When it comes to home lighting control, there are a lot of options available. Depending on the system, controls can be manual or automated; controlled via app or smart device; or even voice activated using an assistant like Siri or Alexa. Some systems can even work with other components in the smart home, allowing for a wide range of automation options such as triggering lights to turn on at certain times or activating a security sensor when doors are opened.
One of the biggest benefits of a home lighting control system is energy savings. Traditional bulbs can be left on by accident or set to inappropriate brightness levels for the room, but with a smart lighting control system users can set schedules to automatically turn off or dim lights when they aren’t needed. This can help reduce electricity bills significantly over time.
Another reason homeowners love lighting control systems is that they can be customized for their unique needs. A quality home integration specialist can create different preset “scenes” to fit specific activities, such as a “Movie Night” scene that lowers your automated shades and activates the surround sound system for a seamless entertainment experience. This means that you can avoid the awkward situation where you barrel into a room and crank all of the dimmers to 100%, only to find out your beautifully designed dining room now has the ambience of a hospital cafeteria.
Lights can also be pre-set to come on at chosen times to make it look as if someone is home during vacations or business trips. This can help deter burglars and vandals from targeting a property.
Some smart light bulbs and switches are compatible with other devices in the home, such as doorbells and contact sensors. This is called IFTTT (If This Then That) functionality and can be extremely helpful in making a smart home even more intuitive to use.
Most lighting control products are connected to a hub and controlled via an app, but some systems also include smart wall-mounted or tabletop keypads and remotes for additional convenience and accessibility. Some smart lights can even be integrated with an entertainment system so that the bulb colour changes automatically based on what is being watched on the TV, creating a truly immersive viewing experience.
A smart lighting control system can be installed in new construction homes or added to an existing home. Usually, these systems require cabling to connect the fixtures and switches together but wireless solutions are becoming more popular as the technology improves and becomes more cost effective.
A quality home integration expert can install both wired and wireless lighting control systems. Wired systems typically offer the most reliable solution but are more expensive to install due to the extra hardware and wiring that is required. Wireless systems are much cheaper to install but have the drawback of limited device compatibility and connectivity.