After spending an unprecedented amount of time at home over the past year, South Africans are more committed than ever to home improvement.
As technology evolves, as does the potential to make our lives easier, more convenient, more integrated – and more fun. Smart home products present the power to elevate your living experience and house functionality through interconnected technology, all controlled from the palm of your hand.
The best part? It’s far more affordable than you think.
Here are five ways to convert your house into a smart home that can be tailored to any budget:
1. Smart Lighting
Changing your home’s mood through lighting has never been easier. One of the simplest ways to incorporate smart technology into your home is through smart lighting systems. This can be done in two easy-to-install ways: by replacing your existing bulbs with smart bulbs, or incorporating smart switches into your setup.
Smart bulbs are versatile as you can choose how widely to incorporate them into your home. Simply insert the smart bulb into the light socket and set up the bulbs’ functionality through an easy-to-use app. Through the app or Smart Voice Control, you are able to change light colours to suit your mood, modulate light intensity and apply different ambient lighting to different rooms or setting timers for when to illuminate your home. Smart bulbs are also sustainable: they reduce energy consumption as they can be pre-set to only be on for specific times and their brightness can be controlled.
Smart switches are a cost-effective option, as they integrate with your existing system. Installing a single smart switch means you can manage all of the bulbs in one fixture. Though you won’t get the full auto-ambient experience, smart switches are an easy and convenient way to begin your smart home journey.
2. Smart Sound
Sound sets the scene for any occasion; be it hosting friends for dinner, enjoying movies in surround sound or having your favourite playlist keep you company while working from home.
Smart wireless speakers enable you to create an interlinked sound system that can broadcast the same audio, or operate in isolation depending on the room. Wireless, self-contained speakers means no cabling issues without compromising on sound quality. These can be controlled via your universal app, connected to your TV, or be integrated into your Smart Home Hub.
3. Smart Cleaning
Gone are the days where vacuuming is your daily struggle and yours alone. Fully automated robot vacuum cleaners have the ability to plot out and navigate a home through smart laser tech. Through the app, you are able to power up the robot vacuum, remotely control it, set specific cleaning modes and time cleaning schedules. Built-in processors enable the robot vacuum use algorithms to map out the most efficient cleaning route through the house. What’s more, when the vacuum is running low on power, it will take itself back to its dock to recharge.
4. Smart Security
With smart home improvements comes the ability to ramp up security and surveillance. Automated home security systems create an integrated network of security cameras, motion detectors and window and door sensors connected through WiFi that can be scaled according to your home. This home security system is managed through the app, where you can activate and deactivate alarms, monitor activity remotely in real-time or be alerted immediately when an alarm goes off.
5. Smart Climate Control
Smart home technology also unlocks the ability to run a more energy-efficient and climate-controlled household. As with all smart products, a central control system via an app gives you the freedom to remotely control and program air conditioners and humidifiers.
Heaters with digital thermostats enable you to set timers and temperature preferences while monitoring and optimising energy usage throughout the day. Smart humidifiers run in tandem with climate controllers to keep optimal moisture levels in the air dependent on the temperature.
The greatest benefit of intelligent technology is that you don’t have to invest in a fully integrated environment all at one. Fundamental to smart home systems is their flexibility: they can accommodate new components as you’re looking to expand your ecosystem with new devices over time.
The very nature of AIoT technology means constant evolution to develop new products to create interconnected, immersive smart home ecosystems that add value to consumer’s lives holistically.
Companies like Xiaomi are continuously innovating and optimising their smart technology suite to keep up with the rapidly expanding needs of the diverse South African market, ensuring that there is a piece of Xiaomi smart technology that fits into every South African budget.
You can get your hands on all of these Xiaomi smart products and more on Takealot.
