Smart homes are the wave of the future. Or is the future now? Technology is changing so fast, it’s really difficult to tell sometimes. No matter what kind of house you have, or when it was built, you can incorporate some of the latest technology into your home.
We’re all familiar with Alexa and Google Home. But what about lighting and temperatures in our homes? We can control all of those, too. Magically!
9 Gadgets to Help Make Your House a Smart Home
These are some of our favorite Smart Home items that we’ve come across lately. Editorial samples may have been provided. Links may be commissioned.
AirThings View Plus Air Quality Monitor
AirThings View Plus is a nifty device that monitors 7 elements of your home’s air quality and allows you access to the readings from your phone virtually anywhere. The View Plus monitors seven aspects of your home’s air quality, from radon and carbon dioxide to airborne chemicals, temperature, humidity and air pressure. You can check levels, analyze trends, and view from wherever your phone gets a signal. It operates via cable or battery and can monitor a whole house system. Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Oakywood Triple Dock 3 in 1 Charger
Imagine having a functional and good looking charging station sitting on your desk or table; now imagine that you can charge three devices at one time. The Oakywood Triple Dock 3 in 1 Charger has the ability to charge your Apple watch iphone, and airpods all at the same time and in one device. No more hunting for plugs or untangling charging cords. All the devices are conveniently stored on the Oakywood base until you need them.
Nanoleaf Black Hexagon Set
The Nanoleaf Black Hexagon Light Set is just one of the interchangeable shapes from Nanoleaf. When turned off, they look like unassuming art on the wall; but when on, they have a myriad of choices for lighting. The various shaped panels can be combined to create an infinite display on your wall. The colors can be changed to your mood or music rhythm. You can control the Nanoleaf system from your phone or home computer, and it is compatible with Amazon Alexa Google Assistant and more. Create a mood for your living space via lighting with the Nanoleaf Lighting sets.
Barsys
Barsys has created a high tech way of mixing the perfect cocktail every time, with no more worries about over or under pouring, too much mixer, etc. Simply enter the drink into their app, place the glass on the Barsys Coaster, and Barsys will tell you just when to start and stop pouring each component. Once the ingredients are added, use the handy Barsys Mixer to perfectly blend the ingredients, whether they are stirred or meant to be shaken. You’ll get consistent drinks like they serve at your favorite lounge.
Brilliant Plug In Smart Home Control
The Brilliant Smart Home package, is in a word, BRILLIANT. It instantly transforms your home into a smart home. Mount the box on the wall, plug the unit in, download the app. That’s all there is to it. Brilliant will control the lights, music, cameras, thermostats, locks and more. You have the option to add your Alexa, too. Now you can control all these things from anywhere, by using the app. One of the best features of Brilliant is the need for only one app to operate all of your smart home devices; no need for separate apps for security, locks, etc. No additional wiring is necessary; the Brilliant package is complete and ready to bring your home into the future.
Deako Switches
Deako switches make it easy to customize your lighting by allowing you to control them from one switch. Programmable through the app, you can turn on one light or the entire house lights. With the Deako Backplates installed, you can pop out regular slight switches for dimmers and vice versa, without needing to call an electrician. Great for use on your exterior lights, too. Deako switches are programmable through the app for both android and iOS users.
Dreo Air Purifier Tower Fan
The Dreo Air Purifier Tower Fan is a twofer – it is a great room fan but is also an air purifier. It uses smart technology to control it wherever you are- on the way home from the office or out shopping. Equipped with two fans, use one or both. Hepa filters clean the air within 40 feet of your unit, and the circulating fan has customizable settings to allow the user to control speed, custom oscillation and more. Control with your phone app or via the fan’s remote control. This is great for cold winters and hot summers when the windows are closed.
Dreo Polyfan Pedestal Fan with Smart Control
“Alexa, I’m getting warm. Turn on my Dreo Polyfan.” It’s that easy to get the air circulating in your room with this fan; you can also use the app or the remote control that comes with it. The Polyfan 704S circulates the air with barely a whisper of noise. It reaches a distance of over 100 feet, and the pedestal mounted fan can be adjusted in virtually any direction and height from 37 to 43 inches. It has a built-in timer and the dimmer feature keeps you from getting too cool while sleeping. It is also easy to disassemble to make cleaning easy. From the app, you can customize the fan’s operation to your schedule, and adjust times, temperature, and speed according to the schedule.
Mila Air Purifier
Air Purifiers have a somewhat tricky line to walk; it’s really difficult for the consumer to know if or how well the air purifier is working. Mila Air Purifiers have turned the industry on its head by not only showing you how much the unit has cleaned, but when you change the fan speed, it also tells you what to expect and how long it will take to achieve those results. The air purifier self-adjusts so your room air quality remains constant from room to room, no matter what size that room is.
Mila is intuitive, too. It senses when you are in the room and works at a quieter level; when you leave the room, it will accelerate again. The Mila also comes with seven options for filters, so you can tailor the filtration to your specific needs, whether it’s for a new baby’s room or to trap pet dander. Lastly, through their Automagic mode, your Mila Air Purifier will figure out what exactly what your needs are, configure your system for you, and communicate the information in a way that the user can actually understand.
These smart home items will all work in even our dumb houses. Get used to the technology, because it’s not going anywhere!
