Smart Home 101: A Beginner's Guide

News flash: You don't have to flip your lights on and off manually. Nor do you have to set your thermostat by hand, flip on the TV to get the weather, or lock your door with a key. Smart home technology has revolutionized the way we live — from intelligent thermostats to "Hey, Google, what's the weather?" — and while it may be a tad intimidating to take the plunge at first, we're here to tell you that smart home tech can enrich your life in so many ways.

"Smart home products open up new possibilities in your home. They offer never-before-seen options for comfort, convenience, and peace of mind," says John Carey, cofounder of Designer Appliances and their resident smart home expert. "If you can work a smartphone, you can work most smart home products."

Since it's easy to get overwhelmed at first, Carey recommends upgrading one item at a time: "Start small with something like a smart light or a smart thermostat — a product you will use every day."

At Array By Hampton, we pride ourselves in offering a host of easy-to-use smart home devices that make meaningful differences in your life, saving you stress and time. Best of all, every product we make can be controlled from he Array By Hampton app, which works with both IOS and Android devices.

In addition to our suite of products being intuitive to use, there are more reasons to embrace these technologies. "Smart home products give you peace of mind because you know for sure that your oven is off, and the front door is closed. Plus, smart home technology can help reduce costs and save energy," says president and CEO Jimmy Hiller of Happy Hiller, a home services company. "For example, a smart thermostat enables you to control your heating and cooling expenses. А smart smoke detector, security camera, smart doorbell, etc., give you a sense of calm and protection from trouble and can significantly lower your insurance premiums," he continues, adding that smart home tech can also increase your property's value.

Here are three products we recommend starting with to update your home.

CO and Smoke Detectors
"If you have long wanted to make your home smart, you should start with some accessible and understandable devices like smoke detectors, because they are relatively inexpensive, simple, and straightforward to use," says Hiller.
Our Pick: Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detector; Featuring a 10-year battery life, this CO and smoke detector lets you check these levels from your app, and you'll get alerted if there's a problem or the battery is running low.

Door Locks
"Smart door locks are something that get overlooked but add convenience. You never have to worry about forgetting your keys. And also, if you forget to lock your door, you can do it remotely," says Carey, noting that if a visitor needs to enter your home, you can give them remote access.
Our Pick: Revive Retrofit Door Lock with Checklock Technology; This lock is compatible with existing deadbolts and can last up to a year on a single charge. Thanks to geofencing, you can lock or unlock the door remotely, and since it removes the need for physical key copies, it's ideal for rental homes. For everyday use, try our Wi-Fi Smart Door Lock to keep your home safe, available in three handsome finishes.

Smart Lighting
"Smart lighting has many color options and brightness settings. You can instantly change the mood of your home for a birthday party or a quiet evening," says Melanie Musson, smart home tech expert at USInsuranceAgents.com. "You can also turn the lights on and off when you're away, giving the appearance that you are home."
Our Picks: Light Bulbs, Filament Light Bulb, Recessed Light, LED Light Strip; Our lighting options boast full color spectrum, are dimmable with the app, can be voice activated, and more. To see how smart lighting can help your WFH productivity, check out this article.