Bring Your 2010s Home Into 2022 With These 5 Smart Home Upgrades
Now that we’ve entered the year 2022, it’s time to ditch your old 2010 home tech. Home technology has gone through a number of advancements over the last 10+ years. Thanks to the evolving interplay between smartphone apps and more complex technology, we have complete control over our environment with just the swipe of a finger. Smart homes are safer, more entertaining, and easier to access.
But, how do you upgrade to a smart home? We’re here to give you the 5 best smart home upgrades to bring your 2010s home into 2022.
1. Upgrade to Smart Home Automation
Smart home automation is becoming a huge driving force in the housing market. If you’re considering selling your home in the next several years, you should know that researchers expect it to continue to be an important factor in homebuyers’ decision-making through at least 2027. So, what’s the big draw with automation? Convenience.
With automation, you can use smart lighting to automatically turn the lights in your home on and off at certain hours of the day. You can also set your security system to automatically disarm when it senses that you’re within a specified distance from your home. You’d be surprised what appliances in your home could be connected to WiFi for automation.
Besides just simple convenience, automation is a great investment financially. Automated lights can save you money on your energy bill. If you have a smart thermostat, you can save money by ensuring that the air conditioning in your home is only running when you need it.
The money you spend installing these technologies will make its way back to you and then some over time. Plus, adding smart home technology adds a huge boost to your home’s resale value should you ever choose to sell your home.
At Integrated Media Systems, we can tie together everything in your home – lighting, security, temperature, multi-room audio and video, and more – directly to your smartphone for automation.
2. Improve WiFi & Consider a VPN
If you have been using the same WiFi coverage for the past several years, it might be time to get an upgrade. It’s recommended that you replace your router every three years or so to ensure maximum speed and efficiency.
We can help you upgrade your network to cover more spaces and more devices than ever before.
With the rising prominence of smart home technology, your WiFi is going to be taxed more than before too. That means your WiFi system can’t be stuck in 2010 if you’re using smart home technology or it won’t have enough power for all of your devices.
You should also consider investing in a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs act as a barrier around your network to prevent other people or corporations from hacking into your home digitally. VPNs mask your location, ensuring that nobody can see what you’re watching or searching while you’re inside your home. VPNs are an especially necessary technology to invest in if you handle sensitive information for your job.
Integrated Media Systems is familiar with various types of WiFi setups and can help you choose a plan that’s right for your home.
3. Try Smart Lighting & Shading
Remember the days of “clap-on, clap-off?” Those seem like ancient times now thanks to smart home upgraded automated lighting. By connecting to your smart home device, you can control lighting and shading in every room of your home. You can automate those lights to turn on and off at certain hours or under other circumstances.
Automated shading will give you even more control of your home’s atmosphere. Blackout shading allows you to keep the sunlight out of media rooms and other places where the light may serve as a distraction. Different shading settings are also available for different seasons as the daylight hours shift.
4. Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats allow you to have full control of the climate in your home during all times of the year. You won’t need to wake up early to turn the heat on. Nor will you need to worry about coming home to a hot house in the summer after you’ve been away for a while. Your smart home device can control your thermostat no matter where you are.
By connecting all of these devices to your smart home technology, you’ll be able to have more control over your environment and will save money at the same time.
5. Think About Smart Audio/Video
Get the most out of your recreational space with a smart home audio system and enhanced video system. In today’s era, you can connect all of the audio and video systems in your home together to ensure they sync perfectly.
Your devices will learn from your watching and listening preferences to make helpful suggestions. With voice controlled technology, they’ll also become more in sync with you over time.
Voice Controlled Devices
The latest audio and video systems include voice controlled technology. With voice control, you won’t need to go fumbling around for the correct remote or worry about having enough batteries in your home to power them.
Ten years ago, who would have thought that voice controlled devices, like Amazon Alexa and Google Home, would be so commonplace in modern households? These simple smart home upgrades have changed the way that we operate as a society. That’s why it’s imperative that as we continue to evolve, our homes do as well.
For decades, Integrated Media Systems has been providing smart home automation solutions in Northern Virginia. No matter what smart home upgrade you want to tackle, we’ve got the knowledge to customize your system to fit the needs of you and your family.