As automation becomes more mainstream, many homeowners want to know how to make a smart home. It simplifies and enhances the quality of life by seamlessly integrating various devices and appliances to automate daily tasks. But if you’re a beginner to home automation, knowing which equipment or systems to choose from with many options can be challenging. Below is a guide on setting up a smart home so you can enjoy the benefits of home automation.
What Equipment Do I Need for a Smart Home?
Various smart home systems are available on the market today, each offering unique features and capabilities. Depending on your needs, there is a system out there that can help you automate tasks and improve your home. Some of the most popular systems include smart security systems, smart lighting solutions, home media systems, smart thermostats and climate control, and smart home hubs. Each system will be explained in this smart home guide, along with recommendations for top products.
Smart Home Hubs
In a smart home setup, a hub acts as the command center for all your smart devices, allowing them to communicate and work together. It will enable you to monitor and control your entire smart home in one central location. An excellent option for this is the ELAN Control System, as it unites all of your smart home equipment and gives you complete control over every aspect. You can control your smart home through your phone or a touch panel in your home.
Smart Security Systems
Smart security systems are essential for any smart home, providing safety and peace of mind. These systems help you monitor your home and potentially warn off intruders. They include equipment like motion detectors, smart locks, surveillance cameras, and alarm systems. A top product recommendation is as security system from Alarm.com, which includes indoor and outdoor equipment like motion sensors and cameras. This system also integrates with various smart home hubs, making it a great option if you plan on adding more smart home systems.
Smart Lighting Solutions
Lighting plays a heavy role in creating the right ambiance and saving energy. Whether indoor or outdoor, smart lighting systems can give you seamless control over the lighting. Typical components of a smart lighting system include smart bulbs, smart switches, wiring, and a central hub to control everything.
The choice between smart bulbs and smart switches depends on your overall goal for your smart home. However, at AIS, we recommend wired smart lighting solutions that have a better connection and do not need Wi-Fi to operate.
Home Media Systems
Home media systems are designed to improve your entertainment experience with smart TVs, sound systems, and streaming devices. A smart home media system can do the job if you are an audiophile or want to enjoy the whole cinematic experience.
Below are some components you might need for your home setup.
- A high-end surround sound system – Dolby Atmos is a great option.
- A smart TV or projector setup – OLED TVs and Sony Projectors offer the highest quality imagery.
- Smart lighting systems
- Theater chairs
- Acoustic sound treatments
Smart Thermostats and Climate Control
Smart thermostats and climate control systems help maintain perfect room temperature and save energy. With a touch of a button, you can change the temperature in your home from anywhere. You can also automate the temperature to a schedule, ensuring your home is never uncomfortable. One of the best options is the EcoBee Smart Thermostat; it has all the features needed and will integrate with other smart home systems.
Smart Home Touch Panels with Wired Integration
As mentioned before, having a central hub for all smart home systems is the most convenient and seamless way to control your home. A common question is the difference between wired and wireless hub integration. A wired control center is connected physically and does not need Wi-Fi to function.
From convenience to security, wired integrations offer several advantages, making it the most reliable option for homeowners. One notable system that brings this convenience is ELAN, known for its intuitive integration capabilities. With ELAN Smart Home Touch Panels, you can easily control all smart home functions, from adjusting room temperatures to activating your security systems, all in one place.
Wired Automated Lighting System & Motorized Shades
Regarding smart lighting, wired home lighting systems and smart fixtures hold a significant edge over consumer smart bulbs. These systems provide a more robust and reliable solution, offering perfect performance and a higher level of control. They don’t rely on Wi-Fi, so they’re not vulnerable to network issues and can function independently, even during internet outages.
One of the most reliable brands in this space is Lutron, which offers an impressive range of wired lighting systems and motorized shades. Lutron’s Homeworks system, for instance, provides sophisticated control of your home’s lighting and shades from a centralized system. Homeowners can program scenes incorporating lighting and shades to create the perfect mood for any time or event.
Lutron’s Serena Smart Shades are another fantastic offering. These motorized shades can be controlled via the same system as your lights. They offer energy efficiency convenience and can even be programmed to adjust based on the sun’s position.
For homeowners looking to elevate their outdoor spaces, automated landscape and exterior lighting control systems offer a solution.
With the help of a smart home touch panel like ELAN, homeowners can program their exterior lights to switch on at sunset and off at sunrise, adding a level of convenience. More advanced setups can include motion sensor integrations, turning lights on when movement is detected, offering an added layer of security. Also, accentuating features such as pools, decks, and gardens becomes effortless.
By choosing wired systems like these, homeowners can enjoy elevated control, reliability, and integration with indoor and outdoor lighting.
Smart TVs with Home Audio & Surround Sound
Integrating home audio and sound systems with smart TVs dramatically enhances the home entertainment experience when setting up a smart home. One significant advantage of this integration is the immersive audio experience these systems offer, taking your visual content to a new level.
Dolby Atmos offers immersive sound technology that places and moves sound around you, even overhead. This creates a three-dimensional soundscape, providing a sense of realism to the movie or show you’re watching.
Another audio option is Sonance, a company renowned for its innovative range of high-quality audio solutions. They offer whole-home systems that deliver uniform sound across all rooms. Whether in the living room, bedroom, or outside, you can enjoy identical audio quality and control. Sonance also excels in landscape audio systems, offering solutions to fill your outdoor spaces with ambient music, enhancing outdoor entertainment or relaxation time.
These audio integrations ensure that every corner of your house has seamless access to excellent audio, setting the perfect stage for an unbeatable viewing experience indoors and outdoors.
As far as TVs go, Sony Smart TVs are designed to deliver the best picture quality and speed. Sony TVs also support Dolby Atmos, providing an even richer and more immersive audio-visual experience.
Another popular option for home theater setups is projectors. Projectors often offer a larger viewing surface and a more immersive experience; click here for a full comparison between projectors and TVs.
Home Security System with Wired Integration
Beyond merely providing entertainment, a smart home setup can significantly enhance your home’s security. With a wired integration offered by ELAN, homeowners can manage their security systems from one convenient touch panel. This system can also be controlled via mobile applications, allowing homeowners to monitor their property remotely.
One standout feature you may not have heard of is the glass break sensor, which detects if a window or glass door in your home has been shattered or broken. This state-of-the-art sensor can provide an extra layer of security, alerting homeowners of potential intruders.
Meanwhile, the water leak sensor quickly detects water leaks and prevents possible property damage from water intrusion. This sensor provides an immediate alert once a leak is detected, allowing the homeowner to take swift action to avert any water damage.
Another underused feature is the garage door tilt sensor. This device is installed on the garage door and notifies homeowners whenever the garage door is opened or left ajar. This can go a long way to prevent unauthorized access to your home.
ELAN can connect to your entire security system, including cameras, motion sensors, and the above features. This allows homeowners to receive real-time notifications and alerts in case of any suspicious activity.
The wired integration also offers compatibility with other smart home devices, such as lights, thermostats, and motorized shades. This allows for control over all aspects of your home, making it easier to manage and more secure.
Start Your Smart Home Journey with AIS
The process of creating a smart home looks different for everyone. Each home is unique, and people have individual lifestyles that require personalized automation. From increased convenience to added safety, homeowners are transforming their homes into a hub of efficiency. Ready to start your smart home journey? Contact AIS to integrate your smart home or use our budget calculator to plan you technology investment today!
