Smart home systems are most people’s dream by today’s standards. You can unlock your smart door with your phone, have the lights turn on automatically, and ask your virtual assistant to make you a cup of coffee. You can operate the robot vacuum cleaner remotely to get to a clean house, or turn on the air conditioner and adjust the temperature of the house from your office. With a smart home installation, you can make your life easier and take a step into the pleasant world of automation.

According to a recent study, 53% of people currently own a smart home device. Having a smart device in the house doesn’t turn it into a smart home. To turn your home into a smart home, it is necessary to create a network where various systems work together. But not every home is or has to be fully automated. Smart home installation can also be provided solely by smartening a certain room or system.

Home automation is not so simple that everyone can apply it to their own home. In particular, it is necessary to work with a team of professionals to make the entire house smart. However, almost anyone can install small smart systems with some modern devices and systems. With a few ready-made products, most of the appliances in the house can be controlled via voice commands with a smartphone or smart speaker. So how does it possible to turn your home into a smart home?

Building The Base of Your Smart Home

Many smart home devices such as Nest, Ring, and so on have their own apps where you can control their basic functions. Devices that do not have their own application can usually be controlled from the center by connecting to the hub system. Some products are included in both categories: They have their own apps and can be controlled from a larger smart home platform. Smart home automation allows you to control them all from a single point by connecting devices to a centralized system instead of controlling them from their own apps. But some platforms, such as Insteon and Apple HomeKit, limit you more than others when it comes to which devices you can use.

Technology development affects everyday life all over the world. Technologies that serve to improve and facilitate daily life are becoming more and more appealing. Our homes, which are the most significant element of our daily lives, have become much more technological and automated thanks to smart home systems. The automatization of homes not only makes life easier but also saves money and reduces costs.

Smart Smoke Detectors

Using advanced technological devices should be the first step to turn your home into a smart home. For example, using a smart smoke detector will be much easier than connecting the regular detector to the system. A smart smoke detector is also capable of connecting all alarms together. Advanced models also feature the ability to connect older detectors to a Wi-Fi network. Thus, even old smoke alarms can become smart with a minor modification. This significantly improves the security of the smart home.

Smart Lighting

The most popular application in smart homes is smart bulbs. Smart bulbs that can be controlled by sound or self-programmable according to human behavior are the first devices included in the system during the smart home system installation. Smart bulbs consume less energy and have some advanced properties that are not in regular bulbs.

Smart bulbs are also quite appealing visually and can be controlled remotely, by touch or by voice. Their brightness can be increased or reduced. They come in a variety of sizes and colors. During smart home installation, the lighting fixtures can be connected to the home network, and thus the light adjustments can be changed without the need for a switch.

Smart Hubs

To turn your home into a smart home, it is very important to create a smart hub that will connect and control all the devices in the house. A smart hub is the brain of the smart home system. As it is known, the brain controls the entire system. The smart hub system can also control all connected devices. Recently constructed buildings are built on a smart center that controls and connects all functions.

Smart Security

Smart security cameras are very widely used smart systems, even if the smart home system installation is not completed. Almost every house, building, or workplace has a security camera system. Thanks to an application installed on the phone with a smart camera system, the home or workplace can be continuously monitored or an unusual activity may alert the phone.

Smart Meters

Smart meters included in the system during smart home installation help you to learn about the consumption of water, gas, and electricity in homes or offices. Smart meters will significantly reduce expenses by allowing energy such as electricity, water, and gas to be controlled.

Setting Up Smart Home Devices

Major brands offer compatibility with smart home ecosystems. For example, Philips Hue bulbs can be added directly to the smart home system with Google Home or Apple Home apps. Of course, this situation is not the same for every brand. Most devices require you to use a third-party app, at least for the first smart home system installation, and possibly also for configuration and control. Third-party applications are generally centralized smart home management apps. Google Home and Apple Home apps are two examples.

The installation guide that comes with each device received for smart home automation usually directs you to download the utility app as a first step. This may require a QR code scan or a serial number entry. These codes are usually on the back or bottom of the devices or in the user manual.

Apple Home or Google Home settings must be set to manually connect the account to the ecosystem. The Google Home, Apple Home, and Amazon Alexa apps offer a simplified control set for most devices.

A Few Words on Security

Smart home devices may have built-in microphones and cameras that may have consequences for privacy. Also, there is always a risk of security breaches that could expose personal information or records stored in the cloud. You should always read the manufacturer’s privacy policy and obtain information about how the data is used. It is also a good idea to do some research on the manufacturers of home automation devices to see if they were involved in an attack or problem.

Most smart speakers and smart displays have mute buttons, which are essential when it comes to smart home automation. Thanks to these buttons, devices can be turned off manually when data collection is not required. When it is requested to be turned off at certain times, smart plugs can determine the on and off times of the devices. In this way, the devices are not always on and do not follow you all the time.

Many devices within smart home automation systems can include cameras and microphones. Although this is because it gives devices the ability to receive voice commands, these additional features may pose security risks. A smart home automation device with a camera, whether it’s a robot vacuum cleaner or a smart display, should be carefully evaluated before purchasing. Apart from security systems, cameras of devices are often unnecessary but collect data. However, the threat of external connection to the camera can be avoided with covers that can switch the camera on or off for video conversations.

To reduce the risk of someone gaining access to smart home automation systems and devices connected to these systems with stolen credentials, devices that support multi-factor authentication (often referred to as two-factor authentication) should be used. Two-factor authentication requires a text message or email confirmation as well as a password when logging into the account. Email confirmation is far more secure. Therefore, if you have a choice, you should prefer email.

These security measures are not always active by default. Therefore, these may need to be manually set during the home automation installation.

In addition to offering high-security solutions, smart home systems make everyday life easier, faster, and more enjoyable. It is possible to feel the benefits of technology in all areas of the house, taking into account the security elements presented above. You may enjoy the safety, energy savings, and comfort in your daily life with a simple smart home installation.