Smart technology is rising as many people are turning towards innovative electronics. In the UK alone, the number of smart homes is set to reach 29.7 million users by 2027. 

Since these electronics are not going anywhere, it might be time to invest in smart products. If you’re new to the world of smart devices, here are 10 ways to make your home smarter with electrical products.  

What Is A Smart Home?

Before looking at the different smart home lighting and heating products, it is important to understand the concept of a connected home. 

A smart home refers to an efficient home setup where electrical appliances are automatically controlled from anywhere using a wi-fi connection. 

This connection allows users to control the functions of the linked devices. You can use a smartphone or a networked device to control your appliances remotely. 

You can also grant security access to your home, adjust the lighting or temperature of a room, and create a home theatre experience with the help of smart home technology.

The best way to build a smart home is by gradually introducing smart appliances. You can easily do so through smart lighting and heating which will help you start building a connected home. 

How Do They Work?

All the devices and appliances in a smart home system can be accessed through one central point. This main point can be a smartphone, laptop, tablet, or even a game console. 

You can use a specialised home automation system for appliances such as televisions, thermostats, door locks, home monitors, lights, and other appliances such as refrigerators. This technology is installed on a smartphone or another networked device.

Smart technology also can self-learn skills. This means that smart home devices can learn the homeowner’s preferences and schedules to adjust accordingly. 

Many homeowners use smart systems for security purposes. Some home automation devices have motion sensor features. This alerts homeowners if there’s a trespasser on their property. Other home automation devices can inform the authorities in different dangerous situations. 

10 Ways To Make Your Home Smarter With Electrical Products

Now that you’ve got the basics of smart homes down, it’s time to look at all the different ways to start building such a home.

Start By Adding Smart Lighting

Installing smart lighting is one of the easiest and quickest ways to create a smart home. 

Lighting is such an essential part of any home, so investing in this technology will elevate your home’s design and prove cost-effective in the long run. At its most basic form, smart lighting allows handheld remote controllability. 

In most models, smart lights are also compatible via an app, which means you can use your smartphone or computer to operate your lighting. 

For this control to work, smart lighting typically relies on different wireless transmission signals sent to the lighting and back. 

Other smart lighting alternatives use motion and lighting sensors, which automatically turn on/off based on the amount of detected light or the presence of movement or people in a given space. 

With these innovative yet simple features, you can greatly reduce the energy consumption that comes from leaving lights turned on when the house is not occupied. 

Some of the most innovative and advanced smart lighting units also use certain machine-learning techniques for more efficient energy use. With this component, the lights monitor and learn the lighting patterns of the home's occupants. 

By learning the patterns, the light automatically turns on/off during specific times of the day based on your everyday habits. Sometimes these lights will turn on when you are away from home to keep intruders away while the home is unoccupied.  

When choosing your ideal smart lighting, there are two popular options to pick from. Let’s take a closer look at them. 

Smart Bulbs

If you have a standard light bulb, you can easily replace it with a smart one. These smart luminaries connect to an existing light socket and are set up with your home’s wi-fi network. 

Most smart light bulbs use LEDs which are highly energy efficient. Different types of smart bulbs offer several other features, including mood-based lighting, adjustable brightness, and much more. 

For high-grade smart light bulbs, visit Meteor Electrical. At Meteor, you can browse through our wide range of smart lighting that guarantees comfort and convenience. 

Smart Light Strips

Smart light strips use several bulbs to illuminate larger spaces. This type of lighting works best in smaller enclosed spaces such as on the staircase, around your TV, or under kitchen areas. 

Smart strip lighting comes in multiple colour options, and you can choose from simple white or other more eclectic colour schemes. Due to the various colour options, light strips are also commonly used for mood lighting. 

It is important to note that light strips don’t provide high-intensity brightness; they are mainly used to highlight the area they are placed in. 

Enjoy High-Tech Heating 

A smart heating system is one of the best ways to save on energy bills. Nowadays, you can find smart heating in the form of energy efficient smart radiators. 

These appliances represent the next generation of heating systems that offer better functionality and smarter energy use. 

Just like smart lighting, these radiators use a network connection to operate. Almost all smart radiators come with a corresponding app that you can download on your phone to control your appliance remotely. 

With the app, you can access various other features that perform better than other heating systems. Some advanced features include accurate temperature control, timers, scheduling and much more. 

With modern smart radiators, you can control all temperature-related aspects of your home with a few clicks on your phone. These systems use machine learning to adjust temperature according to the time of the day or the climate outside. 

Some smart radiators are also compatible with home assistant devices such as Alexa and Google Home. This feature allows you to use the heating system completely hands-free. You can also use voice controls to activate the radiators or follow commands. 

If you want to find excellent smart heaters, visit Meteor. Here you can browse through the ATC iLifestyle smart heating range. These appliances offer quality heating while reducing your energy consumption. 

Talk To Your Home With Smart Speakers

Since we’re on the topic of home assistant devices, let’s discuss how they make your home smart. These devices are also a great way to start your smart home journey, as you can turn ordinary tasks smart. 

Smart speakers are a great way to create a modern ecosystem in your home. Since they connect to several other devices, you can use them as a foundation to build your smart home. 

Simply say a word or phrase to your speakers and have them perform the command. Instead of getting up from your seat to turn the lights on, just say, “turn the lights on”, and have your whole space illuminated. 

Whether it's Amazon Alexa or Google Home, there are several options for you to choose from. Each of these speakers comes with its strengths and limitations. 

Some smart speakers are compatible with a lot of appliances, while others have a few. So make sure to check all the necessary specifications before purchasing. 

Upgrade Your Heater With Smart Radiator Valves

If you don’t want to make the jump to a fully automated heating system, you can start with smart radiator valves.  

These convenient devices add smart capabilities to a regular radiator unit. Smart radiator valves are compact, making them easy to connect to your existing heater. 

These valves work by detecting the temperature of a room and turning the appliance on or off, depending on whether the room needs heating or not. 

With smart radiator valves, you can set the temperature for individual rooms, allowing you to keep a consistent temperature throughout your home. 

Enjoy High-Quality Entertainment With Smart TVs

In any home, having a quality entertainment system is important. One of the best ways to practice this is by installing a smart TV. 

Usually, when you discuss smart products, TVs are at the top of the list. These innovative devices are becoming increasingly popular in most households. 

In fact, nearly 67% of UK residents owned a smart TV in 2022. If you’re unfamiliar with these devices, here’s how they work. 

A smart TV connects directly with your home’s network system. With this connectivity, you can access and manage other network-based platforms like Netflix. 

The main benefit of smart TVs is that you don’t need to use cable anymore. This allows you to have personalised media experience with your TV. With this feature, it’s no wonder so many people are going for smart TVs. 

Schedule Your Day With Smart Plugs

A smart plug or a smart outlet transforms your traditional electrical wall sockets into a fully customisable and controllable sockets. A smart plug is also a great way to make ordinary appliances smart. 

You must connect your smart plug to Wi-Fi or any other internet network to easily control your appliances. With a smart plug, you can control your lights, fan, and other electronic household devices. 

A smart plug is essential for easily managing your home devices and appliances. You can set a timer, create a schedule for automatic operation or switch on/off with the click of a button on your smartphone. 

For homeowners looking to create a smart home, you should start with a smart plug, as it is one of the most inexpensive ways to turn your devices smart. 

The 16A Knightsbridge smart plug allows you to control your electronic devices remotely through your smartphone. Visit Meteor Electrical to browse through our range of high-quality smart plugs.  

Enjoy Hands-Free Control With Smart Switches And Sockets

Smart switches are just like regular light switches, except they have much more advanced features. With smart switches, you can use a network-enabled smart home device to control your hardwired lights, ceiling fans, and, in some cases, your fireplace. 

Some people consider installing smart bulbs instead of smart switches; however, this can get expensive as you will have to replace every light bulb in your house with a smart build. 

With a smart switch, you control every single light bulb in your home with just one button and app. Smart switches have radio wave capabilities that make it easier for switches to connect to a nearby wireless network. 

Once your smart switch connects to the internet, it becomes a part of that interface. This process gives smart switches the “smart” capability, and it also gives them a wide variety of features, such as voice control and app control. 

Even regular appliances such as table fans, coffee makers and toasters can become smart with this convenient device. 

Bring Home Automation Outside

You don’t have to limit home automation to just the inside of your home. Now you can also turn your outdoor living space smart. 

Smart switches and sockets designed for outdoor use come with all the great benefits that you would find in the exterior device. But these come with added protection to withstand harsh weather elements. 

Outdoor sockets are designed according to the IP rating system, which certifies protection against exterior hazards. For example, they protect against dust, water, moisture etc. 

Always make sure your outdoor smart switch comes with an IP rating. Once you install them, you can create a relaxing, functional space outside your home. 

Ring Into Your Home With A Smart Doorbell

A smart doorbell can add so much more to your household. This device is a great replacement for a traditional doorbell as they perform multiple functions. 

Once you connect them to a smartphone, they will “ring” your phone if someone presses the bell. You can then view a real-time video to see who’s at the door before opening it. This allows better security, especially if you live alone. 

Most smart doorbells also offer two-way audio so you can talk to whoever is at your doorstep. If you’re not at home, this smart device will allow you to set an away message for any visitors. These fantastic features can add so much convenience to your life. 

Keep Safe With Smart Security Systems

Invest in a smart security system if you want even more security for your home. 

Even though conventional alarm systems provide ample security, smart home security provides an even wider range of features that protects your home from multiple emergencies. 

While surveilling your home, you can keep away intruders before they do any damage. Smart home security systems contain interlinked locks, lights, cameras, sensors, and doorbells, enabling higher control and surveillance. 

This type of home security is important if you are away from your home as it allows you to keep surveilling your premises.  

Take Your Home To The Next Level With Smart Products

Not sure where to find high-quality smart products? Visit Meteor Electrical. At Meteor, we’ve curated some of the best smart electrical products that mix comfort and functionality. 

From smart plugs and sockets to smart light bulbs and heaters, you can find all the appliances to suit your needs.