Smart Living

Smart Home: How to create your own intelligent home

Once upon a time, the smart home was considered a pure niche trend that only found its way into the dwellings of passionate tinkerers and particularly wealthy people. Since the triumph of the smartphone, however, smart home devices have become a widespread phenomenon. The intelligent helpers are already being used in around 12 million German households - and the trend is rising. And that's not particularly surprising, because smart gadgets are often surprisingly inexpensive and usually comparatively easy to configure. But what is actually behind terms like "smart living," "smart home," "eHome" or "digital living"? Quite simply, it's a system of networked devices that can be operated remotely to enhance the comfort of one's own home and thus lead to a higher quality of life. Many smart home devices can also reduce electricity consumption. The spectrum ranges from kitchen and household appliances in large or small format, entertainment electronics, smoke detectors, air conditioning, lighting, heating and security systems to roller blinds and venetian blinds. As you can see, virtually all areas of your household can be integrated into a smart home network.

Smart Home systems and devices: Easy to buy online

Smart home devices are indispensable for intelligent and flexible living. Which gadgets you want to use within your four walls is, of course, entirely up to you. In any case, the application possibilities in terms of home automation and control are wide-ranging. At the same time, the use of the various devices is very simple; the only requirements are usually a power source and a functioning Internet connection. The control is often done via smartphone app or even with the help of voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri. This means you can easily operate your smart home modules on the go, from the next room or from the couch. Especially after a stressful day at work, this can be an enormous relief.

One important factor that speaks for the installation of smart home gadgets is the possibility to operate a particularly efficient energy management. A smart socket, for example, is ideal for this purpose. Such an outlet usually uses a WLAN signal, and less frequently a Bluetooth connection or another wireless standard such as ZigBee. The socket can be easily connected between any electronic device and a conventional socket and does not require any complex installation. Once the product has been configured, many smart home devices allow you to see via smartphone how much power the particular electrical device is using. This feature, which is often referred to as "smart metering," can also pay off financially. If you only use the appliance in question during off-peak hours and share the energy consumption data with your electricity provider, you may well be rewarded with a lower rate.

And that's not all: You can even control the energy supply quickly and easily via app or specify that the respective device is disconnected from the power supply at a certain time every day. Your TV, hi-fi system and game console consume considerable amounts of electricity even in standby mode. By making the device smart and controlling the power supply, you're not only doing the environment a favor, you're also saving money. In addition, you can also equip your lighting system, your heating, your ventilation system or your blinds with smart modules. Many products can be mounted under the respective switch without much effort and can also be integrated into an existing smart home network if necessary. Afterwards, the components in question can be controlled via app or voice command or act all by themselves, provided you have set automated routines - see below. Thanks to this advanced functionality, everyday life can be managed very comfortably and you save a lot of energy, which you can invest elsewhere.

To avoid worrying about uninvited guests and to ensure maximum home security in the building you live in, it is recommended to set up a sophisticated private security system with a surveillance camera and a warning sound. Here, too, you can use various smart home devices and systems. Since these tools are usually linked to a compatible smartphone app, you can even receive a push notification if an intruder tries to gain access to your home. This way, you'll receive a warning even when you're out and about. A high level of data security is of course guaranteed with modern gadgets.

By the way: To store for smart home systems and devices, you don't have to go to a brick-and-mortar retailer. Instead, you can simply order the desired modules online - at Berrybase. Many gadgets are now even comparatively affordable, so that even budget-conscious people can afford the "living of the future".

Smart home systems: Which devices are recommended for your home?

Are you wondering which smart home system suits you and your home? Of course, your personal circumstances and habits play an important role in choosing the right smart home devices. The fact is: digitizing your household is always worthwhile. Especially modules like a smart WLAN socket are recommended for every user who wants to save energy and money in the most convenient way.

Furthermore, a smart home is generally advisable for any consumer who maintains a dynamic lifestyle, is frequently on the move and has a lot on their plate. The fact that a smart home saves you a lot of walking and handling and that you can control your appliances via app or voice command makes your everyday life much easier to organize and structure. Regardless of whether you want to see whether your stove, TV or house lights are switched off or how long it will take until the washing machine is finished: with the right smart home devices, you are always aware of what is going on in your home.

Smart heating systems, on the other hand, have the advantage that you can heat your home while you are still on the road. This means that your home is already pleasantly warm when you arrive home. Conversely, a smart air conditioning system can bring considerable added value in the summer. Because one thing is clear: If ideal temperatures prevail within your own four walls, this increases your own sense of well-being and ultimately also your quality of life. Top: Both classic radiators and air-conditioning systems can be easily transformed into a smart home module in many cases. Smart room air conditioners or other gadgets that you can find in our range are ideal for this purpose. Anyone who regularly works in a home office is well advised to use smart lighting in the study. In conjunction with a corresponding sensor, a dimmable lamp, for example, can automatically ensure the ideal brightness conditions. Lighting modules with a dimming function and adjustable color also have one or two other advantages. This allows you to create a particularly cozy atmosphere during cozy movie, game or barbecue evenings with guests. In addition, many smart outdoor lighting modules can be linked with a motion sensor, which allows you to effectively deter burglars approaching your home.

Speaking of which, a smart security system is not only recommended for people with homes, valuable possessions or a high need for security. Pet owners also benefit from the features of a modern surveillance camera. With the right gadgets for pets, you can ensure that your beloved four-legged friends are well while you are out and about. Moreover, in no time you can construct a smart baby monitor that can be controlled remotely. This way, you can always keep an eye on your child, even if he or she is in the next room. However, the networking of various smart home modules plays a particularly important role in such systems. You can find out more about what you should bear in mind below.

How do smart home products work?

For the installation and use of smart home products, you usually do not need any in-depth knowledge. The configuration often takes only a few minutes and is therefore not very time-consuming. Drilling or laying cables is only required in rare cases. This means that even technical laymen can install the smart home modules without any problems. Detailed instructions are always included in the scope of delivery of the respective device.

With regard to the infrastructure of your smart home, there are a few points to consider. If you are setting up a larger network, for example, a Smart Home Hub can be useful. The module, which is often also referred to as a "bridge" or "gateway," serves as the control center in a smart home network and enables smooth communication between the various smart home components. The device usually uses wireless standards such as WLAN, Bluetooth or ZigBee. But a connection via cable is also possible in principle.

Many smart home gateways have a touchscreen that can be used to control the network, but also for other functions. For example, some gateways are equipped with a navigation, calendar, news, weather or music app and thus act as a kind of mini-computer. If you have set up a smart security system, the gateway's display can often also be used in conjunction with a surveillance camera. Incidentally, it is of course also possible to operate the gateway and thus the entire smart home network via smartphone app. Some models can even be optionally controlled by voice command. More convenience is not possible!

In addition, it is also possible to configure a decentralized system without a gateway. However, the smart home modules in question are not always compatible - and you are not as flexible in your actions as with a smart home hub.

When it comes to the application of the individual smart home devices, there are naturally big differences. As already mentioned above, control via a mobile device is now very common. But there are other alternatives as well. In the case of smart lighting systems, heating, ventilation systems and blinds, operation is also optionally carried out via conventional switches. The respective switch for smart home modules is mounted underneath and is thus virtually invisible. In some cases, the devices can also be controlled with a small rotary switch or via a touchscreen. If the latter applies, room-by-room control is often possible.

Smart Living - maximum convenience in everyday life - with automated routines

Practical: With the help of the respective compatible smart home app, you can configure automated routines in no time at all, which are geared to your individual habits and personal preferences. For example, you can use the corresponding gadget to set your blinds to always close automatically at a certain temperature or brightness level, to activate or deactivate your private security system every day at a certain time, or to turn off your heating as soon as the window is opened. Here you benefit from the fact that many smart home products can be linked with certain modules, such as temperature, brightness, motion or door or window sensors - often even independent of the manufacturer. In some cases, such as a surveillance camera, which is to start operating daily at a certain time, a simple timer function is also sufficient.

However, it is important that you always use password protection when configuring your smart home devices and limit access rights to yourself and other household members. This is the only way to ensure that your network and thus your personal data are protected from misuse by unauthorized persons. In addition, the connection between the smart home gadget and the mobile device used to control it can be encrypted using additional security modules. This is even more important when you control your smart home network on the go. Many manufacturers that offer smart home devices in Germany also guarantee that personal data will be stored securely and not passed on to third parties. In this context, however, you must make sure that the company in question does not use a cloud that is hosted abroad. Because in such a case, the data protection laws of the respective country naturally apply.

Have we piqued your curiosity? Then dive into the world of smart living now and build your individual smart home network. Through an automated and coordinated system, you save a lot of effort in everyday life and thus experience an unprecedented comfort in your four walls. Our wide range of modules from top brands will surely inspire you and offer you the optimal basis for your individual smart home ideas.

Top brands

Google Nest | Meross | SwitchBot | Homematic-IP | Shelly | Xiaomi | Sonoff

Radio standards

433-MHz | Wlan | Bluetooth | Zigbee | Enocean | Z-wave | bidcos |