Trying to create your own smart home? Here are a few simple ways to get started.
January 3, 2022
6 Easy Ways to Build Your First Home Automation System
Smart technology is making tasks and maintenance around the house easier than ever, while even saving energy and money. Outfitting your smart home can include everything from climate control monitors that anticipate your perfect temperature, smart locks that enable you to lock your doors from an app, or even a fun refrigerator device that tells you if you're low on eggs.
Home automation technology can be intimidating and overwhelming at first, but it doesn't have to be. If you're trying to automate your home, here are six easy areas to explore to get you started:
1. Lighting
Lighting can change the entire mood of your home, for better or worse. Smart lights put you in complete control whether you are home trying to enjoy the ambiance, or away and trying to preserve energy. You can easily turn them on remotely, so you never have to come home to a dark room, or you can even program a schedule to save energy and money on your electric bill.
2. Home Security
There's nothing more important than the safety of your family and belongings. A home security system offers peace of mind that the things most important to you are completely safe whether you're home or away. Some systems offer overall alarm, keypad, cameras and motion sensor options that can be activated through apps, while others specialize in HD door bell cameras.
3. Door Locks
Upgrade your traditional deadbolts with easy-to-use smart locks. Imagine how convenient it would be to open your front door without fumbling around for keys with an armful of groceries (or kids), or being able to give trusted friends and family members their own “digital" keys to house sit when you're away.
With the Smart Door Lock from Cox Homelife, you can lock and unlock your doors, or check the status of your locks from anywhere using your Homelife mobile app. Not sure if your doors are even compatible? Use this helpful checklist to determine if your door is compatible with our Cox Homelife Smart Door Lock.
4. Climate
Always struggling with your home being too hot some days and too cold on others? It really is a seemingly never ending struggle. In your new smart home, the temperature will always be just right. Certain devices can maintain the climate of your home more efficiently, saving both money and energy. Cox's Smart Thermostat is both sleek and efficient, enabling you to change the temperature using the unit itself, or remotely from your mobile app.
Going to be away from home for awhile? Set up schedules or rules that enable the thermostat to adjust automatically to a temperature that saves you money and energy.
5. Entertainment
A smart entertainment system is one of the best ways to upgrade your home. Smart TVs, smart speakers and other smart devices are a great (and fun!) place to start.
If you want all of your TV entertainment to be in one, easy to use place, check out Cox Contour. Contour lets you access your favorite live TV channels, DVR, On Demand, Netflix, YouTube and more - all in one place. It also has features like the Contour Voice Remote and smart search. You can speak into your remote to find your favorite shows and movies, and you can even use your remote to control your Homelife devices or watch your security camera feed right on your tv!
6. Fun Stuff
If you want to start small, there is no shortage of smart gadgets available that are just plain fun. If you have furry friends, check out all the latest in Smart Tech for Pets, including a dog game console and an automatic ball launcher.
If you aspire to be the host with the most, you'll get inspiration in How to Throw the Ultimate Game Day Party. Did you know you could sit back and relax while a smart device crafts cocktails and mocktails?