These 10 gadgets turned my house into a smart house with little effort

I’ll be honest, I thought this was absolutely ridiculous and unnecessary until a friend suggested it to me. If you’re like me, you’re a little nervous about entering a dark house with no lights in sight. This light switch allows you to turn on your lights remotely, giving you a little peace of mind when walking through your front door.

The app also allows you to schedule a timer for when the lights will turn on, which is useful for people who get home from work at the same time every day. It also supports voice activation with Alexa, so you can easily use it by saying “Alexa, turn off the lights.”

One 5-star reviewer wrote, “I just purchased and installed this product to use Alexa voice and a remote control for my office lights.” “This product works as advertised. It’s worked for the most part. In fact, I can turn the lights on and off using the Alexa devices I have in my house. This means my family can sometimes nudge me. That’s what it means.

Once the floodgates opened with the Kasa Wi-Fi light switch, it didn’t take much convincing for me to adopt these popular smart plugs. The two-in-one design not only expands your outlet options, but also allows you to remotely control your appliances and devices.

I use these to turn floor lamps and fans on and off. I also have friends who use them for TVs, streaming devices, and countertop kitchen appliances like coffee makers and juicers. Like light switches, these are also compatible with Alexa, so just tell Alexa to turn them on or off and you’re done.

“The ability to control each outlet individually is a game changer,” wrote one impressed shopper. “This gives us unparalleled flexibility and allows us to tailor our energy usage to our specific needs.”

Here are the products that I use every day, multiple times a day. I’ve been using this in my bathroom for over two years now and I can tell you it’s saved me a ton of money, time, and peace of mind.

I don’t necessarily consider myself a germophobe, but I always cringe at the idea of ​​going to the bathroom and touching the soap pump before washing my hands. So when I came across this touch-free soap dispenser while randomly scrolling through Amazon late at night, I stopped and added it to my cart. I always praise it as one of my favorite impulse purchases I’ve ever made. There are no app controls or fancy features. Simply apply soap to your hands without physically touching the device, resulting in a more hygienic experience. Plus, I’ve saved a lot of money on hand soap over the years because I buy my hand soap in bulk (this antibacterial dial hand soap is only $18 for 3 large bottles) and just refill the dispenser when it’s low. I did. It can also be charged via a simple cord and adapter just like any other device.

“I have one for my bathroom and kitchen,” one 5-star fan wrote. “I enjoy using this soap dispenser because it is hands-free and has censored operation and can dispense different amounts of soap. As your hand moves closer to the top, the amount of soap decreases and goes to the bottom. and more quantity.”

I received this #1 bestseller as a gift a few years ago for Christmas, and it is one of my most prized possessions. I love a good family portrait, but I’ve found that some of my best photographic memories are in candid photos and random snaps taken throughout the year.

Ever since my mom came to visit and I took her to The Edge, or when my best friend took photos of my wedding cake cutting instead of having a photographer. Those are the moments I want to see – and this digital photo frame will help you display them in the easiest way possible. All I had to do was download the app and upload the photos I wanted to display in the frame to my library. When the frame detects movement in the room, a slideshow from your library will play in seconds.

Another fan wrote, “This is the easiest frame to use.” “When you take it out of the box and download the app, [and] Start sending photos. It took 2 minutes to set up. ”

If you’re looking to shop, our tech editors have reviewed other smart frames. This bestseller happens to be my favorite.

It’s that time of year when fans and air conditioners are sidelined and temporarily replaced by heaters. When I work from my desk at home, my feet turn into ice cubes during the fall and winter. So to help with that, I bought this small smart space heater. This is one of the best investments I’ve ever made.

I use my fair share of Dreo products at home, so I’ll be the first to tell you that their app is top notch. It’s very sophisticated and easy to use. You can adjust the space heater’s temperature and settings from your phone, and it’s also compatible with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Voice Assistant.

“The best feature of this heater is that it’s app and Alexa compatible,” agrees an Amazon fan. “You can control all features via the app, and you can also start and stop using Alexa commands.” [and] Set the temperature and oscillate. ”

From scented candles to incense, I’m obsessed with cozy scented spaces. There’s nothing better than a compliment from a guest who says, “Your house smells so nice,” or a scent that makes your home feel like a haven when you’re curled up on the couch after a long day. No compliments.

I’ve used my fair share of scent diffusers, but this is the only one that can fill my entire living room from end to end. This smart diffuser is built to fill 1,000 square feet of space, so it fills your home with amazing scents from one end to the other. With the Pura app, you can also control the intensity of your scent, set a timer, and even set up a diffuser before you get home.

“I have a two-story vaulted house and this works wonders,” wrote another impressed shopper. “It’s easy to use because it fills the room without feeling overwhelming.”

This is one of the most “smart house-y” products on this list. Let me explain. This is one of the all-in-one smart gadgets that can perform its respective functions expertly. Every smart device I own, from displaying a video feed that clearly shows who’s at the door, to displaying the weather, setting timers, playing music, connecting to Kasa light switches and Govee smart plugs, and more. Integrates seamlessly with your device. The built-in Google Assistant is also fast and intuitive. I can’t tell you how many times a week I ask, “Hey Google, what’s the weather going to be like today?”

My favorite, and perhaps least impressive feature, is a simple live clock screensaver that displays the time in the background, which adjusts based on the weather. So, if it is raining outdoors, you will see small water droplets on the screen. If it’s sunny, it will show the sun’s rays, if it’s night, it will show small stars, and it will automatically dim when the room gets dark.

There are many good video doorbells out there, so finding the “best” one comes down to personal preference. I’ve tried a few over the past two years and this one has become my favorite. Rick Breida, senior tech writer at Yahoo, also called it the “best video doorbell overall” because you can see people from head to toe and see if packages are on the ground. are.

I like that the night vision is easy to decipher and the motion detection is not too sensitive. So instead of your phone alerting you when a leaf falls on your balcony, it alerts you when someone or something of interest is actually there. . It also has lots of even better features, like pre-recorded voice messages and a built-in siren.

“Once you deploy it, you can integrate with Amazon Alexa, Google, and more. [Voice] “It includes not just Assistant, but Apple HomeKit and even the SmartThings ecosystem,” Broida said in his review, which also happens to be one of my favorite features. Hey Team Apple HomeKit!

I’ve never been a victim of a home invasion, but I didn’t want to risk it happening, so I invested in this smart lock deadbolt system. I’m really glad I purchased it. It looks much more expensive than it actually is, but it has a fingerprint keyless entry system that allows me, my spouse, and anyone I authorize on the app to unlock the door without a physical key. However, in case you need it, it comes with a key that allows you to manually unlock the system just like any other standard lock.

I also tried it to see how strong it is, and it is virtually impossible for anyone without a special key or registered fingerprint to unlock the door. However, if you want to unlock it without physically using your hands, you can do it via the app. It’s also battery powered, so you don’t have to remove the mount and recharge it every few weeks. That’s pretty genius.

“Installation took about 10 minutes and didn’t require any modification to the door,” one reviewer wrote. “The lock is well-built and heavy. The management app is well-written and easy to navigate.”

This was one of the biggest tech splurges I’ve made on my home in recent memory, and I don’t regret it one bit. It also helps that it’s Yahoo-approved and voted by our tech writers as the best smart soundbar you can buy.

Importantly, you don’t need to invest in an expensive soundbar to get the best sound quality from your TV, but with additional features like Dolby Atmos technology, surround sound, seamless apps, and additional Bluetooth for a movie theater feel. If necessary. With speaker functionality, this is worth the investment.

I was initially drawn to its stunning design (it just adds a touch of understated elegance to your living room), but I was blown away when I fully set it up in about 10 minutes and heard its theatrical roar. It’s also compatible with Google Voice Assistant and Alexa, giving you all the smart speaker features that make having a smart home worthwhile.

“The Sonos Arc is a high-end product, gorgeous to look at, and better than all the other standalone soundbars out there,” Broida says in his review, and I couldn’t agree more.