Building a smart home on a budget from scratch has never been easier. After all, home automation is now more accessible with all the available products. You can find two or more with admirable features and benefits, from intelligent speakers and alarms to yard irrigation.
You can create a smart home with lighting, entertainment, and home security without breaking the bank. A smart home comes with countless benefits, and because of this, many homeowners are considering investing in a smart home.
However, the trickiest part is determining how much you’re willing to spend and how automated you want your home to be. Setting a budget for home automation thus defines your spending limit and allows you to get creative in choosing which devices to include in your intelligent home system.
Budget-Savvy Smart Home
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A smart home on a budget can distinguish between a costly installation and future home savings. If you’re having trouble deciding how to make your home smart without spending overboard, consider some suggestions.
Identify Your Smart Home Goals
First off, you’ll need to know why you’re automating in the first place.
Do you want a more comfortable home without lifting a finger? If so, you’ll need to focus on heating, cooling, lighting, and other connected devices to set ideal temperatures and provide you with more than hot showers and warm coffee.
Do you want to set up smart home entertainment so you can listen to music no matter what room you’re in or if you’re outdoors? Or maybe you want to watch not just on your TV screen but with your mirrors? Then an automated home AV installation is best for you and your family.
Are you away from your home most of the time? Smart home security can keep your loved ones and pets safe even when traveling or away on vacation.
Aside from choosing smart home benefits, you also need to figure out how automated you want your home to be. Do you want just basic installations that include several wireless devices, or do you prefer full house automation indoors and outdoors? Knowing what you need will help you determine your budget and stay within your limits.
Start with Small Yet Affordable Devices
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Smart devices don’t need to be grand. You can build a smart home by starting with simple yet affordable devices such as smart lightbulbs, plugs, switches, and speakers. Moreover, they’re easy to install, and you don’t need rewiring or additional equipment. These simple gadgets are budget-friendly and can serve as a foundation you can build on.
You can start with a few ceiling lights that you can control via remote control or a smart lighting mobile app. You can set timers to turn them on or off, dim, or change colors. Additionally, smart plugs and switches help you control energy use as they only turn on as specified. A single, smart speaker can also provide your home entertainment needs, and some may even work as a central hub to control other smart devices.
Also Read: 25+ House Design Single Floor Ideas to Give A Modern Look
Explore Bundles
Apart from going the DIY route for wireless installations, it’s also best to combine gadgets to achieve your goal. You can include smart lighting, thermostats, and smoke detectors for home comfort goals. They are equipped with sensors that will respond to your commands or triggering events and send alerts in case of emergencies.
For home entertainment, you can have smart speakers bundled with streaming capabilities. They allow you to stream music wherever you are at home, while some will even reach your deck or garden.
If you want a secure home, you can install sensors, a doorbell camera, smart alarms, and smart locks. They can keep your loved ones safe at night. Additionally, they’ll protect your home from intruders while away, as you can receive home security updates on your smartphone.
Sync Up
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Having smart devices in your home is good, but connecting them can be a problem. You can avoid having multiple remote controls or downloading several apps if you use one of the following options:
- Look for smart devices that don’t require a central hub. There are smart lights that you can control from a mobile app or directly from its switch.
- If you can’t avoid connecting to a hub, make sure you get compatible devices so you can easily integrate them. Check labels or consult manufacturing sites as you shop.
- Lastly, to sync incompatible devices, open an IFTTT account. IFTTT stands for ‘If This, Then That,’ which signals how gadgets respond to triggers. They act as a smart home hub, albeit it can support a broader range of products and services when compared to a central hub.
