5 Ways to Create a Smarter Home in 2024
February 8, 2024 | Lifestyle
In a world where home devices like Google’s Nest Hub, Amazon’s Echo, Samsung’s SmartThings, and Apple’s Home Pod are growing in popularity, the vision of smart homes has shifted from sci-fi fantasy to reality. Smart homes can be built or retrofitted with wired or wireless systems that allow internet-enabled appliances such as lights, home security systems, and more to be controlled using a networked device.
If you want to modernize your home, integrating these innovative technologies can simplify your daily routines and keep you connected whether you’re watching TV, at work, or traveling abroad. Here are some smart home concepts to enhance your living space and lifestyle in 2023 and beyond.
Invest in Smart Appliances
Thanks to IoT or the Internet of Things, it’s possible to communicate between devices and the cloud. This technology has transformed many things. For example, smart thermostats can adjust home temperatures to save energy and enhance comfort through remote control and automated scheduling.
You can purchase several appliances and devices or add them over time. Additionally, there is something for every budget. High-end or luxury smart refrigerators can do everything from streaming entertainment content directly into your kitchen—so you don’t miss a minute of your favorite show while cooking!—to provide real-time updates on expiration dates and other helpful information via a smartphone app. However, these sophisticated units are pricey and cost several thousands of dollars.
But there are more affordable options available that still offer fantastic features. Opt for a smart refrigerator with fewer bells and whistles, like the Samsung smart touch screen refrigerator, which still provides nifty features like a touch screen for displaying photos, leaving notes for family members, and changing your calendar. If you don’t have other smart appliances to talk to each other, there is still value in downloading the manufacturer’s app to connect and access these features via your smartphone.
Install Smart Lighting
Smart lights can be integrated into a larger smart home ecosystem to automate and schedule lighting patterns. Installing smart light bulbs throughout your home offers a high degree of customization, allowing homeowners to adjust brightness levels and color temperatures to create different ambiances for various activities or moods.
Bright lights can seamlessly integrate with other smart security devices, such as cameras, doorbells, and motion sensors. These bulbs are available in a wide variety of options at average prices between $10 and $15 and offer many benefits for security purposes. For example, you can turn the lights on or off remotely while traveling to give the impression that someone is home, which can effectively deter potential intruders.
Smart Solar Power
Investing in solar power is an excellent decision for many reasons; it is a clean and renewable energy source, which reduces our reliance on fossil fuels and decreases carbon emissions. Solar panels can significantly lower electricity bills and are low maintenance. Solar systems with smart features are rapidly increasing so homeowners can track the sun and the performance of their system.
From sleek, sophisticated Tesla panels and the SmartFlower, which doubles as an art sculpture, to budget-conscious installations, these renewable energy systems offer something for every budget and style. Tesla solar owners can manage their arrays from anywhere worldwide via the company’s 24/7 mobile monitoring. Sunflower’s petal-shaped arrays automatically close when they sense high winds and rotate to track the sun’s trajectory throughout the day.
SunPower’s solar system includes a storage system that stores the energy collected by solar panels during the day. Homeowners can easily access the system via an app to monitor system performance, set power preferences, and transfer grid power to battery power and back.
Other Types of Smart Devices
Smart appliances are not only for kitchens. Smart TVs have evolved beyond mere entertainment consoles. They now boast functionalities that extend to controlling household systems like heating and lighting, further enhancing convenience and energy efficiency. If you’re worried about making space for new appliances or upgrading during winter, don’t be. Renting a storage unit is a great option to store your old appliances until you’re ready to sell them at a garage sale.
Where Do I Start?
If you need more time to dive into smart technologies, don’t despair. Investing in a smart vacuum may change your mind. For instance, imagine coming home to a spotless floor without lifting a finger—that’s the magic of a smart vacuum. The popular Roomba series from iRobot is equipped with advanced sensors and artificial intelligence, so it can navigate your home autonomously, effortlessly gliding around furniture and obstacles to meticulously clean every corner.
With programmable schedules and remote control via smartphone apps, you can set your smart vacuum to clean while you’re away, ensuring a consistently tidy home without interrupting your daily routine. Some models even feature mapping technology, allowing them to learn the layout of your home for more efficient cleaning. From pet hair to crumbs, smart vacuums precisely tackle every mess, giving you more time to relax and enjoy your clean living space.
Smart home technologies offer convenience, efficiency, and connectivity, enabling remote control, automation, and seamless integration for enhanced comfort and security in everyday living. Imagine your appliances, rooms, and security system working together seamlessly to create more comfort and convenience at home.
Make a Smart Choice with Metro Self Storage
Putting smart appliances in your home can offer some fun and useful benefits, including increasing your home’s energy efficiency and monitoring your home systems through your smartphone app or voice assistant. Here at Metro Self Storage, our Green Initiative is our commitment to providing a better future for the environment by rapidly growing solar panel programs across our portfolio of storage facilities.
Our state-of-the-art storage facilities have smart, motion-sensor LED lights that create well-lit spaces and other features to make your storage experience expedient and friendly. To learn more about your local storage solution, visit us online or stop by your local Metro Self Storage to speak with a member of our friendly storage teams.
