It’s starting to seem like every household item has high-tech counterpart that connects to your internet to do “smart” tasks. This wave of smart items is seems for some to be complicated and unnecessary, but there are some appliances that make your home and your daily routine more efficient. Whether you want to remotely control or schedule your lighting fixtures or turn your air conditioner on so your home is nice and cool by the time you’re back from work, there’s something out there that will fit your needs. We’ve covered the benefits of using smart home tech in the past, and now we have a list of some of our favorite appliances that are worth the investment.

Samsung SmartThings Home Monitoring Kit

The most daunting task in creating a “smart home” is getting all of your different devices to seamlessly communicate with each other. The SmartThings hub fixes that problem, connecting all of your smart tech to one central component on your wifi and allowing easy access. Along with the hub, the kit comes with two multipurpose sensors that alerts when doors or windows are opened unexpectedly, a motion sensor that detects when people come and go, and an outlet that controls your electronics from anywhere.

In addition to the components you get with the kit, it can also connect with your lights, keyless door locks, cameras and doorbells, and thermostats. Along with connecting your various smart devices, this kit provides a significant boost to your home’s security, making the package a great value.

Philips Hue Smart Bulbs

Ways to make your home’s lighting “smart” include either replacing switches and power plugs or making the bulb itself smart. Philips smart bulbs do the latter, and combined with the smart hub above are the easiest solution for smart home lighting. All you have to do is replace your current light bulbs, and you have a new world of lighting options open to you. These bulbs can change color, dim, react to certain events, and switch off and on automatically, and the benefits range from saving money on your electric bill to making your home more safe. There are several types of Hue smart bulbs available to you, from traditional looking light bulbs to LED strips, allowing you to make custom lighting arrangements to fit your tastes.

Nest Smart Thermostat

The Nest brand of smart thermostat is a perfect example of how intuitive and beneficial smart tech can be. The device makes your home’s temperature system incredibly efficient, learning your preferences as you use it and adjusting accordingly. The Nest allows you to access and control temperature from your phone, and its sensors will even turn off your heating or cooling when you leave to save energy.

August Smart Lock

We’ve mentioned a few ways that smart technology can make your home more secure, and smart locks are one of the most obvious measures you can take. This product from August allows you to use your phone for keyless entry, as well as send others guest codes that will allow them access for a limited time. If you’re not totally ready to leave your keys behind and only use your phone, that won’t be a problem with the August. It easily attaches to your existing deadbolt, allowing you to keep your current set of keys.

Amazon Echo

After you’ve set up your ideal assortment of smart devices, there’s no better way to use them than the simplicity of voice activation. All of the previous items on this list are compatible with Amazon’s Alexa software, tying them together and allowing you intuitive access. Along with controlling your smart devices, you also have a great speaker that’s perfect for keeping up with the news, listening to your favorite podcasts, and entertaining guests with music.

While this list is a good starting point, we’ve barely begun to scratch the surface of options that are available to you in crafting your ideal smart home. New technologies and devices are constantly being created, making this particular type of home appliance especially exciting to keep an eye on. If you’re currently planning a renovation and want to know what type of smart home implementation is available to truly give your home the upgrade it deserves, Divine Home Remodeling is here to answer all of your questions. Give us a call today!