Home improvement projects are fun and rewarding. Smart home improvement projects are activities the whole family can enjoy. For example, Dad can install new smart lights while the kids do the app setup for voice control. Plus, adding smart lights to your home enhances the special events like birthdays, movie nights, and more. It’s something you set up once, and reap the benefits throughout the year. Let’s look at how adding smart lights can enhance family events and more.
Controlling the mood through lighting
People rarely reflect on the powerful effect lighting has on our overall mood. I started to notice this at bars and restaurants. They create an atmosphere inside through the use of lighting. With smart lights we can do the same thing inside our homes. It’s something that you can use for special occasions, or not at all. For example, you can use them in the living room for movie night. Install smart LED light strips behind your TV. Add some tabletop lamps on either side of the TV. Set them together as a movie lights group. When you’re about to watch a movie, ask your voice assistant to turn on the movie lights with your favourite colour. It sets the mood and kids love it.
Boost productivity during the day and aid in sleep at night
I switched all the light bulbs in my home to smart light bulbs. The brand I chose has a feature where the indoor lights mimic the light of the sun. So at noon, the indoor lights have the same intensity as the sun at high noon. Conversely, in the evening, the lights indoors turn an orange glow. This syncs my body to the outdoor light schedule and helps me naturally fall asleep after sunset. I sleep very well, and a big part of it is mimicking the outdoor sun schedule indoors.
Smart lights as background decorations for celebrations
Think about all the time you spend each year decorating for celebrations. What happens after? You take all the decorations down. With smart lights, it’s like decorating once. The lights stay in place, but you can use them when you want. For example, if your son or daughter has a favourite colour, change all the house lights to that colour during their birthday. After the birthday party, change them all back—with your voice. When other events roll around, use those same lights, but with event colours. They’re basically undercover decorations.
Smart lights for safety and security
When smart lights aren’t used for celebrations, they also provide safety and security for families. There are many outdoor security lights. These can range from motion controlled smart flood lights to pathway lighting. As a homeowner, it’s important to make the areas around your home visible. That way, people can see where they are walking. Furthermore, intruders do not like bright lights. They much prefer darker areas where people can’t see them.
Smart indoor lighting provide security when families are not at home. Homeowners can remotely turn lights on or off from their smartphone. This creates the illusion that someone is home when they are not. Another option is setting lighting schedules. In the morning, set the bedroom lights on first, followed by the bathroom, then the kitchen. It will appear that you’re following your normal routine when you’re all on vacation.
Smart LED lights as accent lighting
I went all out and did a major smart light upgrade at my home. Here’s some tips and tricks I learned along the way. First, use smart LED light strips to accent walls. The trick is to install it so that you don’t see the LED light strip. It works great behind TVs, under tables, and over cabinets. LED light strips work great when they are reflecting off a white surface. My advice is to look around for places where you can use it. I have them over all my kitchen cabinets. During parties and gatherings, it creates a great lighting atmosphere.
Smart lamps and fixtures for decorative lighting
With smart lights, let your creativity take over. One way is utilizing smart lamps and fixtures. These come in a variety of different designs for both indoor and outdoor use. One tip is to use them outdoors to add ambiance to patios, outdoor kitchens, and backyard escapes. Work with different colour combinations to create certain moods. Personally, I love using purple lights at night. It’s not hard on the eyes and makes any space look futuristic.
Grouping indoor and outdoor smart lights for celebrations
With smart lights indoors and outdoors, the celebration opportunities are endless. Guests will feel the vibe from the moment they arrive on your property. One tip is to create a master group for all your lights. With your voice or from an app, you can change all the colours at once. This would be a great idea for a gender reveal party. With a single tap on your smartphone, you can reveal the baby’s gender to all your loved ones. Get creative, and find other ways to use smart lights during celebrations.
Adding smart lights to enhance family events and more
Smart lights do more than just colour your home. As we’ve discussed, they have multiple use cases throughout the year. They make great decorations because you only need to set them up once. Use them on birthdays, anniversaries, movie nights, and during other events. When you’re away on family vacations, they become a great home security tool. They make it seems as if you’re home, when you’re not.
If you’re new to smart homes, read this smart home buying guide. It tells you everything you need to know to get started. Remember, smart homes start with smart speakers and displays so pick the ecosystem that you prefer to build off. From there, check out this smart lights buying guide. Here you learn about the key features to consider when choosing which smart lights are right for you.
