5 accessories to make your home smart inexpensively

Once you have had the chance to control the various devices in your home thanks to modern technologies, it is difficult to do without them. Here are some suggestions to make your home smarter with a reasonable investment.

In recent years, major players in the technology industry have added to their mission that of making our homes smarter and thus easier to control. Thanks to this democratization of home automation, several new devices are now within reach to improve our daily lives. Please note that some installations require the expertise of an electrician.

Discover the 5 accessories to make your home smart

Thanks to these technological innovations, it is possible, at low cost, to more easily control several devices at home. These additions will allow you to repeatedly experience those small, satisfying moments where life is a little easier thanks to technology.

1. Control your devices with a smart outlet

One of the key elements of our home installations is undoubtedly the electrical outlets. With modern technologies, it is possible to transform these into an intelligent version, allowing you to control the power supply of your devices remotely or according to a precise schedule.

It’s easy to imagine several interesting uses for these sockets:

Secure your home by turning off the power to appliances such as coffee makers, kettles or other heating elements.

During the holiday season, easily control the lighting of your tree.

There are a host of these smart plugs on the market, like this model from the Quebec company Globe Electric, which allows, thanks to your Wi-Fi network , to control two devices independently, for around thirty dollars.

2. Control the ambiance with colored light bulbs

Since the advent of LED bulbs, the color spectrum of our homes has greatly evolved. Thanks to these, it is now easy to transform your atmosphere according to the color that best suits the situation. In addition, the different colored lights easily connect to your Wi-Fi so you can control them with your fingertip.

Several options are available to you to brighten up your home , the simplest of which is a light bulb to create intelligent ambient lighting . Once again, we have chosen the company Globe Electric, located here in Montreal, which offers a wide range of this type at a more than reasonable price, like this LED bulb sold for less than 25 dollars.

3. Replace your switch with a smarter version

For situations where LED bulbs do not produce the desired effect, it is also possible to replace any switch with a smart version. This way, your existing light fixture, your living room lamp or any other device controlled by a switch becomes accessible remotely .

There are several models of these switches, so as to be compatible with normal, three-way or even more complex connections. With your phone, or by speaking to your voice assistant , you will be able to control these elements quickly and easily .

A host of companies sell these types of devices, including major electronic brands GE and Lutron. Closer to home, Globe Electric also offers a Wi-Fi model here for less than $25.

4. Light your way at night with a motion detector

The real fun of a smart home begins when you set up automations between different devices. A great example that is simple to deploy is without a shadow of a doubt the addition of a motion detector for nighttime travel.

In addition to being able to serve as an interesting security element, motion detectors make it easier to move around in the dark. Thanks to this small device, installed for example in your corridor, you can activate lighting in order to move around without problems . It will even be possible to do it at low power level, so as not to wake up the household too much.

It’s best to get a sensor that communicates effectively with the rest of your system. For example, if you opted for Philips Hue smart lighting, the company offers a motion sensor for around fifty dollars.

This gadget can fit very well with your high-performance home theater room to allow easy and safe circulation .

5. Control your wall-mounted air conditioner optimally

With their multiple button remote controls, air conditioning units are one of the most complex home appliances to control . Furthermore, the technology behind them has not modernized at the same speed as the industry in the last decade. So the majority of devices still cannot be controlled with your phone or even less with voice.

Fortunately, several companies have created universal technologies to control your air conditioner. This involves installing the control module on a nearby wall and identifying your model in the app. From this moment, you can very easily control your air conditioners and even automate temperature changes depending on the time of day. This results in a great opportunity to save money on your energy bill .

Among the number of companies offering this type of product, Sensibo has recently stood out thanks to a complete range of reliable controllers . For example, you can get the Sky model for $129.