Smart home automation has become increasingly popular over the years as a viable way for homeowners to improve security, comfort, and energy efficiency in their homes. The technology has matured significantly making it the right time as a homeowner to leverage the technology to keep your home running smoothly and efficiently.
With the use of devices such as smart thermostats, smart locks, smart lights, and smart appliances, you can easily control and monitor your home’s activities from anywhere using a smartphone or tablet. In addition, many smart home devices can be programmed to work together, allowing for even more advanced automation options. For example, a Smart thermostat can be programmed to optimize energy use by adjusting the temperature according to your preferences, resulting in lower energy bills. A smart lock can be set to automatically lock the doors when the thermostat is set to away mode. A smart security cameras can be set to send you actionable notifications when motion is detected, allowing you to keep an eye on your home even when you are away. Smart appliances, such as smart washing machines and smart refrigerators, can also help you save energy by using algorithms to optimize performance.
In addition to these practical benefits, smart home automation can also add a level of convenience and comfort to your home. For example, you can use smart lighting to create the perfect ambiance for any occasion, or use smart speakers to play your favorite music or audiobooks hands-free. With the diversity of devices and services on the market, you can tailor your smart home automation setup to meet your specific needs and preferences.
There are many different ways to incorporate smart home automation into your home, and the options are virtually limitless. In this article, we will explore 36 powerful smart home automation ideas to get you started on your smart home automation journey. The extent to which you can incorporate these ideas will depend on your imagination and budget.
1. Consider implementing a smart home automation system such as Home Assistant to seamlessly control and connect all of your smart devices, and configure automation rules and routines.
2. Add a smart security camera system to keep an eye on your home and receive alerts when there is movement or unusual activity. A security camera placed in the right location around your home can provide added peace of mind and help deter bad actors. Many smart security camera systems also offer features such as night vision, wide-angle viewing, and two-way audio for even greater convenience and security. Some systems also offer cloud storage for recorded footage, allowing you to review footage from anywhere and at any time.
3. Use a smart security camera with motion sensing, object detection, and chime capabilities and create automation to chase animals away from your property by activating a chime if the camera detects an animal in its view. This will not work for all animals, but it is a good start.
4. Install a smart doorbell with a camera and intercom to see who’s at the door and communicate with the person even though you are not at home. This setup can provide you with a way to monitor for deliveries, or facilitate communication between you and certain guests while you are away.
5. Integrate a smart siren in your smart home setup to deter intruders and alert you in case of an emergency. You can even combine such a device with motion sensors and contact sensors to serve as automation triggers.
6. Use smart locks to control who has access to your home and when. With the ability to lock and unlock your doors remotely, you’ll never have to worry about whether you left the door unlocked again. In addition to being able to lock and unlock your doors remotely, smart locks also often offer the ability to grant and revoke access to your home for specific people or periods of time. This can be especially useful for managing access for guests, contractors, or other temporary visitors.
7. Set up smart lighting automations that you can control and schedule from your phone or voice assistant. This approach can help you save energy by turning off lights when they’re not needed and provide added security when you are away from home by allowing you to turn any light on and off remotely. In addition to being able to control and schedule your lights from your phone or voice assistant, you can also configure motion-sensing smart lighting conditions to automatically turn on and off based on room presence. As added benefits, some smart lighting systems also offer the ability to customize the color and brightness of your lights, allowing you to create the perfect ambiance for any occasion.
8. Install a smart thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature in your home based on your schedule or the weather. A smart thermostat can help save money on energy bills by heating or cooling your home only when needed. In addition to automatic temperature adjustments, a smart thermostat is also designed to learn your household’s preferences over time and adjust its settings for maximum comfort. Some smart thermostats also offer the ability to monitor and control humidity, air quality, and indoor air circulation, leading to even greater energy savings and comfort.
9. Configure a smart air purifier to automatically adjust its settings and clean the air in your home. You can create automations to run the machine at certain times to ensure that you always have the best air quality.
10. Install a smart ceiling fan that you can control and schedule from your phone or voice assistant. This can help save energy and create a comfortable indoor climate.
11. Set up a smart air quality sensor to monitor for harmful pollutants and automatically adjust your smart air purifier to keep the air in your home clean and healthy. Combined with other climate control automations, this is a powerful way to ensure that you and your family always have the best air quality in your home.
12. Set up a smart irrigation system to automatically water your plants or lawn based on weather patterns and soil moisture. This setup can save time and water, while also helping your plants thrive.
13. Install a smart smoke and carbon monoxide detector to automatically alert you in case of an emergency. This setup can provide added peace of mind and potentially save lives. Many smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors also offer the ability to silence false alarms remotely, and can be integrated with other devices as part of a security system.
14. Use a smart water leak detector to automatically shut off your home water supply and alert you in case of a leak in a bathroom, kitchen, or due to a burst pipe. This is a smart solution to avoid costly repairs.
15. Use a smart speaker to control your home automation devices and play music, set alarms, and answer questions. This provides a convenient and hands-free way to control your home’s smart appliances and devices. Many smart speakers also offer integrations with other smart home devices and services for additional features.
16. Install a smart home theater system that you can control and customize from your phone or voice assistant or through automations. This may include devices such as speakers, smart TVs, and projectors.
17. Use a smart TV as part of your in-home entertainment system for improved control and convenience.
18. Use a smart remote control and a few Sonos speakers to create a fully integrated and app-free multi-room audio system for your listening pleasure. You can install the remote controls on the wall for easy access, and even create automations to group and ungroup speakers with a button press.
19. Incorporate smart blinds or curtains in your smart home setup to automatically adjust lighting and privacy around your home.
20. Consider integrating smart cooking appliances in your kitchen, such as smart air fryers or microwaves with the ability to set temperature, time, and cooking mode remotely. This allows you to initiate cooking even when you’re not physically present in the kitchen.
21. Use a window sensor on your external doors and windows to be notified when a door or window is opened. You can leverage this information to automatically turn off lights or the heating and cooling system to save energy.
22. Use a smart power strip to automatically turn off electronics when they are not in use, saving energy and reducing your electricity bill. A smart power strip is different from a smart plug in that it replaces your existing outlets, allowing you to control all devices, whereas a smart plug provides direct smart connectivity to a single appliance.
23. Use smart plugs to control and automate appliances and electronics. With the ability to turn appliances on and off remotely, you won’t have to worry about leaving the coffee maker on when you’re away from home. In addition to remote control, smart plugs can often be scheduled to turn on or off at specific times, providing even more automation convenience. Some smart plugs also offer energy monitoring, allowing you to track your energy usage and identify ways to save on your utility bill.
24. Use a smart switch to create climate control automations for your fireplace to increase comfort and convenience.
25. Use a smart plug connected to the line for your electric stove at the circuit breaker to allow you to turn the stove on and off remotely in case of an emergency.
26. Connect a smart switch to your sump pump and create automations to be alerted when the sump pump is running or to detect when the switch goes offline, which will let you know if the sump pump has become inoperable. You can adapt the same automation to a gas switch if your home is set up with a switch to turn the gas on and off.
27. Use a smart plug to automate a basic coffee maker, allowing you to turn it on and off remotely and based on conditions driven by motion sensors and other criteria for your household. There is no need to purchase a smart coffee maker if you can leverage smart home technology to create the features you need at a lower cost.
28. Use a smart plug to automate a basic washing machine or dryer by creating automations to know when the machine is running or has finished its cycle.
29. Use a smart plug to activate a water fountain on a specific schedule or based on certain conditions, such as when you are hosting guests or when you have set your home to relaxation mode.
30. Install a smart switch to control your kitchen garbage disposal, allowing you to operate it hands-free while cooking in the kitchen.
31. Use NFC tags to trigger automations that would otherwise require buttons and switches, such as unlocking a door, activating a home mode, or turning an appliance on and off. You can even place NFC tags in specific spots in your car to open your garage door when unloading groceries.
32. Use an NFC tag on your HVAC unit and configure an automation to create a reminder in Google Calendar to remind you to change the filter. With this automation, you have no excuse for not changing your filters on time, which will increase the efficiency of your HVAC system.
33. Similarly, place an NFC tag on your smart locks and configure an automation to create a reminder in Google Calendar to remind you to change the batteries in your smart door locks. With this automation, you won’t have to wait until the batteries are completely dead and risk being locked out.
34. Place a temperature sensor in a strategic location in your shower and create an automation to alert you when the hot water has warmed up sufficiently for you to start your shower. This automation will help you save time and energy as you won’t have to constantly check when it’s time to start.
35. Use a Zigbee or Z-wave button on your wall and program an automation to place your house in different modes such as meeting, home, away, guest over, etc. You can take this further by setting different conditions for each mode.
36. Use motion sensors, a smart keypad, and automations to set up a smart home security system to monitor and protect your home from intrusions, fires, and other emergencies. If you are using a smart home platform like Home Assistant, you can configure the system to be controlled and monitored remotely using your smartphone.
This list is by no means exhaustive. These are just a few examples of powerful smart home automations that I have been able to use to transform my smart home setup. Don’t be afraid to use your imagination to come up with additional automations that are better suited to your specific needs. At the end of the day, your goal should be to leverage the technology to Maximize its Benefits and create a truly unique and personalized home that fits your needs and lifestyle. If you spend the time to research different systems and devices and use your imagination to Discover the Endless Possibilities of Smart Home Automation, you can truly leverage the technology to Elevate Your Home’s Functionality and make your home smarter, more convenient, and more secure with These Smart Home Ideas.
I hope you found this article, "36 Smart Home Automation Ideas to Upgrade Your Home’s Security, Comfort, and Energy Efficiency", informative and useful. For more smart home automation content, you might want to read this article next: How Does a Contact Sensor Work in a Smart Home?. If you found this article helpful, Subscribe to the On Motion Detected YouTube Channel, or sign up for our newsletter for more smart home automation content delivered to your inbox.