How To Turn Your Apartment into a Smart Home in 2024
Are you moving to a new apartment? Are you hoping to stay there for good? There are a lot of considerations to make, from having moving day preparation to undergoing general house cleaning.
However, nothing is more rewarding and fulfilling than making your new home aesthetically appealing, highly functional, and truly comfortable. What better way to achieve this vision than to turn your apartment into a smart home in 2024?
Read on to learn how.
What To Know About Smart Homes
To begin, what is a smart home?
As a home setup type, you can remotely control home systems using mobile devices connected to your internet. Think of operating your appliances, thermostats, lights, and many others using only your smartphone. You can even adjust the settings to automate various tasks. Amazing, isn’t it?
But did you know seven of ten homebuyers are looking for a smart home? A post-pandemic survey reveals that 78% would be willing to pay more for homes with existing smart devices.
Unfortunately, buying a smart home or getting a mortgage for it can be quite costly. However, there’s another alternative—renting an apartment.
Of course, you can stick to your budget when moving to a new house. From there, you can gradually invest in smart home devices. That will allow you to slowly transform your apartment into what you envision—a smart home.
So, why should you aim to have one in the first place? The benefits of a smart home are multifold, as follows:
- Utmost convenience: Using smart technology can make Operating home devices more seamless and convenient. Need to adjust your heating and cooling systems? Your thermostat can automatically do the job for you!
- Improved efficiency: Most smart home appliances, devices, and systems are energy-efficient. They work faster and better without consuming too much energy and skyrocketing your utility bills.
- Enhanced security: Installing a home security system can give you and your family peace of mind. A burglar trying to get in? Your door and window sensors will alarm the whole household!
- Ensured safety: Smart home devices can alarm the whole household in case of emergencies. A potential fire outbreak? Your smart smoke detector will tell you and your family to act immediately!
- Home entertainment: Your family can invest in a smart TV, speakers, and other devices. Looking to have a movie theater at home? No worries; smart technology can do the trick for you!
- Significant cost savings: Investing in smart home devices can be costly and might hurt your savings account with the best interest rates. However, it can help you save money in the long run!
- Increased home value: Smart home devices can guarantee your home functionality and aesthetic appeal. That can help add value to your property!
According to Statista, the global Smart Home market worldwide could generate a revenue of $154.4 billion this year to $231.6 billion by 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.67%.
Over 63 million American homes actively used smart home devices in 2023 alone. That accounts for nearly half (45%) of all homes in the United States. And unsurprisingly, the numbers have been growing:
In the next section, learn how to transform your new apartment into a smart home.
How To Turn Your Apartment into a Smart Home When Moving in
Moving to a new apartment can be exciting, whether starting a family or building your career. The actual moving day can be exhausting, and you must treat your movers right.
However, the real challenge starts when cleaning your apartment and arranging your stuff—especially if you plan to turn it into a smart home. So, what smart home devices should you invest in?
The same Security.org survey highlights the following:
Here’s how to turn your apartment into a smart home when moving in:
1. Install smart lighting
Any household must power up their home at night. Investing in smart lighting is best for automatic setup and energy efficiency. This technology lets you set schedules for turning lights on and off automatically.
Consider purchasing the following:
- Smart plugs: Operate appliances like lamps through a mobile app or voice commands.
- Smart bulbs: Set up lighting schedules and adjust brightness using these bulbs.
- Smart switches: Use remote control for light scheduling and color changing.
Anthony Martin, Founder and CEO of Choice Mutual, recommends smart lighting for household safety and energy efficiency.
Martin explains, “It’s like investing in life insurance by protecting your family when using electricity to power up your house. At the same time, its energy-efficient feature lets you cut your energy usage and save money long-term.”
2. Use smart thermostat
Every household should adjust its heating and cooling systems for comfort and convenience. A smart thermostat can work wonders by letting you control these systems automatically. It works according to your scheduled temperature preferences.
Wondering what to invest in? The New York Times suggests the following smart thermostat brands:
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium –
The best one
Google Nest Learning Thermostat –
The smartest one
Amazon Smart Thermostat –
A frugal find
Mysa Smart Thermostat (v2) –
The best for baseboards
Stephan Baldwin, Founder of Assisted Living, highlights the value of smart thermostats.
Baldwin says, “It allows you to control your heating and cooling systems remotely for a cozy atmosphere. It also learns your temperature preferences and factors in the local weather for automatic adjustments. Ultimately, this smart technology helps you save energy and money.”
3. Set home security system
Security is a top priority for every family or household. However, some apartments can be prone to security threats like theft and burglary. Therefore, setting up a home security system in place is a must.
Invest in the following for your home security system:
- Smart cameras: They assist in real-time surveillance and monitoring.
- Smart doorbell: It lets you see and interact with visitors via your mobile phone.
- Door locks: Replace traditional locks with smart ones for keyless entry and remote access.
- Door or window sensors: They detect movements around your doors and windows at night.
- Security alarms: They ring the alarm in case of security breaches.
Andrew Pierce, CEO at LLC Attorney, underscores the importance of home security.
Pierce advises, “You must stay on top of this to protect yourself and your loved ones. The last thing you want to happen is to put lives at risk in the comforts of your home. Invest in a smart security system!”
4. Employ voice assistants
Gone are the days when we could only interact with one another. Today, every household member can communicate with digital tools and technologies. That’s where voice-activated assistants enter the picture by answering questions, setting notifications, and controlling home devices.
The most popular voice assistants are as follows:
Amazon’s Alexa:
It comes from tech giant Amazon embedded in a variety of voice assistant devices.
Google Assistant:
It does a lot, from sending messages and reading notifications to performing search operations and playing songs.
Apple’s Siri:
It’s a high-ranking AI assistant by Apple known for its wide array of products, like iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
Robert Kaskel, Chief People Officer at Checkr, suggests investing in voice assistants for families.
Kaskel believes, “AI has started taking the whole world by storm by impacting homes and businesses and shaping our future. Voice assistants allow seamless interactions with machines for simple requests and added convenience. You might as well invest in this incredibly amazing smart technology.”
5. Have a smart home entertainment
Home is a place where you and your family should relax and unwind. What better way to ensure this than to invest in home entertainment? Of course, the list won’t be complete without smart home appliances and devices.
Below are some of the smart home systems to consider:
- Smart TVs: The living room won’t be complete without your smart television.
- Sound systems: Invest in smart speakers to play music, podcasts, news, and more.
- Streaming devices: Consider streaming devices like Amazon Fire TV 4K, Roku Express 4K+, Apple TV 4K, and Google Chromecast.
- Smart plugs and outlets: Purchase and install these plugs and outlets for home safety and energy efficiency.
Ryan Zomorodi, Co-Founder and COO of RealEstateSkills.com, recommends prioritizing home entertainment.
Zomorodi says, “Even if you rent an apartment and have just moved in, invest in a smart TV, speakers, and other appliances. They allow you and your family to relax and unwind in the comfort of your own home.”
6. Establish a smart home hub
Finally, you don’t just invest in various smart appliances and systems. However, you must set up a smart home hub as a central control point for connecting and managing all your house components. This enables you to manage all devices and set up automation routines to ensure the following:
- Internet connectivity: Ensure all home devices connect to the internet.
- Technological integration: Make all digital tools and technologies integrated.
- Home automation: Automate specific home tasks or functions like adjusting heating and cooling systems or turning lights on and off.
Volodymyr Shchegel, VP of Engineering at Clario, cites the need for a smart home hub.
Shchegel explains, “It is the central point for all your home devices. Otherwise, your apartment wouldn’t exactly be a smart home if you don’t create an ecosystem with a central hub for seamless connections, energy efficiency, and guaranteed safety.”
Final words
There’s no denying the rise of smart homes in 2024—and beyond. And this practically applies to a new apartment you plan to stay in long-term. So, turning it into a smart home is an excellent idea for you or your family’s:
- Comfort and convenience
- Aesthetics and quality
- High functionality
- Cost efficiency
- Security and safety
Consider our seven practical tips shared by experts, and you’ll turn your apartment vision into a smart home reality!
