How to Set up a Smart Home

The first question to ask when researching home automation is, what is a smart home? A smart home is one equipped with smart electronics that monitor and control various home functions. The chief appeal of a smart home is the ability to automate different daily processes and tasks.

Examples of home automation features enabled in a smart home include lights that switch on and off at scheduled times, a smart lock that removes the hassle of fumbling for your keys whenever you come home and security cameras that let you monitor your home from anywhere. However, before you can enjoy the benefits and convenience of home automation, you need to know how to set up a smart home.

Before you order smart home products, choose one of the different smart home ecosystems available. The smart home platform you select will determine the compatible smart home products you need. The two biggest smart home ecosystems are Amazon Alexa and Google Home. These platforms don’t require hardware hubs to connect the smart devices in your home. Rather, they use software hubs installed on smart speakers and smart displays. However, the most common smart home controls are the smartphones in their pockets. Whether you decide on an Amazon or Google ecosystem, there are mobile apps for phones and tablets that correlate with each one.

To narrow down your smart home ecosystem options, it’s wise to pick the one you’re already invested in. Meaning, if there are a lot of Apple products in your home, HomeKit is likely the best choice for you. Likewise, Android devices with Google services, go with Google Home and those with Kindle devices who also do a lot of online shopping on Amazon, would work best with Alexa taking vocal commands. Therefore, the best smart home digital assistant for your home is the one that goes with designed for the ecosystem you choose.

Aside from gathering smart home must-haves, you’ll first need to ensure that you have access to fast and reliable internet service and a Wi-Fi network that covers every inch of your home. If you aren’t already using the most reliable internet service provider (ISP) in your area, then switch to a plan that offers broadband internet access. To take advantage of this high-speed internet access, you’ll also need a wireless router that provides enough bandwidth to deliver fast, reliable Wi-Fi speeds.

A fully integrated smart home will have multiple smart home devices. To keep them all running without interruption, choose a Wi-Fi router that can deliver sustained high speeds to 50 or more devices. If there are wireless dead zones in your home, consider upgrading to a mesh Wi-Fi network. You’ll need a mesh networking kit including two or more mesh routers to set up a whole-home mesh Wi-Fi system. Compared to regular routers, mesh routers are easier to set up and more resilient to network congestion and interference. Moreso, they offer better Wi-Fi performance for mid-sized and large homes as well as multistory homes.

At the start of creating your smart home, rest assured that you don’t have to rush out to buy every smart home device you can find. Start with the basics by learning how to set up a smart home with smart lighting and power products. Smart bulbs and plugs are the best introductory connected devices for home automation because they’re easy to install and quickly add convenience. Starting with a few devices is also the recommended approach if you're setting up a smart home on a budget.

Furthermore, you can easily make regular appliances a little smarter by connecting them to smart plugs.

After choosing a smart home ecosystem and purchasing your first smart home devices, you need to learn how to set up a smart home. This involves connecting these devices to your home Wi-Fi network. To install a smart home device, start by downloading the companion mobile app on your phone or tablet. Next, put the gadget in pairing mode according to the instructions provided and connect it to your Wi-Fi network. Follow the same connection steps to each time you acquire more smart devices.

Each smart home product manufacturer makes a mobile app for its devices. Opening these apps whenever you need to control your smart home devices is impractical. Therefore, integrate them with the smart home app for your preferred ecosystem. For example, if you’re researching how to set up a smart home with Alexa, you’ll need to add the installed smart home devices to the Alexa app on your phone or tablet. Using this app as a central controller, you can create routines and home automation tasks that involve multiple smart home devices. If you have a smart speaker or smart display, you can also control connected devices with voice commands.

After learning how to set up a smart home and perfecting how to connect and control your first smart devices, it’s time to expand your possibilities. Research smart home products that meet certain needs and then choose the ones that make everyday living more convenient. Consider adding smart security cameras, smart locks and sensors for doors and windows to help keep your home safe. Go one step further by installing a smart camera doorbell that allows you to see and interact with visitors at your front door.

Other smart home must-haves include:

• Smart thermostats to control and automate your home’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system
• Smart sprinklers to water your lawn
• Smart switches to control lighting fixtures
• Smart smoke and carbon dioxide detectors to keep occupants safe from fire and harmful gases

As you get used to your smart home, you’ll find lots of other devices you can add, including various smart appliances and even smart pet supplies like feeders and training equipment.

Once you know how to make your home smarter, you can enjoy the convenience of home automation. Learning how to install and connect smart lights, plugs, cameras, locks, switches and sensors to your home Wi-Fi network will automate your daily tasks and give you peace of mind.