How To Automate Your Home
Smart homes come with smart benefits. Here’s how to automate yours.
Smart homes come with smart benefits. Here’s how to automate yours.
Smart lights, smart cars, smart speakers, smart thermostats. What about smart homes? Smart technology is everywhere, and it can offer numerous benefits to your daily routine. Smart home automation provides a simple way to streamline household chores and tasks, making them simpler and faster. But how does home automation work, and how can you make your home “smarter”—and your day-to-day life easier? Let’s explore how to build your very own home automation system.
Home automation allows you to remotely control, program, and automate household devices and tasks. All devices are connected to a single network, enabling users to control all functionalities from a smartphone, a computer, or a smart speaker through voice commands—such as an Amazon Echo or a Google Nest.
Picture this: You’re leaving for work in the morning. As you drive away, your home automatically closes the smart lock on your front door, lowers the house temperature to save energy, turns off all lights, and arms your Arlo Home Security System. Everything without even pressing a button.
Home automation can cost from $100 to $3000, with an average of $1000. The cost depends on your needs and what you want to automate. You can start with a couple of smart light bulbs, which would probably cost less than $100. But, you can also decide to replace every piece of technology in your home, adding costs to your home automation budget. Think of home automation as a tech rabbit hole. It’s up to you how far you want to reach in.
In general, home automation can improve energy efficiency, convenience, and even save time. Even with just your first smart home device, you’ll quickly notice its advantages. The benefits of home automation include:
The best way to automate your home is to first choose a smart home platform, and then pick compatible smart home devices. With such a wide range of smart home products, it can be challenging to find a starting point for home automation. This guide will help you navigate through the initial steps for automating your home and creating a future-proof system that works for you.
Since not every smart device is compatible with each other, first you need to choose a smart home platform. There are many different options, but the most popular ones include Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Samsung SmartThings.
The smart home platform you invest in will determine the devices that can be integrated into your home. For example, don’t expect your Google Nest Mini speaker to operate with light bulbs designed for Amazon Alexa. Fortunately, your Arlo smart security devices are compatible with most smart home platforms.
Once you’ve chosen your smart home ecosystem, it’s time to pick your first smart device. As you scroll through your options, remember to look for compatibility with your chosen platform. Most products come with a label that reads “Designed for Google Home” or “Compatible with Amazon Alexa.”
So, what do you want to automate first? There’s a crazy amount of options including smart light bulbs, window blinds, smart thermostats, fridges, home entertainment systems, garage doors, locks, TVs, and more. You can even automate your smart security camera, like the Arlo 2nd Gen Essential Camera which is compatible with Google Home and Amazon Alexa.
The best part? It’s your choice, and there are plenty of options that will work well for your needs. Select a compatible smart device, install the app to configure your schedule, and make it yours.
Most smart devices rely on your Wi-Fi network, making good internet connectivity crucial. Here’s a great tip for you: Invest in a high-quality router. Not only will this provide a better overall network experience, but it will also future-proof your home automation ecosystem. While you might not encounter issues with two or three connected devices, imagine having 50 or more smart products running on a 10-year-old router.
Instead of replacing all your devices, consider smart plugs. What is a smart plug, and what are the benefits of a smart plug? A smart plug lets you integrate older appliances into your smart home. Just plug in lamps, fans, or TVs, and control them remotely. It’s eco-friendly, budget-wise, and offers energy management.
Your Arlo smart home security camera system can be integrated into your home security ecosystem. Use it to keep an eye on your home and receive alerts when strangers are getting close. Options like the Arlo 2nd Gen Essential Camera come with Motion Detection, Color Night Vision, and a wide 130° Field of View. Whether it’s intended for protecting your home or simply monitoring your pet, installing a smart security camera is a great decision.
A video doorbell, on the other hand, will provide front porch protection. Options like the Arlo Video Doorbell feature models in HD or 2K video resolution for a lifelike image. With 2-Way Audio, you can remotely listen and speak to visitors. Pair it with a smart lock, and you can even open the door to family and friends from a distance.
Options like the Arlo Home Security System are compatible with multiple smart home platforms. This lets you arm the system with a voice command or program a schedule. The Arlo Home Security System’s All-in-One Sensors are able to detect and monitor eight different threats. For instance, you can use it to listen to smoke/carbon monoxide detectors, detect water leaks, or monitor doors, windows, and pathways. Sensors such as light detection can also help save energy. If your smart home scheduling turns on your living room lights when you’re away from home, easily turn them off remotely with the tap of a button.
Smart homes demand smart security solutions. With Arlo security cameras, video doorbells, and home security systems, integration into your smart home ecosystem is effortless. Whether you’re arming your alarm system or checking who’s at the door from your smartphone, Arlo has you covered every step of the way.
