Transforming your home into a smart haven may sound like a luxury reserved for tech enthusiasts or high-income households, but smart home technology is now more accessible than ever. With the right tools and little guidance, anyone can enjoy a smart home's comfort, convenience, and efficiency.
From controlling your lights with a simple voice command to optimizing energy use with smart thermostats, these upgrades simplify daily life while adding a touch of luxury to your home. Whether you’re a tech novice or a savvy enthusiast, this guide will walk you through easy and affordable ways to make your home smarter.
Why Make Your Home Smart?
Integrating smart devices into your home isn't just about the "cool factor." Smart homes create a seamless environment that enhances your daily routine while delivering real benefits.
Key Benefits of a Smart Home
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Convenience
Control your lights, appliances, or even the locks on your doors—all from your smartphone or with a voice assistant like Alexa.
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Energy Efficiency
Smart thermostats and lighting systems help you save on energy costs through features that optimize energy consumption.
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Enhanced Security
From video doorbells to smart locks and motion detectors, smart devices can make your home safer.
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Customization & Comfort
Tailor your lighting, temperature, and even music playlists to fit your mood or daily schedule.
Now that you know why smart homes are a game-changer, let's explore how you can incorporate this technology into your living space.
6 Simple Smart Home Upgrades to Get You Started
1. Start with Smart Lighting
Smart lighting is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to dip your toes into the world of smart homes.
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What It Does: Control your lights remotely using an app or a voice assistant. Adjust brightness levels, set schedules, or even change colors.
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Product Suggestions: Pair the Brilliant Control with Philips Hue Smart Bulbs. Both allow customization and integration with popular voice assistants.
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Why You’ll Love It: Imagine setting the lights to a soft, cozy glow before you even step through the door or waking up to a gradual sunrise effect—a daily luxury.
2. Upgrade Your Thermostat
Smart thermostats like Google Nest Thermostat or Honeywell Home save you money and simplify climate control in your home.
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What It Does: These devices learn your heating and cooling preferences and adjust your home’s temperature automatically.
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Why You’ll Love It: Lower utility bills and the ability to come home to the perfect temperature every time.
3. Add Smart Speakers
Transform how you interact with your home by incorporating a smart speaker (or smart display if you want visuals) like Amazon Echo, Google Nest Hub, or Apple HomePod Mini. Plus, if you’re a music lover, Sonos speakers are the perfect addition to customized home audio.
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What It Does: These devices serve as personal assistants, letting you control other smart gadgets, stream music, check the weather, or set reminders—all with simple voice commands.
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Why You’ll Love It: From starting your favorite playlist while prepping dinner to asking for real-time weather & news updates, smart speakers keep life running smoothly.
4. Enhance Security with Smart Cameras & Locks
Peace of mind is priceless and the cost of entry to smarter home security is surprisingly low.
Smart Locks
Install smart locks like the August Smart Lock or Schlage Encode to lock or unlock your door remotely. Some models even offer unique access codes for guests.
Smart Cameras/Doorbells
Devices like the Ring Video Doorbell or Arlo Security Cameras come with motion detection and two-way audio, letting you see and talk to visitors from your app or integration on the Brilliant control.
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Why You’ll Love It: Whether you’re keeping an eye on packages or ensuring you are locked up when rushing out, smarter security simplifies it all.
5. Stay Connected with Smart Plugs
Even the most “non-smart” devices in your home—like coffee makers or lamps—can join the smart-home revolution with the help of smart plugs.
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What It Does: Smart plugs like those from Brilliant or TP-Link Kasa allow you to control devices remotely, set timers, and monitor energy usage.
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Why You’ll Love It: Wake up to a freshly brewed cup of coffee by scheduling your machine to turn on every morning—zero wait for that morning pick-me-up!
Pro Tips for Building Your Smart Home Setup
Choose a Central Control
If you plan to connect multiple smart devices, consider setting them up with a single ecosystem like Brilliant Smart Home System, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, or Apple HomeKit (Brilliant is compatible with all of these too!) for a seamless experience.
Check Compatibility
When buying new smart gadgets, ensure they’re compatible with your existing devices or your chosen control.
Start Small and Scale Up
Begin with a few affordable devices that align with your needs—like smart bulbs or plugs—and gradually add more functionalities over time.
Ready to smarten up your home?
Making your home smarter doesn’t have to be intimidating or expensive. By starting with small, manageable upgrades, you’ll create a more comfortable, efficient and secure space in no time.
Not sure where to start? Explore our ‘everyday luxury’ smart home controls, switches and plugs to discover what works best for your lifestyle. Check out the variety of devices that Brilliant works with.