Lighting is an effective way of creating a sense of presence in your home. A well-lit exterior will discourage thieves and vandals from approaching your house at night. Lighting inside the house is also critical. Your parents likely used timers...you know, the ones with the round dial, but if you really want to up your game, you'll need to invest in smart lighting.
Smarthome products have become a lot easier to use in recent years, and they give you plenty of options. You'll be able to use your smartphone to turn lights on and off according to a schedule based on a set time, sunrise/sunset, or even location (provided you have your smartphone with you).
Do you use Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple Siri? If so, many products will integrate with them for voice control. If you have other smart products such as a video doorbell, smart garage door opener, or wifi-enabled thermostats, they can all be stitched together in very creative ways.
Getting started with smart lighting can be intimidating, mainly because there are so many options to choose from. Here are some of my favorites ranking from easiest to most difficult to install.
1. Smart Plugs
Using a smart plug is the least expensive and most straightforward way to smarten up your existing plug-in lamps. Just plug one into any standard electrical outlet, add a light or other device, set it up with an app, and—boom—you've got a light you can control from anywhere. Smart plugs can make your life a bit easier—not to mention more fun. Pair them with your holiday decorations to add a bit of spice.
2. Smart Lights
If you want to level up on your lighting game, you should consider smart light bulbs. The best smart light bulbs provide the ideal illumination, brightness, and of course, the ability to pair with popular smart home systems too. Going beyond on and off, many smart lights are dimmable, and they allow you to create scenes. Wake up gently in the morning to soft lighting, or set that perfect ambiance for your next family gathering. You'll be able to do so with the touch of a button. What's more, a top-quality smart bulb will use LEDs, which tend to use less energy than incandescent and halogen light bulbs.
Philips Hue is a very popular choice, but so are Wyze and Sengled.
3. Smart Switches and Dimmers
No smart lighting solution is as elegant as having smart light switches and dimmers embedded in your walls. Sure, smart bulbs and smart plugs are great options, but if the light fixture in question is controlled by a dumb switch, you'll be outta luck if someone ever puts that switch in the off position.
The reason many avoid smart switches and dimmers is they can be a pain to install. Hiring an electrician or handyman may be necessary, especially if your current light switch lacks a neutral wire. Once installed, however, a smart light switch fits much more seamlessly into your home's style, allowing you to keep many of the fixtures and lighting you already own. In addition to light switches and dimmers, many manufacturers make fan-controlling switches too. So, on a hot summer day, you can remotely turn on your ceiling fans which should help keep your cooling bills down.
We've been using Leviton switches in our own home; other highly-rated brands include Lutron Caseta, Wemo, and Legrand.
Have more questions? Call Honesty Guard Homewatch today to learn more about how you can keep your second property safe while you're away. We can help you maximize your enjoyment of the property rather than spend your vacations dealing with the issues that come with homeownership.
Rhea Ross
Honesty Guard Homewatch
email: info@honestyguard.com
phone: (850)714-2756
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