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Curious about the “smart home” trend, but aren’t sure where to start? Here, we’re going to give you the blueprint to start building your own smart home faster and cheaper than you probably imagined.
Even better, if you start with the right components, you’ll be able to expand your smart home without having to worry about compatibility issues. You just need these four components, which will set you back less than $500.
All-new Echo Plus (2nd Gen) - Premium sound with built-in smart home hub
Just as your physical home needs a concrete foundation, your smart home needs a digital base to build upon.
Your hub will act as your command and control center. You’ll be able to issue voice commands for a variety of different functions and get immediate, verbal answers. From weather reports to recipes to news, your hub will act as your on-demand information source. By syncing smartphone apps with your hub, you can do things like add items to your grocery list or find out what’s on your calendar for the day, all with simple voice commands.
Your hub will also interact with other smart devices inside your home, allowing you to control your thermostat or change your illumination by voice.
Right now, we believe the best value comes from the Amazon Echo Plus.
This is the device that’s named “Alexa,” so yes, it will soon feel like Alexa is part of your family. “Alexa, turn off the den lights.” “Alexa, who won the baseball game last night?” “Alexa, call my mom.”
Not only is this device compatible with most other smart home devices and accessories, it’s incredibly easy to set up that functionality. In many cases, it’s as simple as saying “Alexa, discover my devices.”
In addition to software capabilities, the Amazon Echo Plus is no slouch in the hardware department. It includes a powerful 360-degree speaker that provides superior sound quality for when you feel like having Alexa act as your personal deejay.
“Alexa, play Beyonce’s new song.” If it’s on Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, or SiriusXM, your Echo can play it.
Echo will also play podcasts on demand.
You can even connect your Echo to your Amazon account to streamline your shopping experience. “Alexa, reorder my vitamins.” Done.
4 Pack LIFX Smart Lights
The LIFX (A19) Wi-Fi Smart LED Light Bulb 4-pack is a superior product at an excellent price point, especially when you consider that these LED lights are rated to last up to a whopping 22.8 years apiece. Not only will you be saving money, you’ll be choosing an extremely environmentally friendly lighting option.
Forget about dimmer switches … these lightbulbs not only change intensity, they can change color to create an entirely new mood in your space. These bulbs have 16 million colors, including a thousand shades of white!
If you fear that you’ll be overwhelmed by choices, don’t fret. These bulbs have day and dusk automation that will tailor the brightness, color, and temperature of your lights.
Installation and setup is a piece of cake. You don’t need to be a tech expert … just download the app and follow the simple instructions.
When you connect these bulbs to your Echo, you can control your lighting via voice command.
Plus, these babies are weather-resistant, so you have options to use them in certain outside spaces as well. “Alexa, turn off the porch light.”
Echo Dot (3rd Gen) with Amazon Smart Plug
Once you get used to relying on Alexa to act as your digital personal assistant, you’ll want to have her in every room.
The Amazon Echo Dot with Smart Plug allows you bring the capability of Alexa to other areas of your home. The Echo Plus has much of the same functionality as the Echo Plus. The only difference is that it’s a bit smaller, and has a smaller speaker than the Echo Plus.
You can connect your Echo devices to play music in multiple rooms of your house. You can also use multiple Echo devices as in-home intercoms, so your kids won’t be able to claim they “didn’t hear you” when it’s time to unload the dishwasher.
Perhaps best of all, the Smart Plug turns any device into a smart device, so you can add voice control to any outlet. No more worries about leaving the TV on after you’ve gone to bed—your Echo Dot can take care of it for you.
LIFX Z Strip Lighting Wi-Fi Smart LED Light Strip (Starter Kit)
More lighting? Really? Well, yes. LIFX Strip Lighting can (soooo easily!) transform the look and feel of your home, all while offering the convenience of smart home technology.
This lighting bundle offers ultimate flexibility in lighting options. Use the adhesive to mount these lights literally anywhere—under your kitchen cabinets, behind your TV, around a vanity mirror, or above your bar.
With nearly endless options for color and brightness, you’ll be able to create any mood you choose. You can even use multiple colors within the same strip. Built-in effects allow you to create the look and feel of a dance club, a video arcade, or whatever else your imagination can dream up.
This lighting pack is fully compatible with Echo products, so you’ll be able to simply call out your commands and watch your room change before your eyes.
Smart home technology is changing every day. We believe these four components will help you get in on the action without breaking the bank.
Even more important, these items should provide a lasting value, allowing you to build the rest of your smart home around reliable products.
Start building your smart home now.
