So What Can a 'Smart' Living Room Do?
Home automation is designed to make life more convenient – and, in a living room, more entertaining
It’s been a stressful day at work, but all is calm when you set foot inside your living room – the air conditioning has taken the edge off the heat, the blinds are already closed, the music’s playing, and the lights are dimmed just the way you like them. According to the experts we spoke to, automation in your living room makes all this possible, and more.
We’ve accompanied this story with images of beautiful living rooms from the Houzz archives to inspire your next renovation.
We’ve accompanied this story with images of beautiful living rooms from the Houzz archives to inspire your next renovation.
Clipsal Wiser Hub.
What’s the appeal?
“By introducing smart home solutions to your living room, control processes are automated and streamlined so you can relax and focus on being present with those around you,” says Fant.
“Also, as a common room containing multiple systems, such as the television, hi-fi system, automated blinds and lighting, the living room can quickly rack up energy costs. Setting up smart solutions can help you save energy and money by ensuring appliances are only on when they’re needed,” he says.
What’s the appeal?
“By introducing smart home solutions to your living room, control processes are automated and streamlined so you can relax and focus on being present with those around you,” says Fant.
“Also, as a common room containing multiple systems, such as the television, hi-fi system, automated blinds and lighting, the living room can quickly rack up energy costs. Setting up smart solutions can help you save energy and money by ensuring appliances are only on when they’re needed,” he says.
Tado Smart AC Control V3+.
If you’re looking to cut your air-conditioning costs or track your usage, consider the Tado Smart AC Control V3+ (AU$179.99). It connects wirelessly to your wifi and allows you to control your air conditioner from an app on your smart phone (so there’s no more searching for the remote control). It will also tell you how much energy your air conditioner is consuming, and measure how fresh the air is inside your living room so you know when to open or close the windows, or switch on your air purifier.
Looking to automate your home? Find an electrician near you on Houzz
If you’re looking to cut your air-conditioning costs or track your usage, consider the Tado Smart AC Control V3+ (AU$179.99). It connects wirelessly to your wifi and allows you to control your air conditioner from an app on your smart phone (so there’s no more searching for the remote control). It will also tell you how much energy your air conditioner is consuming, and measure how fresh the air is inside your living room so you know when to open or close the windows, or switch on your air purifier.
Looking to automate your home? Find an electrician near you on Houzz
What are the main automation options?
“You can opt for a simple device such as Google Nest, [Amazon] Alexa or an Apple HomePod, which can generally connect to your smart phone, iPad, appliances, televisions and computers, and allow you to control things such as heating and window treatments with a voice command,” says Justine Wilson, director and principal stylist at Vault Interiors.
“You can opt for a simple device such as Google Nest, [Amazon] Alexa or an Apple HomePod, which can generally connect to your smart phone, iPad, appliances, televisions and computers, and allow you to control things such as heating and window treatments with a voice command,” says Justine Wilson, director and principal stylist at Vault Interiors.
“You can also purchase items such as wifi power boards and smart globes, which can be controlled from your home hub,” says Wilson.
Browse more images of stunning living rooms on Houzz
Browse more images of stunning living rooms on Houzz
Nanoleaf Elements smart lighting panels.
Like the idea of smart lighting? You can add a striking decorative feature to your living room with Nanoleaf Elements smart lighting panels (from AU$429.99 for a seven-panel set). The wood-look panels can be arranged any way you like, and can be illuminated with different warm and cool light settings via voice command. You can also choose from 11 curated lighting themes, including ‘Ember’, which creates a cosy feel in a room or ‘Calming Waterfall’ for a Zen-like vibe, or pair them with your playlist to illuminate along with the beat.
Like the idea of smart lighting? You can add a striking decorative feature to your living room with Nanoleaf Elements smart lighting panels (from AU$429.99 for a seven-panel set). The wood-look panels can be arranged any way you like, and can be illuminated with different warm and cool light settings via voice command. You can also choose from 11 curated lighting themes, including ‘Ember’, which creates a cosy feel in a room or ‘Calming Waterfall’ for a Zen-like vibe, or pair them with your playlist to illuminate along with the beat.
Clipsal Wiser IR converter, which controls TVs, split-system air cons and hi-fi systems via the Wiser by SE app.
Other appealing smart-home features for a living room, says Fant, include:
Other appealing smart-home features for a living room, says Fant, include:
- Smart sockets: These turn appliances such as the air conditioner, television, hi-fi system and gaming consoles on and off automatically according to a predetermined timeframe, or after a set period of use in order to save power. It’s a more efficient and effective way to save energy than using standby power.
- Dimmable lighting: This allows you to set the mood for entertaining or movie nights with a swipe of your smart phone screen or with a voice command.
Luxaflex Beach Roman Shades, which can be motorised with Luxaflex PowerView Motorisation.
- Automated blinds: These will open automatically when the sun rises and shut automatically when it sets (or at times you specify).
- Temperature control: This smart-home system links to your air conditioner, heaters and blinds so they can be activated from your smart device, whether you’re at home or in the office. It can also switch these appliances on or off automatically according to set times or temperatures.
“There are also specialised systems such as C-Bus and Dynalite, but they do require specialised installers and products for the system to work. They are generally installed through a main wall-control unit and the technology is wired and concealed throughout your home. You can have automated climate control, music and lights, window treatments, appliances, audio-visual equipment and security, all controlled from a central hub,” says Wilson.
“One of the most-requested smart-home additions is an entertainment hub so homeowners can create a cinema-like experience with surround-sound systems and funky LED lighting,” she says.
Some of the latest smart-home systems, such as Clipsal Wiser Smart Home, only require minimal wiring, making them easier to integrate into your living room.
“The use of wireless connectivity removes the need for special cabling to be wired into the home, unlike previous home-automation solutions,” says Fant. “With a system like Clipsal Wiser Smart Home, you can combine elements to create a ‘moment’ for each room. For example, impress your guests with an ‘entertaining moment’ or ‘movie moment’ that triggers smart lighting to dim or rolls down the blinds, all with the tap of a smart-device button or voice command.”
“The use of wireless connectivity removes the need for special cabling to be wired into the home, unlike previous home-automation solutions,” says Fant. “With a system like Clipsal Wiser Smart Home, you can combine elements to create a ‘moment’ for each room. For example, impress your guests with an ‘entertaining moment’ or ‘movie moment’ that triggers smart lighting to dim or rolls down the blinds, all with the tap of a smart-device button or voice command.”
“The system is wireless, making it ideal for home renovations or a living room upgrade. It can link lights, dimmers, sensors, sockets and timers that you control via the Wiser by SE app on your smartphone,” he says.
Will we see more smart living rooms?
“The desire for home automation will continue to grow as we are increasingly time poor and more sophisticated, and as reliable tech continues to hit the market,” says Wilson. “The extent to which you automate your home will depend on your needs, wants and budget, but these days almost anything is possible.”
“The desire for home automation will continue to grow as we are increasingly time poor and more sophisticated, and as reliable tech continues to hit the market,” says Wilson. “The extent to which you automate your home will depend on your needs, wants and budget, but these days almost anything is possible.”
Your turn
Are you tempted to automate your living room? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want more on home automation? Don’t miss this story: What’s In a Smart Kitchen (and What Can We Expect Next)?
Are you tempted to automate your living room? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want more on home automation? Don’t miss this story: What’s In a Smart Kitchen (and What Can We Expect Next)?
“It’s a living room that uses technology to control or automate everyday systems, such as entertainment, lighting and temperature,” says Tim Fant, product manager at Clipsal by Schneider Electric.