Smart lighting options are among the most popular smart home gadgets. Smart bulbs, like LIFX or the Philips Hue, allow you to turn them on or change their color through your phone or a connected voice assistant. Smart plugs have similar, but more limited, functionality in that you can plug in a lamp that’s using a regular light bulb and turn it on or off using your phone or a voice assistant.

You can also opt to install smart light switches. They require professional installation, but allow you to have control over all the lighting in your house – including dimming – from a dedicated and centralized wall panel.

Smart home security tools can help you guard your domain even when you’re away on vacation. You can set up indoor and outdoor cameras and motion sensors, and view them on your smartphone from anywhere. You can even set up smart sensors on your doors and windows that can connect to your home security system and alert you if one opens up unexpectedly.

Video doorbells, and even some exterior cameras, allow you to see who’s at your door or poking around in your front yard in real time. Some even allow you to talk to whoever’s there through your phone without opening your door.

Smart locks are also convenient – like those from August or Schlage – as they allow you to remotely lock your doors or grant someone access to your home when you’re not there.

Gone are the days of fussing with a finicky thermostat. With new options from Ecobee and Nest, you can control the temperature in your house and monitor usage from anywhere. You can even set temperature limits and create a schedule.

It can never hurt to have a helping hand around the house. Smart appliances – including refrigerators, ovens, washers, and dryers – now have Wi-Fi connectivity and come with companion mobile apps, allowing you to control some of their functionality from anywhere.

You can start and stop loads in the dishwasher or laundry room according to your schedule, and smart refrigerators can even tell you what’s in your fridge and when it expires. They’re aren’t a necessity, but they can make your life a little simpler.

Having a home voice assistant is a great way to tie together your smart home. Options like Google Home and Amazon Echo and Alexa can help you do any number of things from answering questions like you would online, to turning on a light or showing you your security camera feed on your TV. You can even have them play the latest pop music songs or tell you a joke. The more smart devices you set up in your home, the more options you will have access to with your smart assistant.

Sometimes smart home devices can also help you be more energy efficient. Smart faucets and shower heads can help you save water and reach a comfortable temperature faster. Plus, some shower heads can even play music.

Smart scales, also known as body analyzers, bring a new dimension to weighing yourself. Options, like those from Eufy or Quardio, can track your weight, body fat, and heart rate from a companion mobile app, and even help you set weight goals.

There’s no need to fear the robot uprising! With their cute designs and automated scheduling and recharging abilities, robots can handle the Saturday chores while you kick back and relax. Robot vacuums -like Roomba or Ecovacs – can clean any floor in your home, while robot lawn mowers – the Robomow and Husqvarna come to mind – can tackle no one’s favorite task of cutting the grass.

It’s nice to have lots of natural light in your house, but sometimes you need privacy or want to help regulate the temperature. When the evening sun is causing too much glare but you’re too into a Netflix binge and don’t want to get up and close your blinds manually, having motorized blinds or shades installed fixes the problem.

Blindster offers custom blinds and shades that come in a variety of style, color, and opacity options. Our motorized blinds and shades can add a sophisticated, modern style to your home, and allow you to manage light and privacy with a remote from the comfort of your chair. Our products are backed by a fit-or-free guarantee, a 60-day satisfaction guarantee, and a limited lifetime warranty to ensure you are happy with your new window treatment.