Modern technology is integrated in our day-to-day lives. So much so, people now look for its conveniences everywhere, including in their homes. The rise of smart houses continues, with more advanced features being added every day. Whether you’re embarking on a new home or want to upgrade an existing one, these products can help make any home feel like a home of the future.

Smart Outlets

Not everyone realizes how wasteful most of their device chargers are. When plugged into a standard outlet, chargers and power cables for devices like cell phones, computers, and TVs continuously draw electricity, even if a device isn’t connected to the charger or turned on.

A smart power outlet has the ability to tell if it’s being actively used and can shut itself off when a device is not connected to its charger or is powered off. This conserves energy and saves you money on your electric bill. These outlets can also automatically shut off power to a charger once a device’s battery is fully charged, which saves energy and also helps to extend the battery life of your devices. If a device overheats while plugged in, these outlets will cut power to help prevent device damage and potential fires.

Smart Speakers

There are hundreds of options for smart speakers on the market. It’s easy to find one that fits your specific needs. Most speakers are compatible with whichever technology ecosystem you live in, whether that’s Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa, or Google’s Assistant. Speakers come in a range of sizes to fit the audio needs for different spaces. Shop small speakers for the bedroom to large multi-speaker configurations that can create an immersive sound experience in larger communal living areas.

Most smart speakers come equipped with microphones to detect commands given by homeowners. When integrated with other smart systems in the home, you can use speakers to set timers, turn on lights, turn on other devices like TVs, lock the door, and set the temperature. You can even design advanced routines for the speakers to execute that carry out a series of commands all at once.

Smart Lights

From standard to color-changing lights, there are plenty of smart light options to choose from. While sometimes expensive up-front, almost all smart lights are LEDs. This is beneficial since they’ll last for years to come.

Most smart lights are dimmable and many have the ability to mix colors. It’s easy to adjust your home’s lighting to fit your needs. Choose a warm or cool tone, or even create a funky multi-colored look to fit a holiday or particular mood.

These days, you can control smart lights with remotes and mobile applications. You can also integrate your lights into larger smart home systems. Then, control them via digital assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant through smart speakers.

Smart Vacuums

Robotic vacuums have been available for years. But there are great new features all the time. Newer, upgraded smart vacuums get into small spaces and can self-empty. In addition to vacuums, many companies make smart mops that are better for cleaning hard flooring surfaces.

It’s amazing how great a different daily cleaning can make in a home and how much time having that cleaning done by a smart vacuum can give back to your day. Many of these vacuums come with scheduling abilities so homeowners can set them to run while they’re at work. Higher-end models come with mobile applications that can notify owners if the vacuum has become stuck, needs to charge, or requires emptying. Some can also be controlled through home assistants, making it easy to ask for additional cleaning or for cleaning to pause if it’s no longer convenient for you.

Smart Security

Lots of people struggle to remember if they locked the door or closed the garage. Luckily, there are many solutions to this everyday problem. Smart security runs the gamut from automated locks and video doorbells to specialized alarm sensors and security cameras. In addition to major industry players like Google, many third-party manufacturers specialized in security equipment compatible with other control systems.

Combined video doorbell and lock systems are popular. Did someone ring your doorbell? You’ll get a notification on your phone. Once you see who it is, you can choose to automatically unlock the door and allow them in. Some doorbells even allow you to speak to whoever has rung like an intercom. These systems are great for people who receive large numbers of online deliveries. Don’t let anyone steal your packages!

These are only a few of the smart home upgrades that you have to choose from.