The smart home market is on a significant upward trend, with no signs of slowing down. What was once “cool” additions to your home are now becoming a must-have for today’s lifestyle. Below are some easy ways to upgrade your home now or during your next home renovation.
USB Outlets
During your next remodel include USB wall outlets. I currently have the Lutron USB outlets around my home in New York City and I can’t imagine my daily life without them. USB wall chargers are gaining popularity due to their many benefits. Charging from a wall socket is much more efficient than doing it from a desktop or laptop charger, it can supply 20 amps more current – meaning that it will take half the time to charge your smartphone, which makes everyone happier, especially my kids. These plugs are small and inconspicuous and will not interrupt the look of your home. Many of the USB phone chargers available in the market tend to malfunction and break very easily. A wall charger is however very durable. As a matter of fact, installing it in your home will save you a whole lot of trouble of buying new USB ports for many years.
Smart WiFi Light Switches & Plugs
I also have the Lutron smart light switch and plug, these were recently installed in my home and is another big win for my family and I. A room’s lighting is one of the first things you notice when you enter – too much lighting can be uncomfortable, not enough lighting can put a strain on the eyes. With the Smart Switches It will allow you to adjust the lighting to the perfect setting conveniently with your smartphone through an app. Another big plus is that dimmer switches save energy. According to Lights Plus, The National Largest Lighting Retailer “Dimming your lights an average of 50 percent can cut your electric use a whopping 40 percent over time and make your bulbs last 20 times longer!”
Smart plugs have similar functionality. This allows you to turn on the power from your phone (even when you’re not home) or through a home assistant like the Apples’ HomePod or Amazon’s Echo. You can set schedules, and tie the lights together with other smart devices in your home – very convenient.
*Perry Hiiman Product Recommendations
Multi-room Wireless Sound System
This technology has been around for a while now and luckily for us, the choices and quality have only continued to increase. I’ve enjoyed the sultry tones of music on many different brands in my home theatre. I have now gained a preference, and that is the Bose Multi-room speaker line – no other brand in my opinion beats the sound quality and user experience. You can play the same music in every room or choose different music for each speaker. You can easily start with just one speaker, then add others later. The best part about having a multi-room wireless speaker system, compared with a series of Bluetooth speakers, is that calls, texts, and other notifications won’t interrupt playback. The audio system is independent of your phone, while still allowing the convenience of control via a smartphone app.
PERRY HIIMAN | CONCLUSION:
At the end of the day, renovations are fun and exciting and can now be Smart! I want you to continue to enjoy the process as it will bring about many positive changes to your lifestyle. Do a little research and check in with valid review sites such as Yelp and Google about Smart Home Renovation experts. Also remember that not all sites are reputable sources, you want to make sure that these reviews are followed up by true facts and real customers. In the event that you need additional assistance or resources, my team at NYKB Kitchen & Bath would be happy to answer these questions for you. Just give us a call at (212) 242-3500, or visit our website.
