

There are a growing number of products that offer a level of connectivity and options such as voice control. “DIY products offer a taster and can be a good solution at a basic cost,” says CEDIA Advanced Member Mike Ranpura of Smart Life AV (opens in new tab). In very general terms, smart home tech can be divided into two areas: DIY smart home products which can be purchased ‘off-the-shelf’ and installed by the homeowner, and technology which requires professional install. Do I Need a Professional to Create a Smart Home? Ultimately, your decisions regarding the technology for your smart home will come down to what you hope to achieve and your budget. “Your tech requirements today are going to be different to those in the future that playroom might become a study or a cinema room, for instance.” If you plan to live in your new home for the foreseeable future, deciding how your changing needs will be met should also shape your plans. “Consider how your rooms and home might change,” explains smart home specialist Alan Matthews of Automated Spaces (opens in new tab).Consider how the house will function as a whole, and decide whether you’d like some degree of integration (window blinds connected to the lighting for instance).Visualise how you plan to use each room.

a dedicated media room to watch films and sports) and what is a ‘need to have’ (reliable wireless throughout the house, for instance). Begin developing a wishlist - and decide on what elements are ‘nice to have’ (i.e. The starting point is to give thought to how you live and how you’d like to live. Importantly for most of us, internet provision.Security options are numerous and include smart door entry systems and CCTV.

Smart heating controls (opens in new tab) are important as we become increasingly aware of our energy use - being able to monitor and change the temperature in each room/zone is one way of reducing consumption
