Increasingly, smart homes are evolving to meet our desires, whether that’s being able to answer the door remotely or have the heating turned on before you get home.
“In modern homes, having gadgets and convenience is not only a want, but a selling point that adds to resale value,” says Fyaz Gill of Fabric Architecture.
Here are four trends that will elevate your home in 2022 and beyond.
Full integration
Controlling devices from an app only scratches the surface. The future is centred around full home automation and integration – that is, a hub that can talk to all different parts of the home, from the fridge and washing machine to full systems like security and temperature.
“At the moment, there are too many different systems that can’t talk to each other (for example, Alexa doesn’t talk to Siri), so a universal language makes the connected home truly integrated,” explains Gill.
This will move us away from individual devices to intuitive smart homes that learn our habits and behaviours, which is of particular benefit when it comes to energy efficiency.
Forgot to turn off the lights when you left for work? Your smart home can turn them off for you. It could also read the daily weather forecast and adjust the heating or cooling accordingly to save on energy usage.
Connected homes also have the benefit of cutting the power to some appliances overnight to reduce “vampire power” wastage, or run other appliances like the washing machine or dishwasher at specific hours to leverage off-peak power rates or solar energy.
Temp control
“Temperature control systems involve the ability to monitor your home’s temperature and turn the heating or cooling appliances on or off as needed, giving you convenience and energy efficiency,” explains Gill.
There are natural gas heating systems with smart capabilities to give you more control over your heating, hot water and boiler.
“Smart heat technology” allows you to turn your natural gas fireplace on while commuting from work. The heat output would automatically be adjusted based on your selected temperature setting, meaning the flame will modulate up or down (as opposed to simply turning on or off).
Meanwhile, “smart thermostats” can adjust the temperature setting, set timings and turn the heating and boiler off when you leave the house to conserve energy. You can also set your natural gas hot water temperature remotely via an app – so the bliss of an instant hot bath when you walk in the door awaits.
Lighting automation
This can save energy as well as increase the security of your home. But there’s also a level of customisation that can be time-saving and fun.
“You can pre-program as well as control lighting remotely,” explains Gill. “For example, you could have a dinner party setting where it will turn on lights in the house and dim them to a certain light level to create the right mood.”
Lighting systems allow you to turn lights on and off while away from the property; while also being easily integrated with security systems – they often feature motion detection, which is a classic deterrent for criminals.
Home security
Additionally, CCTV, security cameras, sensors and DIY gadgets like Nest or Ring cameras can detect motion and sound at your property and send an alert to your phone, allowing you to watch the footage or even speak.
On a friendlier note, indoor smart cameras are popular with pet owners who want to check on the dog or to know exactly when the kids get home from school.
Another extension of security, smart doors with deadbolts and other impressive locking systems can be controlled remotely.
“Some systems can call your mobile phone, and you answer and open doors via an app, which is great in instances where there’s a delivery person or a friend who needs to get something from your house,” explains Gill.
It’s also handy for those who are never 100 per cent sure they locked the front door – one look at your phone and you’ll have that certainty.