Lifestyle: What Do Smart Homes Look Like in 2015?
'Back to the Future' predicted hoverboards and flying cars for 2015, but how far has home technology come? Read this guide to smart homes
Home automation is certainly a very current topic, but it can often be difficult to get your head around it with so many new technologies on offer. At its heart, home automation is a simple concept – that things in your home, such as the internet, your phone and other devices, are connected to one another, making it possible to simplify your life and create a home that works for you.
Upgrading to a smarter home might mean purchasing a more efficient thermostat and smarter lighting, or it might mean installing a complete home cinema system. It’s all about connectivity – by connecting our devices to one another, we can design a home that works more efficiently, more smoothly and more excitingly than ever before. It can be daunting initially, but it’s easy to get started and get saving quickly.
The home automation revolution will make our lives significantly easier, and will have some far-reaching implications for design, too. Check out the following tips for an introduction to the smart home, which might help you plan your smart renovation.
Upgrading to a smarter home might mean purchasing a more efficient thermostat and smarter lighting, or it might mean installing a complete home cinema system. It’s all about connectivity – by connecting our devices to one another, we can design a home that works more efficiently, more smoothly and more excitingly than ever before. It can be daunting initially, but it’s easy to get started and get saving quickly.
The home automation revolution will make our lives significantly easier, and will have some far-reaching implications for design, too. Check out the following tips for an introduction to the smart home, which might help you plan your smart renovation.
Upgrade lighting
When you have a purpose decided and plans at the ready, the first thing you might want to tackle is lighting. A smart circuit system allows you a more sophisticated degree of control over your lighting, down to the degree of brightness or even colour of every bulb in your home.
You can then arrange different lighting ‘scenes’, where certain lights are set to turn on – perhaps one for relaxing, one for entertaining, and one for watching films – and can be activated by voice command.
Check out tips for planning perfect lighting
When you have a purpose decided and plans at the ready, the first thing you might want to tackle is lighting. A smart circuit system allows you a more sophisticated degree of control over your lighting, down to the degree of brightness or even colour of every bulb in your home.
You can then arrange different lighting ‘scenes’, where certain lights are set to turn on – perhaps one for relaxing, one for entertaining, and one for watching films – and can be activated by voice command.
Check out tips for planning perfect lighting
Heat smart
A smart thermostat is a thermostat that can be accessed using wireless connectivity. It heats your home more efficiently and more intelligently than a traditional thermostat. It works remotely, too, meaning that if you’re at work with the heating on high and want to turn it down, or you want to turn it up a few degrees from the comfort of your bed, you can do so easily.
The additional advantage of smart thermostats is that they can detect occupancy in rooms – some models use motion sensors and others GPS trackers – so they don’t heat empty rooms.
With smart heating, thermostats are just the tip of the iceberg, and entire climate systems, including air conditioning, fans and blinds, can be set up to give you ultimate temperature control.
A smart thermostat is a thermostat that can be accessed using wireless connectivity. It heats your home more efficiently and more intelligently than a traditional thermostat. It works remotely, too, meaning that if you’re at work with the heating on high and want to turn it down, or you want to turn it up a few degrees from the comfort of your bed, you can do so easily.
The additional advantage of smart thermostats is that they can detect occupancy in rooms – some models use motion sensors and others GPS trackers – so they don’t heat empty rooms.
With smart heating, thermostats are just the tip of the iceberg, and entire climate systems, including air conditioning, fans and blinds, can be set up to give you ultimate temperature control.
Stay secure
Many people are drawn to home automation because of the additional protection it affords their family and property. Rather than rely on a simple motion detector that triggers a light, you could invest in a smarter one that sends a message to your phone when an intruder is detected on your property.
Being able to check whether a window has been left open by glancing at a phone, or being able to keep an eye on things with a smart camera, can give homeowners wonderful peace of mind.
Many people are drawn to home automation because of the additional protection it affords their family and property. Rather than rely on a simple motion detector that triggers a light, you could invest in a smarter one that sends a message to your phone when an intruder is detected on your property.
Being able to check whether a window has been left open by glancing at a phone, or being able to keep an eye on things with a smart camera, can give homeowners wonderful peace of mind.
Keep safe
Keeping your home and family safe can mean more than just protection from burglars. Several smart devices are on hand to deal with all sorts of difficult situations that might arise, from smarter fire, carbon monoxide and leak detectors that message you when they detect a change in your home environment, to discreet cameras that allow you to check whether your baby is still sleeping peacefully, so you can rest easy.
Keeping your home and family safe can mean more than just protection from burglars. Several smart devices are on hand to deal with all sorts of difficult situations that might arise, from smarter fire, carbon monoxide and leak detectors that message you when they detect a change in your home environment, to discreet cameras that allow you to check whether your baby is still sleeping peacefully, so you can rest easy.
Impress guests
Hold the perfect film night with your very own home cinema. 7.1 surround-sound systems create a truly immersive cinematic experience, and D-BOX technology can make your seat rumble and vibrate along with the action.
By having all of your film and TV sources stored in what’s called a hidden AV rack (also known as centralised distribution), you can have high definition content sent to any TV screen in the property, so you don’t need multiple messy set-top boxes or subscription fees.
Find out more about creating a home cinema
Hold the perfect film night with your very own home cinema. 7.1 surround-sound systems create a truly immersive cinematic experience, and D-BOX technology can make your seat rumble and vibrate along with the action.
By having all of your film and TV sources stored in what’s called a hidden AV rack (also known as centralised distribution), you can have high definition content sent to any TV screen in the property, so you don’t need multiple messy set-top boxes or subscription fees.
Find out more about creating a home cinema
Get high-class sound
By putting your speakers in the ceiling, you can have an entire surround-sound experience completely hidden from view. This has two benefits: it simultaneously achieves audio excellence and frees up space in your home for more attractive features.
But why stop there? Going for multi-room audio allows you to listen to different music in different rooms, or have it playing throughout if you prefer. You can also stream straight from your smartphone, so parties are sure to be a breeze.
By putting your speakers in the ceiling, you can have an entire surround-sound experience completely hidden from view. This has two benefits: it simultaneously achieves audio excellence and frees up space in your home for more attractive features.
But why stop there? Going for multi-room audio allows you to listen to different music in different rooms, or have it playing throughout if you prefer. You can also stream straight from your smartphone, so parties are sure to be a breeze.
Control at the touch of a button
Technological developments over the last decades mean that many of us now carry powerful computers in our pockets. Smartphones, along with tablets, can be used to control all aspects of your smart home, making it simpler than ever before to set everything just as you want it.
Technological developments over the last decades mean that many of us now carry powerful computers in our pockets. Smartphones, along with tablets, can be used to control all aspects of your smart home, making it simpler than ever before to set everything just as you want it.
Set the scene
A ‘scene’ is a predetermined setting that controls various devices and can be activated with just one button. The ability to create personalised scenes is key to home automation, providing convenience and coolness at a moment’s notice.
For example, the ‘party’ scene could dim some lights, change the colour of others and start playing your favourite songs. Or you could have all of the lights in your house turn off when you say the words ‘good night’ to your smartphone.
A ‘scene’ is a predetermined setting that controls various devices and can be activated with just one button. The ability to create personalised scenes is key to home automation, providing convenience and coolness at a moment’s notice.
For example, the ‘party’ scene could dim some lights, change the colour of others and start playing your favourite songs. Or you could have all of the lights in your house turn off when you say the words ‘good night’ to your smartphone.
Personalise your home
An automated home doesn’t have to mean ultra-contemporary aesthetics or any one style in particular. The beauty of a smart home is that it integrates the technology you need with the lifestyle you lead, meaning that each person’s smart home can be realised in a way that’s unique to them.
TELL US…
Do you have a smart home? If not, which aspect, if any, appeals to you? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
An automated home doesn’t have to mean ultra-contemporary aesthetics or any one style in particular. The beauty of a smart home is that it integrates the technology you need with the lifestyle you lead, meaning that each person’s smart home can be realised in a way that’s unique to them.
TELL US…
Do you have a smart home? If not, which aspect, if any, appeals to you? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
It’s important to spend a good amount of time thinking about what you want to achieve with your ‘smart’ home. The very best smart homes are those that have a mission statement in mind and stick to it.
Do you want your house to be a green, energy-efficient retreat, a secure, safe and child-friendly space, or a jaw-dropping entertainment zone? A smart home can be anything you want it to be, but trying to make it everything at once can leave it feeling messy.