What Can a 'Smart' Living Room Do?
Senior Write for Houzz Australia, Georgia Madden, spoke to the Industry experts to find out everything we need to know about Smart Living Rooms, below.
It’s been a stressful day at work, but all is calm when you set foot inside your living room – the air conditioning has taken the edge off the heat, the blinds are already closed, the music’s playing, and the lights are dimmed just the way you like them. According to the experts we spoke to, automation in your living room makes all this possible, and more.
So What Is A Smart Living Room?
“It’s a living room that uses technology to control or automate everyday systems, such as entertainment, lighting and temperature,” says Tim Fant, product manager at Clipsal by Schneider Electric.
What’s The Appeal?
“By introducing smart home solutions to your living room, control processes are automated and streamlined so you can relax and focus on being present with those around you,” says Fant. “Also, as a common room containing multiple systems, such as the television, hi-fi system, automated blinds and lighting, the living room can quickly rack up energy costs. Setting up smart solutions can help you save energy and money by ensuring appliances are only on when they’re needed,” he says.
What Are The Main Automation Options?
“You can opt for a simple device such as Google Nest, [Amazon] Alexa or an Apple HomePod, which can generally connect to your smart phone, iPad, appliances, televisions and computers, and allow you to control things such as heating and window treatments with a voice command,” says Justine Wilson, director and principal stylist at Vault Interiors. “You can also purchase items such as wifi power boards and smart globes, which can be controlled from your home hub,” says Wilson.
Other appealing smart-home features for a living room, says Fant, include:
Smart Sockets: These turn appliances such as the air conditioner, television, hi-fi system and gaming consoles on and off automatically according to a predetermined timeframe, or after a set period of use in order to save power. It’s a more efficient and effective way to save energy than using standby power.
Dimmable Lighting: This allows you to set the mood for entertaining or movie nights with a swipe of your smart phone screen or with a voice command.
Automated Blinds: These will open automatically when the sun rises and shut automatically when it sets (or at times you specify).
Temperature Control: This smart-home system links to your air conditioner, heaters and blinds so they can be activated from your smart device, whether you’re at home or in the office. It can also switch these appliances on or off automatically according to set times or temperatures.
“There are also specialised systems such as C-Bus and Dynalite, but they do require specialised installers and products for the system to work. They are generally installed through a main wall-control unit and the technology is wired and concealed throughout your home. You can have automated climate control, music and lights, window treatments, appliances, audio-visual equipment and security, all controlled from a central hub,” says Wilson.
“One of the most-requested smart-home additions is an entertainment hub so homeowners can create a cinema-like experience with surround-sound systems and funky LED lighting,” she says. Some of the latest smart-home systems, such as Clipsal Wiser Smart Home, only require minimal wiring, making them easier to integrate into your living room.
“The use of wireless connectivity removes the need for special cabling to be wired into the home, unlike previous home-automation solutions,” says Fant. “With a system like Clipsal Wiser Smart Home, you can combine elements to create a ‘moment’ for each room. For example, impress your guests with an ‘entertaining moment’ or ‘movie moment’ that triggers smart lighting to dim or rolls down the blinds, all with the tap of a smart-device button or voice command.”
Will We See More Smart Living Rooms?
“The desire for home automation will continue to grow as we are increasingly time poor and more sophisticated, and as reliable tech continues to hit the market,” says Wilson. “The extent to which you automate your home will depend on your needs, wants and budget, but these days almost anything is possible.”
Here at Hurst Homes we offer complete customised homes that can be as individual as the owner. We guide your through the entire process including your selections to ensure you create your dream home. Just another reason why we are considered Wagga’s best builder. With over 30 years in the industry as a Wagga Builder you can trust Hurst Homes with your dream home. For information on our upcoming custom Wagga house & land packages, contact us today on 0438 692 962 or fill out the contact us page on our website.
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