Smart home 2019: what is possible?

Is your house already smart?

Imagine: you get up in the morning and a cup of hot, fresh coffee is already waiting for you. Because it is still a bit dark outside, the lights go on one by one in the rooms that you enter. At thirty percent strength, because you've only just woken up and don't want bright lights in your eyes. It is already about twenty degrees in your home, so that you do not tremble in the shower in the cold. As soon as you walk into your living room, once showered and dressed, your audio system tells you the weather forecast and whether there are traffic jams on your route to work. Does it sound futuristic? It has all been possible for a long time. Also in your house.

Frustration and problem solving with smart home technology

We are of course talking about it smart homes: houses that have been made 'smart' by means of devices connected to the internet. This is what we call it Internet of Things (IoT). Contrary to what many consumers think, every house can now be made smart. So you do not have to be in possession of a 'house of the future'; only from a wireless internet connection.

House of the Future by Chriet Titulaer

To find out in which ways your house can be made smart, you might ask yourself which daily problems or frustrations you encounter in your house. A smart home initially solves small problems with which you have learned to live, such as the fact that it is always pitch dark when you get home. A smart house 'knows' that you are coming and puts on some lamps. There is therefore no standard concept of a smart house; for everyone this means something else.

The possibilities are endless

Look around you in your own living room and imagine what it would mean if every device were connected to the internet. You can control your lights from your smartphone. From the same smartphone you can see who is at the door (because your Ring doorbell is smart and has a built-in camera), you control your smart Anna thermostat, you can check whether your plants still need water and of course your securing the house. You also quickly check the air quality in your bedroom; if necessary, you can open a window. By means of sensors and smart plugs, lamps (Philips Hue) and speakers (Sonos) the possibilities for every household are virtually endless.

An overview of various options through Home Depot. 

Combine and be creative

It only becomes really interesting and valuable when you let those smart devices work together. For example: as soon as the Ring doorbell registers a visit to the door when no one is at home, some lights will come on and your Sonos speaker will hear a barking dog. Or: your lights go on every evening around sunset, and as soon as you enter the bedroom, they turn off automatically. By forging programs yourself through creative combinations of sensors and the various smart devices in your household, you can enrich your life.

Who is a smart home suitable for?

After reading all those options and options, you might get the idea that a smart house is something for wizkids. Maybe for techies, or for IT people. Nothing is less true: smart home has gradually become a product that can be of interest to everyone. Compare it with the emergence of the internet: first for the wizkids, but quickly established in almost all households.

The secret behind building your smart house is: start small and expand as soon as you are ready. Start with some smart lamps and door / window sensors. Make one or two programs and get to know the concept. Then expand device by device. Before you know it, your house is also such a state-of-the-art smart home, perfectly tailored to your personal lifestyle. One thing is certain: you will never want to be without it again!