How to Design a Smart Home in 2021
Whether you are an architect, interior designer, contractor or home owner, the phrase “smart home” is hard to avoid in 2021 – but what exactly does it mean, and more importantly, how do you go about creating one?
In a nutshell, a smart home is one where certain items such as your appliances are connected to the internet and are controlled remotely.
From voice command systems such as Alexa, to automated home security systems, to smart thermostats and lighting, there are so many ways that you can take advantage of the latest technologies to improve your home.
Not sure where to start when it comes to designing the perfect smart home?
Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about smart technology for your home, from the initial design process, right through to the finished product.
Create a wish list
The best place to start when designing any home, smart or otherwise, you need to create a wish list of what you need in your home and what you just want. The simplest way to do this is by visualizing what each room will look like, as well as considering how the property will function as a whole. For example, you can get smart technologies that link together such as smart locks that trigger interior lighting.
Don’t forget to also think about how your needs might change in the future and how technology can help your home adapt to these changes.
Decide if you need professional help
If you are the home owner, you may want to think about hiring a smart home installer to help you set up all the different elements of smart tech within your home. A professional will also be able to help you with your wish list and offer guidance so that you can stay within budget.
For interior designers, architects and contractors, you need to think about what tools will help you to create the best possible smart home for your clients. For example, if you use basement design tools, you want to choose a software program that will allow you to fully integrate all the smart tech features into the design so that your client can visualize how their smart home will look and work.
Introduce reliable Wi-Fi
As you would expect, fast and reliable internet is a must for any smart home, unless you want to be let down by your new tech devices. However, when it comes to installing a good Wi-Fi infrastructure, it is much easier to achieve this when starting a building project from scratch rather than when your home is already up and running.
For optimal results when it comes to Wi-Fi, opt for several Wi-Fi access points throughout your property. You want access point systems that are “active”, meaning that when you move around your home, the system moves your device over to the best aerial.
Consider the main smart home categories
Although it is entirely up to you when it comes to choosing smart tech for your home, there are several key components of a smart home that you will probably want to include. These are as follows:
Smart lighting
You may want to invest in smart bulbs that let you control both individual lights and groups of lights via your smartphone. Alternatively, if you don’t want to change the bulbs in your home, you could simply use smart switches to control your existing lighting remotely.
Smart thermostats
If you want to walk into a warm home rather than a freezing cold one, smart thermostats allow you to adjust your heating and cooling systems based on the time of day or when you arrive home. Plus, you can place multiple sensors around your property, so that you can monitor the temperature of each room, as well as your home as a whole.
Smart locks
Whether you want to give a friend or employee access to your home when you are not there or you just want your home to feel safer, smart locks allow you to open and lock your doors via your smartphone.
Smart security systems
Highly popular and a must-have for any smart home, smart security systems can include advanced cameras, door sensors and so much more. You can even find systems that let you self-monitor your home, saving you a monthly subscription fee.
Robot vacuums and mops
If you never seem to have time to vacuum or mop your home, then these are the smart devices for you. With robot vacuums that now boast multiple sensors and camera-based navigation, these handy smart cleaners will actively learn the layout of your home over time.
Other smart systems:
- Smart sprinklers
- Smart kitchen appliances
- Smart doorbells
- Smart outlets
- Smart blinds
Unify your smart home with smart speakers
Once you have decided which control systems you would like in your smart home, you now have the choice to integrate them all with a smart speaker. These handy devices can singlehandedly connect you with all your smart devices and allow you to command them with your voice.
Choose to adjust the lights, open the blinds, turn up the heating or boil the kettle, all in a manner of seconds and without even having to lift a finger. Furthermore, you can even program in certain phrases such as “I’m leaving”, which will automatically turn off the lights, lock the garage and turn down the thermostat.
Some of the highest-rated smart speakers for 2021 include:
- Apple HomePod Mini
- Amazon Echo Dot (4th Generation)
- JBL Link Portable
- Amazon Echo (4th Generation)
- Bang & Olufsen BeoSound A1 (2nd Generation)
Final Thoughts
From energy monitoring to scheduling and voice commands to remote controls, there are so many smart devices on the market, with each one allowing you to automate your home in a different way. Offering enhanced convenience, the ability to save money, a more environmentally-friendly way of life and the opportunity to add value to your home, the question shouldn’t be “how to design a smart home in 2021” but when to, and the answer is right now.
