How to automate your home for a lifestyle of convenience
The future is now! Smart home tech is revolutionising our lives with convenience and comfort. Here’s what you need to know to set up an automated home and live like the Jetsons.
At a glance
How does it work?
Is it easy to set up?
What you need to get started
Choose your tech
Whatever your budget, the convenience and luxury of automated living can be yours. Home automation tech is now more plentiful and affordable than ever, and there are devices to suit all needs.
Automation allows you to kick back and control connected devices and appliances with a simple voice command, the tap of an app, or the press of a smart button. Start the coffee machine from bed, schedule lights to turn on and off at specified times, ask for the latest news and weather, and much more.
An automated home can save you money, too. Remote control and scheduled operations can make appliances more energy efficient, and you can also track overall usage.
The elderly or those with reduced mobility can also significantly benefit from home automation, with remote or voice control and preset schedules simplifying everyday tasks.
Whether you choose partial or full automation, once you’ve experienced the convenience and benefits, you’ll wonder how you lived without it.
How does it work?
Smart home devices are Wi-Fi or Bluetooth enabled – individual devices can be controlled from their respective apps, a smart speaker, or consolidated into a central hub for even easier control.
Connected devices all working together creates a smart home ecosystem, which streamlines control of your automated home so you don’t need to keep switching between multiple apps.
Google, Alexa and Apple Home are the three big players in this space, so choose devices compatible with the voice assistant and smartphone you’re currently using, or ones with Matter certification.
Automated devices can be scheduled to activate and deactivate at certain times with a single command, and automated routines can be easily set up by inputting a sequence of preset instructions, such as scheduling the lights and TV to switch off when it’s bedtime.
Routines can be as simple or as complex as you please, and are easily customisable to include additional commands or remove ones that you no longer use.
Is it easy to set up?
Smart devices are designed to be user friendly – including installation and connection – and easily programmed and customised for set-and-forget convenience. Companion apps guide you through the process, step by step.
Fast and stable Wi-Fi is essential to keep an automated home running smoothly. If you have a big house, consider setting up a mesh network for wider and stronger coverage throughout, and no more dead zones.
What you need to get started
Automated living can begin with a single Wi-Fi-enabled smart plug that can turn whatever is plugged into it on and off. This will give you a feel for app control and scheduling, and adding more devices helps you appreciate how a smart home ecosystem connects and interacts.
Automating your home can take time and money, so decide what you want to automate and then smarten things up one device at a time. A lifestyle of convenience awaits!
Choose your tech
^Discounts apply to previous ticketed/advertised price prior to the discount offer. As we negotiate, products will likely have been sold below ticketed/advertised price prior to the discount offer. Prices may differ at airport stores.