How Do You Make a Home “Smart?”

What’s home automation? It’s not a silly question. When customers call 1 Sound Choice for advice on how to automate their homes, they’re often unsure what automation is exactly, let alone know exactly how “smart” they want their home to be. Drawing from years of experience providing integration services throughout Northern New Jersey, we assembled this brief guide to help.

Home Control

The first step toward reaching the level of smart automation that works for you is to consider how automated your home is today. For example: Do you change the thermostat frequently or can your home decide the correct adjustments for your comfort without any additional effort on your part?
A control system and its automation features is to your home what your brain is to your body––the system enables you to control all the technology in a room (or your entire place) from one or more touch panels.

A comprehensive home automation and control system makes it easy for you to control how a room reacts to your presence––whether it be to automatically turn on the lights and play music when you walk in, or turn off all the technology when you leave.

Lighting & Motorized Shades

Folks who make movies know: everything depends on perfect lighting. Not only does natural light help reset your internal clock, it can also make a room feel cozier. By installing motorized shades on windows, you control the amount of light getting through (plus it doubles as a privacy screen). Motorized shades can be integrated into a home’s control and automation system and programmed to raise and lower depending on the setting you choose. Save money and lessen your carbon footprint in the warmer summer months by utilizing natural light and motorized shades.

Security & Surveillance

Forgot whether or not you locked the door on your way out? No need to turn the car around––all it takes is a press of a button on your smartphone to lock the door, or close the garage. Going on vacation? Many home control systems have a “vacation” mode that locks the house, closes the garage door and makes sure the installed CCTVs are up and running for you to check remotely at any time.

Safeguard your family and valuables by incorporating a security and surveillance system into your custom home automation system.

Home Theaters & Media Rooms

The entertainment center of a fully automated home combines power and design in one package. Your private home theater or media room does not need to have wires tangled up, or even be visible at a passing glance.

1 Sound Choice is an expert in hidden home technology and can customize your home theater/media room to your exact taste. Want a room that doubles as a play room? No problem––1 Sound Choice can hide a TV behind a piece of art, or utilize a TV lift so it can drop down from a hidden compartment in the wall! Speakers can be recessed into the wall or hidden behind acoustically transparent panels so you can enjoy premium sound without boxy speakers strewn around the room.

Outdoor Entertainment

Why limit the fun to indoors? Outdoor speakers and weatherproof TVs can be installed in your backyard for you to enjoy warm summer nights. Want a pool house cabana with exceptional sound for late-night swims? Not a problem. Lighting and media controls can be integrated in your home control systems so you can spend more time outside, and less time fiddling with controls.

If you have any questions about these or other components of smart home automation, feel free to contact us here at 1 Sound Choice!