How to do a smart home

Just a few years ago a smart home was practically sci-fi. Now we have voice-controlled bulbs, robotic vacuums, and full routines on different timers that decide how the house behaves.

Just a few years ago a smart home was practically sci-fi. Now we have voice-controlled bulbs, robotic vacuums, and full routines on different timers that decide how the house behaves. It can be very tempting to dive in and buy all of it — but it's worth being clear up front about what you actually need versus what'll just clutter your closet.

Does it actually solve a real problem?

It may be cool to own a smart toaster that toasts bread exactly the way you want and pops it up exactly when you say so — but it's a touch redundant. Try to focus on things you genuinely use every day. For me that would be light bulbs, blinds, and air conditioning.

Will it even work?

If you're starting out with IoT and your budget is on the higher side, I'd recommend a centralized system. A centralized system has one server that all the individual devices and sensors talk to. It's usually more expensive, but it's also higher quality and has fewer compatibility issues. The other option is decentralized — every device talking to every other. The upsides: it's almost always cheaper, and if one component breaks, the whole system doesn't go down (which it would if a central server failed). The downsides are compatibility and scalability. If you mix devices from two different brands, they'll usually refuse to talk to each other, and you can only scale by buying more — ideally from the same brand.

Is that everything I need to know?

Far from it, but it's a solid starting point. Next, find out whether your network is ready for these devices, because they're typically pretty hungry for Wi-Fi. You also need to secure them — for which I have an article HERE. And if you'd like to read more about smart homes, I have two more articles, on spying and on IoT implementation.