t need a hub, and has a slim profile. I’ve tried the Amazon Smart Plug and the Kasa Smart Plug, and they work well, but they’re limited in terms of compatibility.

Automation Ideas:

• Make any lamp smart with voice commands, calendar settings, or the use of your phone’s GPS to command them.
• Turn on your Christmas tree when you arrive home and after dark.
• Create a timetable to turn off appliances that are not in use and aren’t using much power.

5. Smart Sensors

Sensors on doors and windows aren’t unique in and of themselves. Still, they become more valuable when paired with your smart home assistant(HomeKit, Alexa, Google, Wink) and other smart devices. Motion sensors are also available. Smart sensors will serve as the trigger that activates another smart home gadget.

What You Need: Door and window sensors are made by Ring, SimpliSafe, SmartThings Eufy, Aqara, and Eve. Each firm’s hub is required for the devices listed above. If you already have a seat, select the sensor that works. You’ll need HomeKit Automations(), IFTTT (), or Amazon Alexa Routines to use the ideas below.

Automation Ideas:

• You’ll receive email or text alerts if motion sensors are triggered in or around your home.
• You can be alerted when your refrigerator is left open or slightly ajar.
• Have motion sensors turn off lights after a certain amount of time to save money on energy bills.
• Use a multipurpose sensor to get an alert once your laundry is finished so you can move it to the dryer.
• When there’s a leak in the basement, you’ll be notified.
• Create a light signal to alert your coworkers when someone outside the team opens your office door. This is useful while you’re in the zone and wearing noise-canceling headphones, but you don’t want to be startled.
• When you don’t get enough fresh air, your smart speaker will notify you to go outdoors. A sensor will detect this and sound an alarm.
• You’ll be alerted when specific cabinets in your house are opened (whether it’s to prevent teenagers from drinking or toddlers from using potentially harmful cleaning chemicals).
• Install a sensor on or within your mailbox that alerts you when it arrives or to validate that something has been collected.
• Set up the front door to send an alert when left open.
• When you open a window, the thermostat’s temperature is automatically altered.
• When there’s a leak in the basement, you’ll be notified.
• Create a motion sensor to trigger cameras streamed to Fire TV or Chromecast.
• As a motion sensor activates accent smart lights, utilize smart light strips. A light strip is less harsh on the eyes than a ceiling light when you go to the restroom late at night.

6. Smart Doorbells

Smart doorbells may be used to check when packages arrive, but they might also be used as a trigger to act within your smart home.

What You Need: Nest Hello is a decent system, but it’s limited to Google’s ecosystem and can’t automate much. Ring Doorbells work with Alexa, SmartThings, Google, and IFTTT, but not HomeKit. HomeKit compatibility is available from Yobi and Netatmo, although I haven’t used either.

Ideas:

• You may get notifications when your shipments arrive using a smart doorbell with motion alerts.
• When someone rings your doorbell, pause the TV.
• Have your lights flash on and off when someone rings the doorbell using IFTTT.
• Pause a Roomba or Neato vacuum when someone rings the doorbell with IFTTT.

7. Smart Blinds

Without getting up from the sofa, you may adjust the amount of light entering your space using intelligent blinds. Smart blinds are available in two varieties: a complete blind/shade assembly or a motor that controls your existing blinds to make them smarter.

What You Need: Ikea’s FYRTUR smart blinds can work with Google, Alexa, and HomeKit, and they’re reasonably priced (starting at $129). Lutron Serena and Tilt MySmartRollerShades are other noteworthy smart blinds, but they cost over $400 each. The Soma Smart Shades 2 motor attaches to your present blinds to make them intelligent.

Ideas:

• Blinds should be able to rotate or tilt to take advantage of natural light while still providing privacy and security.
• Close your blinds when you want to view a film during the day.
• To assist wake up, open the blinds at a particular moment.
• When you want to enjoy some private time, pull down the blinds.
• Ability to operate blinds depending on your position.

8. Smart Garage door openers

With a smart garage door opener, the days of you forgetting to close your garage door is over. How it works is the hub pairs with your garage door opener just like any common remote. There’s a sensor that you mount on your garage door that sends information to the smart hub. The door sensor will inform the hub if your doors are opened or closed.

What You Need: Hub and door sensor like the Chamberlain MyQ Wi-Fi Smart Garage Door Hub. You can find on Amazon today.

Automation Ideas:

• Use it with your smart home assistant to check on a set schedule if your garage door is open and to close them, especially before bed.
• Use voice commands to close or open the garage door on demand.

9. Mesh Routers

The popularity of mesh wifi systems has expanded and solidified internet connectivity. Automating Google’s and Eero’s mesh networks is ideal for families that want to limit their children’s online activity.

What You Need: Google wifi and Eero are beautiful systems. Each app allows you to create access rules, although Google wifi is limited to Alexa while Eero supports both Alexa and Google. Overall, I suggest Eero since the network is generally more stable.

Ideas:

• During supper time, pause the network. This may be done manually or with a voice command.
• Group all network devices by their owner to form a group. Then, set a recurring outage for the groups. It’s ideal for bedtime or homework time.
• At any time, pause a group of devices.

What is Smart Home Automation?

Innovative home technology encompasses any set of connected devices, appliances, or systems that may be individually and remotely operated from a single network. When your house’s electronics are linked in one system, it’s sometimes referred to as a “connected home.” Your thermostat, lights, smart speakers, TVs, security cameras, locks, appliances, and other elements are all linked into a single system you can control using your smartphone or a mobile touch screen device.

With intelligent home automation, you may tap into cutting-edge technology and luxury that previously wasn’t accessible. As technological progress continues, the possibilities for consumer home automation to make life easier and more pleasurable will also expand.

Home Automation Can Make a Difference

To include exciting smart home devices throughout your home, you don’t need to construct a residence straight out of The Jetsons. You could appreciate the smart slow cooker that alerts you via your smartphone when it’s done cooking after six hours, but starting with practical lighting and temperature controls would be more beneficial for most people.

Is home automation worth it?

Yes, it is worth it to have home automation. It may help with day-to-day activities and make them more enjoyable. It can also assist you in significantly lowering your energy expenses over time. Getting started might be costly, but you must be ready to experiment if you want to save money.

Advantages of Automation in your home

Smart home automation might be considered a fun approach to stay up with the most recent technology or a great way for homeowners to showcase their homes. Still, smart home automation has many fantastic (and undoubtedly helpful) benefits. What are a few more? Here you go:

You may control all of your home devices from one location.

The appeal of this system is obvious. It’s a giant leap forward for technological progress and house management to have all of the technology in your home connected through a single interface. Theoretically, you’ll have to know how to use one app on your phone or tablet, and you’ll be able to access numerous features and devices throughout your house. This streamlines the learning curve for new users, making it simpler to access the functionality you need for your home.

Flexibility for new technologies and appliances

Intelligent home systems are flexible and can accommodate new devices, appliances, and other technology. No matter how advanced your appliances seem today, more unique and impressive models will be developed in the future. You will probably add new devices to your home as you replace old ones or discover new technology that works with your indoor and outdoor spaces. An intelligent home system that seamlessly integrates these newcomers will make it easier for you to upgrade to the latest lifestyle technology.

Maximizing home security system

Your house protection may improve when you equip your innovative home network with security and surveillance capabilities. A wide range of solutions is available; however, just a handful are being researched. Smart home technologies may connect motion sensors, video cameras, automated door locks, and other physical security devices throughout your property to allow you to turn them on from one mobile device before bed.

You can choose which devices receive security notifications at specific times. You can also track real-time activities at home or away from home.

Remote control of home functions

Don’t undervalue the advantages of managing your house’s activities remotely. On a scorching day, you may have your house cooled down in time for when you get home from work. If you’re rushing to get dinner started but still at the grocery store, your oven can be set to preheat as soon as you walk through the door. You could also check whether any lights are on, see who is at your front door, or double-check that all your media has been turned off while you’re away.

Increased energy efficiency

You can also make your house more energy-efficient by adjusting how you use your smart-home technologies. For example, you can use a smart programmable thermostat to learn your schedule and temperature preferences so that the thermostat can recommend the best energy-efficient settings throughout the day.

You can also program lights and motorized blinds to turn on and off automatically when it gets dark outside or when you leave the house. This will help you save energy.

Conclusion

Home automation can make your life a lot easier. This is because it automates things you would have to do yourself if you didn’t have home automation. There are many different types of home automation, so it is vital to research which smart devices would be best for you.

Installing a home automation system might improve your quality of life by allowing you to save time and money and making your house safer and more secure. Consider investing in an intelligent home system to make your life simpler.