Lifestyle: Technology to Make Your Party Go With a Swing
Put technology to fun use by employing it to get your party lighting and music spot-on
Two very important factors that determine the success of a party are lighting and music. Nobody wants to be in a room where they can only just make out the tinny sound of a great song in the background, and neither do they want to have to shout to communicate with the person standing next to them. Equally, you wouldn’t want to go to a party that was so brightly lit you felt as if you were in an interview, but at the same time, you don’t want to be falling over things in the dark.
Good lighting and music can turn a good party into a great one, and constant technological developments are making it easier and easier to get them right. With ‘smart’ bulbs and speaker systems, you can be completely and effortlessly in control of your party from start to finish – all at the touch of a smartphone button. Check out the following tips on using smart technology to set yourself apart from the crowd.
Good lighting and music can turn a good party into a great one, and constant technological developments are making it easier and easier to get them right. With ‘smart’ bulbs and speaker systems, you can be completely and effortlessly in control of your party from start to finish – all at the touch of a smartphone button. Check out the following tips on using smart technology to set yourself apart from the crowd.
Make an entrance
It’s not only the guests that can make an unforgettable entrance. Use warm and welcoming lights outside to let the world know there’s a party going on inside.
Exterior wall lights are perfect for this purpose, but don’t forget the effect of light that spills out from inside the house: it’ll help build the sense of anticipation as guests draw up to your front door. Also try drawing the eye to a particular focal point with a dedicated spike light highlighting a plant or feature.
You can tailor the lighting to suit the atmosphere of your party – choose bulbs with a low Kelvin value, around 2400k, for a cosy yellow feel, and a high Kelvin value for an energising blue or white light.
It’s not only the guests that can make an unforgettable entrance. Use warm and welcoming lights outside to let the world know there’s a party going on inside.
Exterior wall lights are perfect for this purpose, but don’t forget the effect of light that spills out from inside the house: it’ll help build the sense of anticipation as guests draw up to your front door. Also try drawing the eye to a particular focal point with a dedicated spike light highlighting a plant or feature.
You can tailor the lighting to suit the atmosphere of your party – choose bulbs with a low Kelvin value, around 2400k, for a cosy yellow feel, and a high Kelvin value for an energising blue or white light.
Set the scene
A lot has changed since Thomas Edison filed for patent of his light bulb model in 1879, and it’s a very exciting time to be exploring the different lighting options available. Bright new ideas are beginning to catch on and change the way we experience lighting in our homes.
Smart lighting systems allow you to adjust the brightness levels of individual bulbs through an app on your smartphone. This means you can put together a lighting ‘scene’ ahead of time, and then save it into your phone.
Using lighting scenes can help you transition between different stages of the party seamlessly, whether that means dimmer lights for dancing or bright lights to politely convince the last stragglers to make an exit at the end of the night.
Browse ideas for planning a lighting scheme
A lot has changed since Thomas Edison filed for patent of his light bulb model in 1879, and it’s a very exciting time to be exploring the different lighting options available. Bright new ideas are beginning to catch on and change the way we experience lighting in our homes.
Smart lighting systems allow you to adjust the brightness levels of individual bulbs through an app on your smartphone. This means you can put together a lighting ‘scene’ ahead of time, and then save it into your phone.
Using lighting scenes can help you transition between different stages of the party seamlessly, whether that means dimmer lights for dancing or bright lights to politely convince the last stragglers to make an exit at the end of the night.
Browse ideas for planning a lighting scheme
Go one step further with coloured lighting
There are now things called ‘smart’ bulbs, which are one step on from coloured lighting. A smart bulb can replicate the colour of one of your favourite photographs. Simply choose a photo from your own library, then use an app that’s connected to your smart bulb to drag a colour picker over the photo. Your bulbs will change colour to match the image instantaneously.
If you like the colour, you can save it to your phone then use it again for the entire house or just a single bulb. To get started, all you need to do is screw in a smart LED bulb, then download the app. Once the party gets goings, you can even set the lights to change colour in time with the music.
There are now things called ‘smart’ bulbs, which are one step on from coloured lighting. A smart bulb can replicate the colour of one of your favourite photographs. Simply choose a photo from your own library, then use an app that’s connected to your smart bulb to drag a colour picker over the photo. Your bulbs will change colour to match the image instantaneously.
If you like the colour, you can save it to your phone then use it again for the entire house or just a single bulb. To get started, all you need to do is screw in a smart LED bulb, then download the app. Once the party gets goings, you can even set the lights to change colour in time with the music.
Light up your garden
Installing some well-thought-out exterior lighting is a great way to add another dimension to your party and generate a sophisticated ambience. It’ll create an extra space for guests and give them the opportunity for some fresh air without them feeling they’ve been left out in the cold.
Smart lights usually run in one of several different ways. The most straightforward devices run on manually programmed timers, where the user schedules how bright a bulb should be and how long it should be on for.
More sophisticated devices work by taking information from the internet, such as weather forecasts and sunset times, and use this to predict when a homeowner is likely to want their outside lights on. This means that if you have a party that runs on past sunset, your home lights will automatically adjust as the natural light fades.
Even more recently, sensor-based systems have started to become more popular. These measure light levels in the surrounding area, and light up the home accordingly. The advantage is that these systems work even when internet-based weather predictions are wrong, and require little to no adjustment by the user.
Installing some well-thought-out exterior lighting is a great way to add another dimension to your party and generate a sophisticated ambience. It’ll create an extra space for guests and give them the opportunity for some fresh air without them feeling they’ve been left out in the cold.
Smart lights usually run in one of several different ways. The most straightforward devices run on manually programmed timers, where the user schedules how bright a bulb should be and how long it should be on for.
More sophisticated devices work by taking information from the internet, such as weather forecasts and sunset times, and use this to predict when a homeowner is likely to want their outside lights on. This means that if you have a party that runs on past sunset, your home lights will automatically adjust as the natural light fades.
Even more recently, sensor-based systems have started to become more popular. These measure light levels in the surrounding area, and light up the home accordingly. The advantage is that these systems work even when internet-based weather predictions are wrong, and require little to no adjustment by the user.
Build in your speakers…
If you’ve ever tried to transform your kitchen-diner or living room into a dance floor, you’ll already be aware of the value of floor space. Building your speakers into the wall or ceiling is a great way to free up floor space for dancing and worktop space for refreshments, and you won’t have to worry about anyone spilling anything on them, either. Many now have grilles that can be painted the same colour as your wall, so you won’t even notice them until the music starts.
In any given room, you’ll usually need three or four speakers to create an even sound field. In-wall speakers will provide great background music. Installing them requires mounting shelves, cutting drywall and drilling into pipes and wiring, so it’s best left to a professional. You can involve a professional for anything from installing a single speaker to consultancy on an entire music system.
Discover 9 ways to conceal your gadgets
If you’ve ever tried to transform your kitchen-diner or living room into a dance floor, you’ll already be aware of the value of floor space. Building your speakers into the wall or ceiling is a great way to free up floor space for dancing and worktop space for refreshments, and you won’t have to worry about anyone spilling anything on them, either. Many now have grilles that can be painted the same colour as your wall, so you won’t even notice them until the music starts.
In any given room, you’ll usually need three or four speakers to create an even sound field. In-wall speakers will provide great background music. Installing them requires mounting shelves, cutting drywall and drilling into pipes and wiring, so it’s best left to a professional. You can involve a professional for anything from installing a single speaker to consultancy on an entire music system.
Discover 9 ways to conceal your gadgets
…or make them a feature
While built-in ceiling or wall speakers can be incredibly convenient, one of their downsides is that they can’t be moved from room to room. If portability is important to you, it’s worth going for a standalone speaker. If this is the case, then why not make it a feature by choosing a design that complements your scheme, like the speaker in this room?
While built-in ceiling or wall speakers can be incredibly convenient, one of their downsides is that they can’t be moved from room to room. If portability is important to you, it’s worth going for a standalone speaker. If this is the case, then why not make it a feature by choosing a design that complements your scheme, like the speaker in this room?
Create flow with multi-room music
One of the best ways to make a party flow smoothly is to have music that carries guests all the way through your home.
A multi-room music system means all of the speakers in your home can play any of the songs on your playlist. To choose a song, simply browse the library on your phone, tablet or computer and hit play. You can go for different songs in different rooms and give guests a choice, or choose to have the same song playing throughout for some continuity.
Multi-room music capabilities can usually be retrofitted onto your existing speakers, or you can purchase speakers that are already enabled.
One of the best ways to make a party flow smoothly is to have music that carries guests all the way through your home.
A multi-room music system means all of the speakers in your home can play any of the songs on your playlist. To choose a song, simply browse the library on your phone, tablet or computer and hit play. You can go for different songs in different rooms and give guests a choice, or choose to have the same song playing throughout for some continuity.
Multi-room music capabilities can usually be retrofitted onto your existing speakers, or you can purchase speakers that are already enabled.
Keep it under control
It can sometimes feel as if the duties of the host are never-ending. Thankfully, keeping control of it all just got easier. From opening the front door to setting lighting schemes and controlling the music, technology can relieve a lot of the burdens of hosting and ensure the party runs as smoothly as possible.
Many apps also have sharing capabilities, so you can hand over musical control to a guest whose taste you trust!
TELL US…
What do you think of smart lighting and music? Do you use apps to control any of your systems? Tell us in the Comments below.
It can sometimes feel as if the duties of the host are never-ending. Thankfully, keeping control of it all just got easier. From opening the front door to setting lighting schemes and controlling the music, technology can relieve a lot of the burdens of hosting and ensure the party runs as smoothly as possible.
Many apps also have sharing capabilities, so you can hand over musical control to a guest whose taste you trust!
TELL US…
What do you think of smart lighting and music? Do you use apps to control any of your systems? Tell us in the Comments below.
You needn’t worry about hiring a bouncer, or having to constantly leave your conversations to rush to the buzzer, if you have a smart lock installed. Whether you are chatting with friends in the living room or serving drinks in the kitchen, a smart lock enables you to unlock the front door using an app on your phone.
For those concerned about security, it’s possible to connect your phone to a camera on the front door, enabling you to see who’s there before you buzz them in.