Posted on July 27, 2022 by Hunter Hulbert - Home

Who doesn’t want to make their life a little bit easier? With today’s technology that’s not a problem. There are plenty of smart options to customize your living spaces. But where do you start? You can contact a local home automation company that can help you install technology that will allow you to control your home digitally, or you can start small with the help of these products. You know what they say, “Work smarter … not harder.”  

Protect your home with the Yale Assure Lock SL, a deadbolt-replacing, key-free smart lock with a built-in keypad. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities let you control the lock from anywhere — lock and unlock your door, or even share access. For hands-free unlocking, the Assure lock will auto-unlock as you get home and auto-lock once the door is closed. The lock also has a backlit keypad so, even when you don’t have your phone, you can unlock your door without the hassle of keys. Plus, you can check the door’s current security status with voice assistants, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri, and access 24/7 monitoring by setting up integrations with home automation or security systems through the Yale Access app.  

Where to buy: us.yalehome.com  

Photo courtesy of Honeywell Home

Set a comfortable temperature wherever you are in your house with the Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat with Sensor. It works with smart room sensors to help you adjust the temperature from anywhere. Place sensors where you want to see each room’s temperature and humidity. Use the multiroom display on the thermostat’s touchscreen — or in the Honeywell Home app — to focus on rooms based on occupancy or a specific schedule. When focusing on multiple rooms, the T9 works toward creating an average temperature, balancing the needs across the whole home. It is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT, Cortana and HomeKit.  

$200, without a room sensor for $170; honeywellhome.com

Far More than a Fridge  

Control your smart devices with the touch of a finger — in the middle of cooking dinner. On Samsung’s Bespoke Family Hub refrigerator LED touchscreen, which serves as an interactive digital bulletin board, family members can post videos, leave notes and sync calendars. Food management is also more seamless and easier than ever. From your smartphone, you can look inside your refrigerator using the interior camera and see what you need to order online or pick up during your next trip to the grocery store. Can’t think of what to make for dinner? Access the new SmartThings Cooking platform to get recipes. Family Hub with Alexa Built-in allows you access to Alexa skills — from timers and alarms to streaming music and shopping via voice command. You can choose whether to interact with Alexa or Samsung’s voice assistant, Bixby, or even use them simultaneously.  

Cost: Around $2,000 to $4,600, depending on various configurations — in both full and counter-depth models  

Where to buy: samsung.com/us/  

Never worry about whether you unplugged your flat iron with the Decora Smart 2nd Gen In-wall Outlet. Replace your existing outlets with this smart outlet for app control, time schedules and voice control via My Leviton, Amazon Alexa, Hey Google, HomeKit/Siri, IFTTT, SmartThings and Schlage. It makes switching appliances and lights on-off remotely a breeze. It also offers a preprogrammed turn-off after a set period of time and a “vacation mode” feature to give your house the appearance of being occupied with randomized lighting scheduled while you’re away.  

Where to buy: leviton.com  

Photo courtesy of Home Depot

Easily allow sunlight into your room with the Home Decorators Collection’s White Cordless Blackout Motorized Cellular Shades. The motor works on a rechargeable, lithium-ion battery that is easy to install inside or outside your window trim. Set your desired shade position and adjust the raise-up speed through the Home Decorators Collection app. You can also set up to six scheduled events per day. The honeycomb shade design creates air chambers that insulate and shield your room from the outside heat or cold.   

Cost: Starts at around $151, depending on styles and options (a light-filtering shade is also available)   

Where to buy: homedepot.com  

Lull your baby quickly to sleep with the Hatch Rest. This sound machine and night light combines two nursery necessities into one multifunctional product that can be controlled from your phone. Parents can choose from a range of sound options, from white noise to soft lullabies. The night light provides soft and soothing colors for midnight feeding sessions, or parents can adjust it to be bright and reassuring when their child might be scared of the dark. Bonus: A time-to-rise feature enables parents to teach toddlers and preschoolers to stay in bed until it’s time to start the day.   

Where to buy: hatch.co/rest  

Photo courtesy of Google Store

Did you know you’re supposed to test smoke alarms monthly? But 9 out of 10 people don’t. Google Nest Protect, a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector, checks its batteries and sensors more than 400 times a day. No more chirps! Its split-spectrum sensor detects smoke from both fast- and slow-burning fires. If there is a problem, it speaks up and can send a message to your phone if you’re not home. Bonus: When you walk by it at night, a sensor turns on and lights your way.  

Where to buy: store.google.com  

Tired of getting up to turn on a light? It’s time to invest in smart lightbulbs. The Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Smart Bulb (one-, two-, three-pack options) and the Wyze Bulb Color (two- and four-packs available) both offer smart, long-lasting, energy-efficient, dimmable, LED color-changing lighting options. Use your voice to turn your lights on or off. Both options offer millions of color choices to customize the lighting in your spaces, including tunable white. It also allows you to manage lighting schedules, including creating presets for waking up and falling asleep.  

Cost: $23 to $40 (Wyze); $22 to $135 (Philips Hue)  

Where to buy: wyze.com or philips-hue.com

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2022 issue of Jersey’s Best. Subscribe here for in-depth access to everything that makes the Garden State great.

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