Integrated technology has exponentially gained more adepts since the COVID-19 pandemic started. According to the Home Automation Global Market Report 2022, the global home automation market is expected to grow from $54.41 billion in 2021 to $61.62 billion in 2022 and reach $95.07 billion in 2026.
While some consumers are intimidated by the notion of smart appliances, it is definitely part of many homeowners' wish lists. Not only does such technology (and appliances) make life easier at home, but the price tag is also one of the main reasons that have been attracting plenty of consumers looking for comfort at a fair price. Here are some tips on how to transform house spaces (kitchen, living room, or even the laundry!) into smart, connected rooms and homes, bringing more comfort to your daily routine.

The difference between Connected vs. Smart Appliances
Home is where the heart is. It's a place where we all want to relax and enjoy life. However, daily routines such as cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, etc., can be pretty heavy if you do it all by yourself or with little help. Said that, having a connected or smart appliance at home can definitely help speed up things and finish needed (or boring) activities, giving you some extra time to enjoy a bubbly, read, work or do any other activity you'd better concentrate on.

Yes, there is quite a difference in tech names, so let's understand them first! 'Connected' products are appliances and home systems linked to the home's Wi-Fi or that can operate remotely, whereas 'smart' products are the appliances that can communicate with each other.

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Something quite common to observe is that everything has an app these days. If you pay closer attention, having dozens of apps on your smartphone is the equivalent of having a slew of remote controls on your table! Indeed, every smart-home device can operate independently from each other. Still, when we talk about having a connected home, we reach the level where all those devices can speak to each other and work in the house owner's favor.

One example? Imagine you are arriving home after a long day at work. So at the time you remotely open the garage door, the smart home automatically disarms the alarm system while turning the garage lights on, and curtains are opened. Even that food you had left inside the microwave starts to be heated straight away! Exciting and scary at the same time, right? Connecting the appliances and various house systems to a central operating hub is the direction in which we are heading.

In fact, research by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) shows that about 31% of designers' and remodelers' clients are pretty excited about connected hubs that allow cross-product and cross-brand integration.

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Make a wish list according to your habits
It is important to mention that smart-home solutions are extremely personal, according to individual values and experiences. If you are new to this topic and would love to make a quick change in your home style, it is highly recommended to start by determining what matters most to you and all the ones you share the space with!

Make a list of activities you do that would be great to have quick extra help. For example, do you or any family member loves to cook? What's often the first thing you do when you get home? Are there children in the house, and you have many devices and video games?

The next step is to check how many connected devices the current Wi-Fi support and if you can upgrade plans - in case it's needed. After that, define your priorities, start making a plan to replace a few products, or check what could make your house more connected or smart, such as investing in a Smart Home wireless relay or getting a Wireless Human Body Sensor Kit, for example.

It is also essential to talk with a home specialist, either architect or an engineer, to make sure the items you would like to integrate will work in your home! Major items are very adaptable; however, it is better to confirm and be safe than sorry.

Other home appliances to help you at home!
There are plenty of products that do not necessarily make your house fully smart; however, daily, they can be of a significant hand in domestic activities!

The smart LED bulb is the cheapest and most popular home appliance you might find to help you around. That's right, a light bulb! It may sound unnecessary until you have one. It allows you to set different moods and scenes with just a few taps on your phone, as it can be controlled using an app. Whether you are about to read, sleep, or clean, this is one of those items that technology helps save you time, energy, and money! In general, a smart led bulb lasts for around 25000 hours, which is about 22 years if you use it for 3 hours a day on average, making you save money from buying just an ordinary lamp that might need to be replaced in a shorter period of time.

A robot vacuum cleaner is another example of a product gaining popularity due to its capability of cleaning every room corner and leaving your house immaculate! They clean using a rotating brush to sweep dirt and debris into a filter, which is then sucked up by a vacuum. If that sounds too modern for you, at least having a cordless vacuum cleaner will help you clean anywhere without the need to trip on cords all the time.
Have you ever thought about saving time and money with an electric toothbrush? That's right, picking the right one for you, not only would you invest in your oral health ( especially if you wear braces that are hard to be thoroughly brushed), but also you may save from those extra visits to the dentist since those toothbrushes are sonic. At the right speed, they can reach areas that a manual toothbrush cannot, helping you to brush your teeth more efficiently.

Next steps in the future
Technology is advancing very fast, at a speed that many of us can't follow. Once we talk about a next-level product, many things come in mind. For example, having a smart oven or connected refrigerator that can download recipes, preheat the oven, create menus, and walk the chef through a recipe would be pretty handy too - and also costly. Imagine having an oven that sends you a notification when the right food temperature is reached, or when the cooking time is complete; or imagine having a camera-enabled device that allows the chef to check a roast in the oven to make sure it's not overcooking or browning too rapidly.

It wasn't so long ago that most people couldn't imagine needing a camera on their mobile phones. Or maybe even need a mobile phone at all! Now, major of us expect cameras in mobile phones to be equal to or more sophisticated than standalone digital cameras! We want our home-security cameras to be 3D, 4D, 5D, or all the other possible 'Ds' to make our home is secure when we are not there.

The truth is that once homeowners experience the convenience provided by smart and connected appliances together with their advanced tech features, they're unlikely to go back to being unconnected. As our lifestyles change, smart-home technologies will continue to evolve and offer incredible possibilities for better living will surely come up!

So stay tuned for the latest news and visit Hekka.com to find the best deals on Home Appliances and the latest trends on electronic products such as surveillance cameras, phones, and computers. Shop Now, Discover Hekka.