How to start a smart home for less than $300
Smart home technology has become more easily available. More produccts have smart home features included, they are connected to our smartphones and through the internet and we can communicate with them with our voice.
So what do you need to start building a smart home? Inspired by a youtube video by The Verge, I decided to talk to you about the products that I use in my home. I use an iPhone 7, but you can use the following products with compatible Android devices.
Google Home Mini — $48
Let’s first look at the smart speaker. I own an Amazon Echo and a Google Home, but you can get the same functionality out of the Amazon Echo Dot and Google Home Mini, albeit with speakers that aren’t as loud as their bigger counterparts. They are usually $100 cheaper.
You can use these speakers to check the weather, set timers, order an Uber, play music from Spotify, and so much more. More importantly you can also use it to control other smart home products and connect them together.
For the purposes of the self imposed budget of $300 I chose Google‘s Home Mini. Amazon’s Echo Dot is another option, and you may prefer saying “Alexa” to trigger your Echo more convenient than the phrase “OK Google”. The two smart speakers have similar functionality and work with a wide range of products. So it’s a matter of personal taste. (Make sure you keep an eye out for sales, they are constantly being sold at a discount).
It didn’t take me long to get comfortable using the speaker, although my wife was very sceptical of it. She now uses our Google Home to set multiple timers to help her when she’s baking. My kids love it when I speak to it and ask it to play their favourite songs on Spotify, in fact one of my youngest daughter’s first words was a variant of “Google”. I find it incredibly easy to use and it means I use my phone a lot less when I need certain things done.
Google Chromecast — $48
This was the next thing I purchased as I had a second TV that the kids could watch Netflix on and I could control what they were watching. Set up was very simple, just follow the prompts on your smartphone.
After doing a bit of research I discovered that you could turn your TV on or off with a combination of a Googe Home and Chromecast. So I immediately plugged it into the TV in the lounge. Again, you can easily do this by connecting an Amazon Fire TV stick to your TV.
If your TV supports HDMI-CEC (Consumer Electronics Comtrol) you are good to go.
CEC is a feature of HDMI designed to allow you to command and control devices through HDMI by using only one remote control, but in this case you can control it with your voice.
- Most TVs support CEC but it is often turned off by default. Typically you can turn on CEC in the TVs settings. The location of CEC settings varies depending on the TV.
- Make sure to plug the Chromecast into a wall outlet or other power source so your Chromecast remains on when you turn off the TV off. If you plug Chromecast into the USB port on your TV, it will turn off along with your TV and won’t respond to your voice commands.
I own a 2014 Sony Bravia 50" W80B that has served the family well. Even though it has a few apps, they don’t work very well. The addition of the Google Chromecast has made watching Netflix, Youtube and other apps that support Chromecast a greater experience overall.
You’re now ready to turn your TV on or off with your voice.
TP-Link Smart Wifi Plug — $49
For most people’s homes a smart plug is the way to go. It allows you to turn things on and off either through an app or with your voice. Its limited functionality means you can use this plug with any thing you use at home that’s going to resume what it was doing when the power returns.
It is extremely helpful in a lot of cases. I’ve connected an IKEA reading lamp that I turn on without having to get up to flick the switch.
Philips Hue Starter Kit — $144
Lastly, this is the most expensive purchase you will make and you could consider this overkill but, smart lights are not complicated to set up and use and they provide a lot of utility.
The most well known are Philips Hue and you will need to buy one of Philips’ starter kits. The starter kit includes two bulbs and a hub that communicates with them. The hub connects to your router, you’ll then need to sync it with your phone and allow the smart assistant to access it.
At a basic level, you’ll be able to turn your lights on and off with your voice or with an app on your phone. Where it gets more useful is when you start setting up scenes and schedules. For example you can have your lights set to turn on 10 minutes before the sun sets every day.
Add more products over time
You have now taken your first step into a larger world. The best approach in my opinion is to start adding smart home products that you feel will be useful for your home and fit within your budget. Don’t rush purchasing too many smart home products at once as you may feel overwhelmed with too many gadgets to set up at once. The more pieces you add, the smarter your home will become.
Always make sure any new products you purchase are compatible with your existing setup and remember to always look out for sales, these items get discounted frequently.
Hello, my name is Adi Prabhakar. With 5 years working in multiple industries in marketing and management roles, I am now chasing my passion for technology through UX.
