What Is a Smart Home and Why Should I Want One?

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From video doorbells to energy-efficient flooring, learn more about what defines a smart home (and why you may want to adopt more elements of one).

Smart homes have gone from space-age dream to everyday reality. What used to be more of a niche investment is now widely available and relatively affordable, transforming millions of homes across the U.S. One study found that the global smart home market is expected to grow from $24 billion in 2016 to more than $53 billion by 2022.

Today’s smart homes combine the latest tech innovations and automations with sustainable, durable and energy-efficient methods and materials. Within that broad definition lies many ways that a smart home, or some elements of one, could benefit you.

What Is a Smart Home?

A widely-used definition of “smart home” is a house where multiple devices automate tasks you would normally do yourself, such as arming the security system. Other actions, like turning on lights, playing music or glimpsing who just rang your doorbell, can be done right from your smart phone. You can use voice commands to control devices and appliances, and link them with each other.

It’s more than just convenience. Smart home technology is also making home maintenance easier and more effective,” says Dan DiClerico, home expert and smart home strategist with HomeAdvisor. One example is a detector that alert homeowners to water leaks under the washing machine or water heater. Some detectors even automatically connect the homeowner to a nearby plumber to fix a problem. When the plumber arrives, the homeowner unlocks the smart door lock via their smartphone to let in the plumber.

Some of the connected technology, or home automation, can be built right into your house, like pre-programmed lighting and irrigation. Others are independent one-off devices, such as a smart speaker, security camera or kitchen faucet.

What Is Smart Home Improvement?

The broader definition of “smart home improvement” includes sustainable building materials, products and methods that cut energy usage and overall costs. Choosing durable eco-friendly flooring, swapping in LED bulbs and improving insulation all qualify as smart home improvements.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration says the average household consumes 90 million BTUs of energy a year. But homes built after 2000, despite being 30 percent larger, only use two percent more energy than older homes. The difference? Energy-efficient materials and equipment.

How Does a Smart Home System Work?

A smart home system works when a group of smart home devices and appliances receive or intuit commands. The various devices work together via a central hub to adapt and respond to the needs of the homeowner.

Many devices and appliances are controlled via voice, remote control or an app on your tablet or smartphone. Others use built-in artificial intelligence like The Nest thermostat, which adjusts the temperature based on collected information — when you leave the house in the morning, for instance, or your preferences for the changing seasons.

What Are the Benefits of a Smart Home?

The benefits of a smart home, or elements of one, include saving time and money, conserving energy and increasing safety and security.

A smart security system with connected lights, cameras and doorbells may prevent someone from breaking in — typically at a lower cost than traditional security systems. Smart appliances and fixtures, like a voice-command shower that remembers each family member’s preferred water temperature, can conserve resources while streamlining routine household tasks. And according to the U.S. Department of Energy, incorporating green building materials like proper insulation can achieve whole-house energy savings of 10 to 20 percent. Savings for older homes with little to no insulation can be much higher.

How Much Does a Smart Home Cost?

While a complete smart home system using all the latest technology certainly is expensive, you can pull together an economical DIY version if you start small.

Many homeowners begin with a popular speaker-turned-digital assistant such as Google Home, Amazon Echo or the Apple HomePod. All play music, provide sports scores or suggest a good movie to watch. The next thing you know, you’ve chosen an ecosystem (a collection of same-brand technology) and you’re pairing your speaker with other smart devices that communicate with Google, Alexa or Siri.

Suddenly it’s second nature to command a range of connected devices via voice or a tablet/smartphone app to automate daily tasks.

How to Set Up Your Smart Home: A Beginner's Guide

Whether you own or rent, the allure of the smart home is strong. Imagine: You can unlock your front door with your phone, walk into your home, have the lights turn on automatically, and ask your virtual assistant to make you a cup of coffee. When you're not there, a robot vacuum will clean the place, your smart thermostat will dial down the air conditioning or heat to keep costs down, and you can monitor everything from your phone with indoor and outdoor security cameras.

No single solution can flawlessly automate your entire home, but installing and managing multiple smart devices is easier than ever. With a few off-the-shelf products, the smart home of your dreams can be a reality. Here's how to get started.

How to Control Everything In Your Smart Home

You can control the basic functions of many smart home devices directly via Wi-Fi and a companion mobile app. This means that you can simply pick up a new product, connect it to your home Wi-Fi network, download the corresponding app, and be on your merry way.

Other devices rely on more generic wireless protocols such as Zigbee and Z-Wave that help them communicate with a hub (Matter is an emerging smart home standard to keep an eye on, too). The benefit of using a hub is that you can consolidate all of your smart home products under one app and control them from there, rather than using separate apps for your light bulbs and thermostat, for example.

Some products work with multiple standards, but not all platforms are open and universal. With so many different products in so many ecosystems, building a smart home can feel like an overwhelming logic puzzle. But, as with any task, breaking the process down into smaller pieces can help you make sense of it all. We recommend starting with one or two gadgets.

Maybe you like the idea of turning on your lights with your voice or unlocking your door from your phone. Pick a category from the topics below and check out our favorite devices—you can likely find one that suits your needs by honing in on the features you want. And, at least for your first few devices, try to choose products that support multiple standards so you can build up your smart home without worrying about future conflicts.

Voice Control: The Easy Place to Start

Voice assistants are an easy and popular way to control your connected gadgets. As long as they support voice control, you can turn on the lights, turn up the air conditioning, brew a cuple of coffee, and a whole lot more, just by speaking.

A smart speaker is the easiest way to get voice control in your home, providing access to popular voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, and Google Assistant depending on what speaker you buy. Amazon offers the widest range of choices with its diverse collection of Echo speakers, while Google has a couple of Nest speakers, and Apple sells the HomePod mini. You can also find third-party speakers with Alexa and Google Assistant support, though Siri is limited to the HomePod.

You can link your smart home devices to any of these speakers (provided they support the corresponding voice assistant) and simply speak supported commands to trigger actions such as turning off all the lights before you go to bed.

Left to right: Amazon Echo (4th Generation), Apple HomePod mini

If you want a voice assistant that also puts smart home control at your fingertips, consider a smart display. They function the same as smart speakers, with support for voice commands and the ability to play audio, but they also have a screen that gives you access to touch controls for different smart home devices. Some compatible home security cameras and video doorbells can even send their video feeds directly to the screen.

Apple doesn't offer any smart displays, but Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest models come in various sizes suitable for different rooms of your home.

Google Nest Hub (Photo: Angela Moscaritolo)

Use Smart Plugs to Automate Your Old Tech

Before you start buying dedicated smart home products, keep in mind that you can use a smart plug to easily transform ordinary devices such as lamps, fans, and coffee makers into smart devices that you can control with you phone. Simply plug them into a wall outlet, download the app, and connect your non-smart device. Now, you can use a smart plug to add any functionality that isn't already there—so you can't make your white light bulbs change colors, for example. But you can get them to turn on an off at designated times.

Some smart plugs support voice commands and can even tell you how much power you use over a given period. Other models feature weather-resistance ratings that make them suitable for outside areas, such as a patio or deck. Most plugs integrate with other smart devices, too, so you can trigger a light to turn on if a security camera detects motion, for example.

Switch Out Your Old Bulbs for Brighter Ones

Smart light bulbs let you control individual lights or groups of lights. From your phone, you can configure the color, color temperature, and brightness level of these lights to create the ideal setting for dining, watching movies, reading a book, or just relaxing. You can even set them to automatically turn on and off based on several factors. The best part is that they are as easy to install as regular light bulbs.

Wyze Bulb Color (Photo: Angela Moscaritolo)

If bulbs don't appeal to you, consider a smart wall switch instead, which helps you control the existing light fixtures in your house. Just know that the installation process for this type of switch involves working with high-voltage electrical wiring. If you’re not comfortable with that prospect, hire a pro for the job.

Stay Comfortable With a Smart Thermostat

Smart thermostats let you control your air conditioning and/or heating from your phone, and automatically adjust the temperature based on the time of day, your current location, and the status of other connected devices. Some models use remote room sensors to provide uniform heating and cooling throughout your home. Smart thermostats are generally easy to install, but require working with low-voltage wiring (and typically some light drilling).

Nest Thermostat (Photo: Angela Moscaritolo)

Step Up Your Home Security

Smart locks let you lock and unlock your door from your phone, and most let you manage permanent or temporary time-specific access for friends, family, and workers. Some even let you use voice commands to lock and unlock doors. Still others offer fingerprint access. Most smart locks are complete sets that are relatively simple to install, but a handful of models require you to only replace a single interior component.

Smart doorbells enable you to see and speak to whomever is on your front steps before you open the door to potential danger. You can even view feeds on your phone or from smart displays. Many pair with cameras from their parent companies, and allow you to create a whole system of devices with sensors that detect motion, send you alerts, and save recordings. Some doorbells require you to work with low-voltage wiring, but the models that run on battery don't require wiring and install in minutes.

Indoor and outdoor security cameras let you monitor activity in and around your home, relying on sensors to detect and capture video of motion and sound events. Some indoor cameras use motorized components to provide a 360-degree view of a room, plus offer the option to store recordings both locally and in the cloud. Outdoor cameras are built to withstand the elements, and some come equipped with floodlights for illuminating driveways and backyards, but be prepared to deal with wiring. Or, you can go with a wireless outdoor camera, which is much easier to install.

SimpliSafe Home Security System (Photo: Zlata Ivelva)

For for a complete security package with door sensors, indoor motion sensors, and a siren, a full-on home security system is the way to go. DIY security systems are easy to install and let you self-monitor your home via a mobile app, but if an alarm goes off, you have to call the proper emergency agency yourself. Fortunately, most DIY systems now offer no-contract professional monitoring services; if a sensor or smoke alarm goes off, the company dispatches emergency personnel automatically.

If you prefer a more hands-off approach, companies such as ADT and Vivint can send a team of professional installers to set up sensors and other components in your home. These systems tend to be a lot more expensive than DIY ones, however.

In addition to protecting your home, many smart home security systems also provide a platform for integrating and controlling multiple home automation devices via a single app.

Beyond the Back Door

The above categories are just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper and you can find smart sprinkler systems that water your lawn automatically based on the weather and robotic lawn mowers that keep your grass under control. You can even program a recipe into a smart grill to prepare perfectly smoked ribs and other barbecued dishes. Make sure to check out our coverage of the best outdoor smart home devices for the top backyard-friendly tech we've tested.

Smart Homes Are Still Getting Smarter

It's important to note that, although smart home devices can do a lot, they're not always as smart as you might think. No one app can control everything, and there's no perfect mix of devices that all intertwine seamlessly.

At the end of the day, smart devices should make your life easier, not more difficult. So try not to get too obsessed about creating a seamless, integrated system that lasts forever. Instead, target those pain points in your day and do the best you can with what you can get now. If you keep your expectations in check, a smart home can be pretty convenient—even if it isn't quite like The Jetsons.

Smart Homes: What to Know

There are a wide range of feature-rich, smart products currently available for home installation through services providers such as General Security.

Note the following smart technologies:

Alarm Systems

These modernized, new and improved versions of standard security systems provide real-time alerts for everything from children arriving home from school to the triggering or disarming of an alarm. Smart alarms also enable homeowners to remotely monitor and control activities from any mobile device.

Security Cameras

Installing smart security cameras on and around your property enables users to view real-time footage from any mobile device, regardless of location.

Such systems are compatible with home automation hubs for integration with other devices.

Consider the following indoor, outdoor, doorbell, and wellness security cameras:

Indoor/Outdoor

Wired or wireless cameras can include night vision, in-app video feeds, motion detection, digital microphones, and clear speakers. Camera motion settings can also be adjusted for accurate video analytics and surveillance.

Doorbell

These provide contactless, front-porch communication to remotely instruct a delivery person to leave a package, food, or other items on your doorstep—all from the convenience of a smartphone.

All doorbell cameras are equipped with front-porch identification, intelligent lighting integration, and nighttime detection.

Wellcam

Available through General Security’s Wellness packages, Wellcam features real-time, two-way audio and video communication. These cameras can also easily connect to Qolsys Personal Emergency Response wristbands for additional monitoring and fall detection alerts, even if the panic button is out of reach.

Not all security systems and cameras are smart-compatible, so it’s best to work with a services provider, such as General Security, for help and assistance.

Smart homes are expected to evolve in the coming years, with more and more homeowners adding these compatible technologies for safety, security, and convenience.

Smoke Alarms & Carbon Monoxide Detectors

It’s not just burglars who could threaten your home’s safety—fires and carbon monoxide are also potential hazards. Smart capabilities provide real-time alerts of these dangers, protecting you and loved ones from potential loss of life and property. This technology will also alert of missing or low battery levels.

Thermostats

Rather than waiting to change the temperature of your home when you’re physically there, smart thermostats can be remotely adjusted, and also self-regulate based on weather reports.

Energy Management

Smart light switches, dimmers, and LED bulbs can be controlled from any mobile device, whether you’re home or away. If you forgot to turn off your lights before leaving the house, you’ll still be able to prevent a high electricity bill.

Smart outlets can manage auto shut-off for electronic devices such as TVs and gaming systems.

Sprinklers

A smart sprinkler, such as those developed by technology company Rachio, Inc., can handle more than just lawn maintenance. Similar to smart thermostats, these devices can adjust schedules based upon local weather reports, which is especially useful during seasonal changes. It can also modify usage according to soil type, sun exposure, and other lawn elements.

Leak Detection & Flood Sensors

Protecting your home from leaks and water damage is another smart feature. Receive real-time mobile alerts through your system’s leak detection and flood sensors to avoid costly damages before they happen.

Wellness

Checking in on elderly loved ones when you can’t be there provides peace of mind and reassurances that they’re safe while living independently. This is especially important during quarantine restrictions amid the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Using real-time sensor data and algorithms to identify your loved one’s regular patterns, General Security’s aforementioned Wellness system recognizes unusual activities that could lead to emergency events, such as nighttime slips and falls, lapsed medications, poor eating habits, inconsistent sleep patterns, and more.

Appliances

Smart stove and grill guards can be implemented for automatic appliance shutoff. This provides real-time monitoring for dangers such as leaving on a hot stove, grill, or oven—all of which could lead to fires, gas leaks, and propane loss.

Smart Locks

Manage efficiency and security with smart door locks whether you’re home, away, or pulling into your driveway. Mobile alerts let you know if you’ve left doors unlocked, or if they’ve been opened by an unauthorized user.

Glass Break Sensors

Also referred to as glass detectors, these notify homeowners if a glass window and/or door is broken. Unlike traditional sensors, they activate with noise or shattered glass vibrations.

When combined with contact sensors, this technology provides the highest level of real-time intruder protection for your home and loved ones.