🤔 Is a smart home expensive? Not necessarily.
When you hear “smart home”, words like “investment”, “ecosystem”, “installation” come to mind. But the reality is much simpler: today you can start with 3-5 simple devices and get convenience, comfort and even savings 💡
This article contains a practical guide on where to start, what to buy and what to avoid.
🚪 1. Smart bulb
Yes, it all starts with a regular bulb. It connects to Wi-Fi and is controlled via an app or voice.
🔧 What it does:
- Turns on/off according to a schedule
- Changes brightness, temperature and even color
- Works via Yandex Alice, Google Assistant, Siri
💡 Advice: take models from TP-Link, Xiaomi, Gauss. Better – with Wi-Fi (not Bluetooth).
🔌 2. Smart socket
Connect an iron, heater, kettle or charger to it — and control them directly from your phone.
🔧 What it can do:
- Turn off devices by time
- Track energy consumption
- Protect from overloads
💡 Tip: get a couple of these sockets — convenient for the kitchen and bedroom.
🚪 3. Door or window opening sensor
Ideal for those who want primary security. You put it on the front door, and when it opens, you receive a notification on your phone.
🔧 What it gives:
- Knowing when someone enters
- Automation option: when opening a window, turn off the air conditioner
💡 Advice: choose sensors with Tuya/Smart Life support – easy to connect.
🎤 4. Voice assistant
If you already use Yandex Station, Google Nest Mini or Apple HomePod Mini, you are 50% ready. Without a voice, a smart home is not so interesting.
🔧 Features:
Control of lights, sockets, heaters
Music, alarms, weather
Support for scenarios (for example, “good night” – turns off the light and turns on the night light)
💡 Tip: Yandex Station Light or Google Nest Mini 2 are suitable for starters – they are inexpensive, work great.
📷 5. Surveillance camera
For children, animals or just peace of mind. Modern models are not only video, but also sound, movement, recording to the cloud.
🔧 What you can:
- Watch what’s happening at home through the app
- Receive notifications when there is movementTalk through the camera (!)
💡 Tip: pay attention to Ezviz, Xiaomi or TP-Link Tapo.
🧠 How to connect all this?
Almost all devices support:
- Tuya Smart / Smart Life
- Yandex Home
- Google Home
Install one of the applications – and in 10 minutes you can control the equipment from your smartphone.
⚡️ No programmer or installer is needed.
🪄 Example of a simple scenario
Scenario “Left home”:
- All sockets are turned off
- Lights are turned off
- Camera is turned on
- Notification: “House is switched to away mode”
You can create it in 5 minutes. And this is already the first step to a real smart home.
Making your home smart doesn’t mean spending half your salary. You can start with basic devices, build your own mini-system, and expand it over time. The main thing is to choose what really makes your life easier.
🔥 Which devices would you like to connect first?
Leave a comment — we will add practical instructions specifically for your case!