Smart home devices are appliances that can be connected to the internet and controlled remotely via our phones or a central smart hub (like an Amazon Echo, Apple HomePod, or Google Nest).
Not only can they make our everyday lives a little more convenient, but they can also help us be more environmentally friendly, save money on energy bills, and even improve our health. Plus, they can automate physical tasks that might be challenging for some people – for example, those with mobility issues.
However, smart home devices have come a long way in recent years, with new ones seemingly hitting the shelves daily. This can make it tricky to know what’s out there and which gizmos might be right for you.
With this in mind, we’ve pulled together this list of 10 smart home devices you didn’t know you needed.
1. Smart tap
Depending on which model you choose, smart taps come with many different features – including motion sensors, voice activation, filter systems, and instant boiling water. You can even get ones that dispense sparkling water.
While smart taps may seem like a rather frivolous home improvement, they can bring some very practical benefits. For example, instant boiling water features can make us less reliant on energy-devouring kettles. Plus, filter and sparkling water functions can reduce our need to buy bottled products, helping us save money and be kinder to the environment.
One of the most useful (not to mention coolest!) things many smart taps can do is dispense precise measurements of water. Picture this: you’re busy cooking up a storm and need 100ml of water… Just ask your tap to give it to you – no measuring jug needed!
Prices range from a couple of hundred pounds to a few thousand. If you’re interested in adding a smart tap to your home, this buyer’s guide from Good Housekeeping has plenty of useful information.
2. Smart bin
If changing bin bags is one of your least favourite jobs, you might want to consider investing in a smart bin. These handy gadgets are designed to make taking out the rubbish as clean and hassle-free as possible by reducing the need to touch unhygienic surfaces.
As with all other suggestions on this list, the features your smart bin comes with will depend on what model you choose.
For example, the Ro-Bin Original Smart Bin automatically senses when it’s full, seals the bin bag, and dispenses a new bag once you’ve removed the old one. On the other hand, this one from Simple Human is less automated, but you can open and close it by voice command.
Top-level smart bins can cost a few hundred pounds, but there are cheaper options, depending on what features you want. Check out this round-up of the best kitchen bins from Your Home Style to learn about some of the best smart bins of 2024.
3. Smart lights
Installing smart lights is one of the best things you can do to make your home customisable and convenient. Depending on your chosen set-up, you can change things like colour and intensity with a word or swipe of your finger – perfect whether you need some romantic mood lighting or just want to dim the lights without leaving the sofa.
Some smart light set-ups also include automated perks like ‘vacation mode’, which make it look like you’re home when you’re not. They can even be optimised for your circadian rhythms to help you unwind in the evenings and get more restorative sleep.
There are a range of smart bulbs and fixtures on the market. You can choose from conventional fittings like lamps and strips or unique products like the Nanoleaf 4D screen mirror kit. This surrounds your TV and extends the image onto the walls, making your home viewing experience more exciting and immersive.
You can pick up single smart bulbs for under a tenner. But, of course, other fixtures and set-ups can set you back much more. To find out more about smart lighting, check out this 2024 round-up from TechRadar.
4. Smart watering system
Whether your outdoor space is already a lush paradise or you’d like it to be someday, keeping our gardens well-hydrated can be more complicated than it first may seem. This is especially true if we’re away and have to rely on the goodwill of friends and neighbours to run the watering can around.
While traditional drip systems or timer sprinklers offer solutions to this problem, smart options can make things even easier. Not only can they give us control over our watering system from our phones, no matter where we are, but they can analyse the weather to give our plants exactly how much water they need – eliminating waste while keeping our gardens happy and healthy.
To learn more about smart watering systems for your garden, check out this article from Ideal Home.
5. Smart blinds/curtain openers
Smart blinds are another handy way to control the light in your home. You can ask them to give you privacy at a moment’s notice or set them on a timer to gently coax you awake in the morning. You can even pair them with your smart lighting system to optimise the amount of daylight in your home and cut energy bills.
If you’ve got curtains but would like to reap the benefits of smart blinds, you could consider investing in a smart curtain opener. These little devices sit on our existing curtain rails and can open and close our drapes for us, meaning you don’t need to install a whole new system, offering a cheaper and less hassle option. A single SwitchBot Curtain 3 will set you back £80.99 on Amazon.
Smart blinds and curtain openers are ideal for anyone with mobility issues that make fiddling with tricky blind cords or opening heavy drapes challenging.
The cost of electric blinds depends on a few factors, including the size of your windows. This article from Checkatrade will hopefully give you a good idea of what you can expect to pay. And have a read of this article from T3 to see some of the best ones on the market.
6. Smart locks
The beauty of smart locks is that they can simultaneously make our homes more secure and convenient. They allow us to unlock our doors via functions like keypads, fingerprint scanners, voice commands, and smartphones – though many include a traditional key option too.
Some smart locks can even use your phone’s location to automatically unlock when you approach the doorstep, and plenty will send an alert every time your door is opened.
However, perhaps the handiest feature is that many smart locks allow us to unlock our doors via our smartphone or smart hub – whether our friend has just arrived but we’re still in the bath or we’re on holiday and need to let our neighbour in to feed the cat.
There are plenty of options when it comes to smart locks – from full-fitted units to renter-friendly models that fit over existing deadbolts. According to Checkatrade, basic smart keypad locks can set you back around £60 (not including labour fees), but complicated ones can cost a few hundred pounds. Check out this article from Tom’s Guide to find out more.
7. Robot vacuum
Unlike many smart devices on this list, robot vacuum cleaners have been around since the late 90s, but today’s models have plenty of handy features that their ancestors could only have dreamed of.
For starters, you can connect most robot vacuums to your smart home ecosystem (whether you have a Google, Alexa, or Apple set-up) and control them via voice or phone.
The iRobot Roomba combo j7+ (admittedly, a very expensive model) can navigate around obstacles, deploy a mop feature when it senses it’s needed, and return to its charging base after every use. It even self-empties, with the charging base doubling up as a bin.
However, even much cheaper options – like this one from eufy – are great for keeping your house clean and will hopefully save you plenty of hoovering time. As with every item on this list, prices for robot vacuums can vary dramatically. Basic ones start at a few hundred pounds, while high-end models can set you back over a grand.
8. Smart fan
When the sultry summer weather hits, why not invest in a smart fan to keep you cool? Features like voice control and automated timers are especially handy for those who like a soothing breeze while they sleep but don’t want their fan running all night. They can also be helpful for anyone experiencing hot flushes.
Many smart fans (like the Vortex Air) have smart thermostats. These allow you to select your ideal temperature and the fan will switch itself off when the room reaches it – helping you save energy and keep you feeling comfortable all day.
Some models, like this whisper fan from Duux, even have settings that mimic the natural ebb and flow of a summer breeze – if that’s something you’d like. Pricewise, premium models clock in at around £400, though you can pick a decent one up for around £100.
Check out this round-up of the best fans from the Independent to find out more.
9. Smart plugs
Put simply, smart plugs are adapters that turn your household appliances into smart devices. They’re not only the simplest and most cost-effective smart devices (you can buy Good Housekeeping’s best overall smart plug from Amazon for just over a tenner), but they’re also the most versatile because they can be used with nearly any plug-in device with an on/off switch.
To set them up, just plug your chosen device into the smart plug, which then goes into the wall, before connecting your smart plug to your Wi-Fi. Then, you can use your phone or tablet to turn the device on and off and set automatic schedules. You can even pair smart plugs with your smart home hub to control your appliances via voice command.
There are loads of handy ways to use smart plugs in your home. For starters, they can help people with limited mobility switch hard-to-reach appliances on and off. Or why not set timers on your radio and coffee machine so you never miss your favourite show and always wake up to a fresh brew?
Being able to turn off smart plugs from anywhere can also give you peace of mind that dangerous appliances (like irons and hair straighteners) are turned off when you’re out of the house.
10. Smart toilet
Smart toilets are certainly one of the most expensive items on this list, but they have the potential to be one of the most rewarding. In fact, after experiencing a smart toilet’s bidet feature (many of which come with air drying too), the product testers from Good Housekeeping have sworn they’ll “never be a toilet paper-only household again”.
But built-in bidets aren’t the only perk of investing in a smart toilet. Lots of models also lift and lower the lid for you, automatically flush when you’re done, and self-clean. Premium models even include heated seats, night lights, and built-in deodorisers to keep things smelling fresh!
Many smart toilets come as whole units that need to be installed and connected to your plumbing system. However, you can also buy smart bidet seats that attach to your existing toilet, which are cheaper (typically a few hundred pounds instead of over a thousand), less hassle to install, and provide many of the same benefits.
To find out more about what smart toilets and bidet seats are available, check out this article from The Standard.
Final thoughts…
From assisting us in the kitchen and supporting sleep to keeping our house secure and cutting our energy bills, it seems that there’s a smart home device to help us with everything these days.
The smart devices that are right for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences. However, it’s worth remembering that some are only compatible with certain smart ecosystems (the most common three are Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit). And the ecosystem that’s best for you will mostly depend on which devices you already have.
For help creating a convenient and harmonious smart home ecosystem, check out this guide from Wired. And for more ideas for levelling up your living space, head over to our home and garden section.
Are you thinking about adding a smart device to your home? Or have you already done so? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.