Home automation ideas for beginners
If you’re just starting to explore smart home technology, it can feel pretty overwhelming. There are a lot of options, like smart plugs, water detectors and smart doorbells. This guide will give you some ideas on how you can get started easily to make your home a little smarter.
Smart in-home ideas for everyday use
An easy way to get started with your smart home, is by starting small. Smart plugs are a great example of this. Smart plugs allow you to automate regular devices in your home, such as the dry cleaner, tv and regular lights. Some are able to monitor the power usage, which helps you get an overview of what uses a lot of power and where you might have to cut back.
Where smart plugs can turn on and off regular lights, there are also devices like smart light switches. These switches can personalize the lights in your home, as well as control your heating, blinds, and sometimes even speakers or other features. All of that is possible because of an integrable system like KNX offers, which gives you the ability to connect all smart devices in your home. And even greater: the design will definitely give your smart home a finishing touch. There are a lot of KNX-compatible products out there with different looks and features. We already listed 5 of our favorites.
Smart sensors for a sense of control
Another feature that’s easy to start with are smart sensors. They are usually easy to install and don’t require too much prior knowledge or tech-savviness. There are multiple sensor types. Water detectors and motion sensors, for instance, add a great sense of security to your home, while temperature sensors help to reduce your energy consumption without any extra effort from its homeowners.
All these devices are in most cases remotely controllable, so you’re up-to-date with whatever happens at home when you’re out. Just make sure that your detectors are compatible with your current smart system.
Smart security ideas for a safer home
There’s a lot of things that you can do to make your house a bit more secure. The most common ones are probably alarm systems. We already listed the best alarm systems for you so you can make the best choice based on your preferences.
There are however, also smart locks, smart cameras and smart doorbells you could install, and even motion and presence sensors.
Smart doorbells are devices that make it possible for you to two-way-talk to the person at your door
A smart camera keeps an eye out on your porch and is oftentimes equipped with remote control. This way you receive live footage from your front door. Very handy when you’re expecting a package delivery!
Smart locks can be locked automatically around bedtime or when no one is home from the comfort of your phone.
Motion and presence sensors notice when someone enters or moves in a room, or when people are present. This way, lights will turn on and stay on until people leave the room again. Ideal when you come home in the dark and the lights automatically turn on!
Before you get started
Starting with smart home devices can be overwhelming in the beginning. Luckily, there are accessible tools to guide you in your automation journey. KNX, for example offers a free smart home planner, a tool that lists what devices you might wish to add to your home based on a simple questionnaire. To make the learning process a bit easier, we made also a list of common terms and need-to-knows.
