Is your home smart? Just what is a smart home, anyway? The modern smart home is more than just a collection of smart devices. You may already have some, like a video doorbell and a smart thermostat. They will give you some new information and control capabilities that you may not have had before. But how well do they work together to make it easier to manage daily life?

As a leading home automation company in Missouri, Elite Technology Solutions believes that the smart home is not just smart devices controllable by apps but a comprehensive system that takes advantage of all that intelligence to orchestrate your home and transform your lifestyle in both functional and delightful ways.

While you can incorporate many smart home features into your home, we think there are five essential ones every St. Louis smart home should have. Find out what they are below.

SEE ALSO: How to Ease Your Everyday Stress with Home Automation

Smart Lighting

Smart lighting is one of the most popular smart home features. Lighting control systems add function, energy efficiency, and aesthetic appeal to your home. But like other smart devices, you shouldn't settle for smart bulbs and switches with limited functionality and automation. You want a lighting control solution that also integrates with other smart home functions.

Multifunctional, programmable wall keypads can replace standard wall switches and control multiple lighting loads simultaneously. You can have set scenes for activities like cooking, dining, and entertaining, with all your lights layered and set to the right levels with one touch of a button. Further, your lights can also be integrated with motorized window treatments, audio, temperature control, and more for complete comfort and convenience.

Smart Security

Knowing that your home and family are safe and secure is of paramount importance. Whether at home or away, smart security features keep you safe and in command. Video doorbells can alert you to visitors and deliveries, allowing you to manage them whether at home or away. Strategically located surveillance cameras can keep an eye on all parts of your property.

If unusual activity is detected, you can be notified either at home or on your smart device when you're not home. With a home automation system, your home can be proactive against threats. Smart lighting and loud audio warnings can be triggered when unusual activity is detected outside your home to ward off intruders. And beyond just cameras, smart sensors can alert you of trouble like a water leak, high or low temperature, or smoke so you can take action as needed.

Simplified Entertainment

Entertainment systems should be easy and accessible, not technical and frustrating. Home automation can make the most complex setups simple to operate. Home theaters involve audio systems, projectors, screens, lighting, and other functions to coordinate to get the experience going. With AV control through a home automation system, you can have one-button control to start the show with everything just the way you need. Want music all over your house? Whole-house audio is easy with home automation, giving you the ability to direct different audio sources to other rooms or even outdoors.

Voice Control

Commanding your smart home with just your voice may be the ultimate luxury. Dedicated voice control solutions like Josh.ai go beyond consumer solutions by understanding context and natural language. You can say, "turn on the lights and start Stranger Things on Netflix,” and your system will know exactly where you are and what to do. When your hands are occupied and you don’t want to reach for a smartphone or another control, your voice is all you need.

Powerful Personalization

The latest smart home systems let you tailor your automation to your needs. Where once technical programming skills were needed, solutions like Crestron Home let you set up lighting, temperature, music, motorized shading, and more to your preferences and save the scenes for easy recall later. You can automate repetitive things you do at home and save time for more important things – like relaxing with your family.

Are you ready for home automation that fits your lifestyle? Get started by calling us today at (636) 939-4474, schedule a showroom visit, or reach out on our contact page. We look forward to working with you!