Making your home smarter doesn’t have to be expensive. If you’ve got just one device in your home that works with your phone, you’ve got the beginnings of a smart home. All you need to do is add to your collection, as and when you can afford to.
If you’re still undecided, or just need a little inspiration, let us show you how easy it is to get started…
1. Get some assistance
If you’re serious about creating a smart home, try the Google Home Mini.
Not only can this voice-activated assistant control your other smart home devices, it can give you the latest news, weather and travel updates, and answer pretty much any question you can think of through its inbuilt speaker. “OK, Google, do I need an umbrella today?” is always a useful one to ask before you head out to work.
Want to control your TV with your voice?
Easy – just match the Home Mini with a NOW TV Smart Box and your home will feel smarter straight away. This bundle boasts 4K, voice search and comes with a 4 NOW TV pass bundle.
2. Control your home heating
If your thermostat is a little temperamental and not user-friendly, why not get a smart thermostat and take back control of your home heating?
Hive Active Heating is great value and packed with smart features to save you money. For example, it uses geolocation to tell you if you’ve left the heating on when you go out – so you can turn it off and stop heating an empty home.
Plus, it has Automatic Frost Protection, which stops your pipes freezing by maintaining a safe temperature when winter really hits.
3. Think about your security
Worried about your home security? Or you’re just a little fed up with parcels being delivered when you’re not there? Then the Ring Video Doorbell 2 could be another choice for your smart home shopping list.
When you’re home, Ring lets you see who’s at the door before opening it. When you’re out, its motion detectors can give you instant alerts if any movement is detected.
You can then use the Ring app on your phone to see who’s at the door and speak to them through Ring’s inbuilt microphone and speakers. The doorbell also comes equipped with infrared night vision, so you can see outside clearly in the dark.
4. Control your devices
If you’ve still got some money left in your budget, then why not invest in a smart plug, like the TP-Link HS100? You can use it to control your electrical devices (such as lamps, fans, heaters, air conditioning or anything else) with your voice, or schedule them to switch on and off at certain times.
If you're tired of having to crouch down and reach blindly behind furniture to get to your sockets, it can make your life a lot easier.
Interested? Start creating your smart home with us.
