How Do I Set Up Smart Home?

Home automation can help if you wish you had more time in the day. Using a mobile app, you can launch the automation system by using simple voice commands or finger taps.

If you're new to smart homes, looking to expand your collection, or interested in making your devices work together, here are four steps for smart home beginners. You'll be living in a smart home in the twenty-first century before you know it.

There is no standard definition of a "smart home." It employs smart devices to automate and control household functions, frequently via mobile apps and voice commands. Convenience, security, entertainment, and energy efficiency are four advantages of smart homes that save money and time.

Getting Started With A Smart Home (Step-By-Step Guide)

1. Select your first smart device

There are thousands of ways to automate your home, making it easy to overspend on unnecessary smart devices. We recommend beginning with one or two smart devices and gradually adding more. Starting with smart touch switches is the first way to make your home automated and functional. 

Whitelion smart switches let you control your home lighting in different areas with only a single tap on your smartphone. Our smart switches are also connected with Amazon Alexa, so you can control home lighting with voice control. 

There are a number of options in smart home devices that will give you your dream home. But before selecting these smart devices, let’s consider some factors while choosing the best devices that actually work for you:

Cost: Smart devices can be purchased on almost any budget. Determine your personal boundaries.

Setup: Stick to intuitive smart devices that are appropriate for your skill level. Some electrical devices require more technical knowledge to set up than others.

Because everyone is unique, the smart device that your neighbor swears by might not work for you. There are basic lifestyle categories in our Whitelion products for a balanced smart home.

Research and review: Read customer reviews, buyer's guides, and independent reviews before making a purchase. You don't need to do as much research as we do, but different points of view are always beneficial.

So, let’s check out some smart devices with which you can start your journey toward a smart home:

We've highlighted some of our favorite products for smart home beginners that are simple to use, inexpensive, or simply too good to pass up.

Our website also provides links to relevant comparisons of the best smart home products and possible device combinations to assist you in choosing your next smart home device.

Smart Speaker

A smart speaker is most likely the best place to begin automating your home. They operate via voice commands, which can be used to set timers, play music and podcasts, and control other smart home products. A low-cost smart speaker, the Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen) uses Amazon's Alexa platform to provide smart home services. It also works with hundreds of devices.

Smart Bulb

You can automate your home using smart light bulbs, which are simple and cheap. While we appreciate multicolor light bulbs for their versatility, the Philips Hue White A19 LED Smart Bulb is a good starting point. Your voice or a mobile app can be used to schedule and dim lights. One of the best smart home brands does not offer multiple color options, but it is a cost-effective option.

Doorbell video

Video doorbells are essentially porch security cameras. They enable you to see and converse with visitors at your door without having to open it. Its affordable price and compatibility with either a rechargeable battery or existing wiring make it our top pick for a doorbell camera.

Smart Lock

Your smart lock can arm and disarm your security system, track who enters and leaves your home and eliminate the need to keep a spare key on hand. You can also unlock it remotely to free up your hand while carrying groceries. 

2. Choose Your Smart Platform 

The most difficult decision in the smart home is deciding which platform to use. From a single platform, you can control your devices and communicate with them.

Using a smartphone app, a computer, or a digital assistant such as Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri, you can manage everything remotely.

3. Connect More Devices

You can't resist adding more smart devices to your home once you see what a smart home can do. To achieve balance, consider the following four categories: control, entertainment, security, and utilities. You can turn your tech fantasies into a smart home that is useful and unique by selecting one of these categories.

4. Create Routines And Automation

A smart home's ultimate purpose is to make your life easier by enabling devices to work together. Automation and routines are two methods for making your devices work for you.

Some companies combine device functions into a single command; some refer to them as scenes or shortcuts. By changing multiple settings at once, you can avoid the time-consuming and inefficient process of changing individual settings one at a time on a smartphone app or smart speaker.

Automations employ a cause-and-effect structure, allowing devices to respond to changing conditions in your home automatically. While they require more critical thinking and a longer setup process than routines, they are the pinnacle of smart home convenience.