It used to be the case that having smart devices in your home was a luxury only reserved for the rich. These days, having a smart home is much more affordable and you really don’t need to spend a lot to get started.
Smart homes are still seen as a convenience rather than a necessity, but the wide range of devices available can make your life easier and save a lot of time. Smart devices such as lights, security systems, thermostats, and robot vacuums can all be centrally connected and controlled by you, even when you are not at home.
What You Need to Get Started
The good thing is, most people already have all the key components to get started with a smart home setup. The following things are essential if you want a smart home that will perform without limits:
- A fast and reliable Wi-Fi connection is the backbone of your smart home; it is what connects all of your smart devices together. If your internet connection is on the slow side, you may want to upgrade to a better package. You may be surprised at how cheap fast internet is, and if you have been on your current plan for a number of years you may get more for less.
- A router or modem is required, but luckily if you have internet already you will have one. Just make sure that it is set up to cope with multiple devices and faster internet speeds.
- You also need to make sure that your Wi-Fi reaches to every corner of your house. Most modern routers have good coverage, but if you live in a large house it may be wise to invest in a Wi-Fi range extender
First Stop: Home Hub
A home hub is a centralized device which allows all of your smart devices to talk to each other. As we are talking about getting started on a budget, the best two options are Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
The Google Home Mini and Amazon Echo Dot are the most basic versions of each device, and they are all you need to get started with a smart home. They can be connected and controlled by an app of your smartphone, and you can also control them with voice commands.
Smart Home Devices
Now that you have the basics set up and you have your home hub, it’s time to start adding devices. There are too many smart devices to cover in this article, so we will go over the most popular.
Robotic vacuum cleaners have revolutionised how people clean their homes, and the good news is they are constantly coming down in price. The best budget robot vacuums, like the ones featured on Clean Home Guide, will perform just as well as more expensive models. They may not have as many features as the latest Roomba, but they will adequately clean your floors.
Smart light bulbs are a cheap and easy way to transform your home into a smart home, and you can kit out your whole house for a small investment. Each light bulb can be controlled individually, and they can also be controlled from outside the house which is great for security.
Speaking of security, a smart security system is one of the most important smart devices for protecting your home. By installing wireless security cameras, you can see who is at your door before you let in unwanted visitors, and you will even be able to know if there is someone at your door when you are not in.