Smart Home Must-Haves: My Favorite Gadgets for a Smarter, More Convenient Home
- Barbara Monell
- Mar 3
- 3 min read
Creating a smart home doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive! With just a few key gadgets, you can make your home more efficient, secure, and convenient. Here are my top smart home must-haves that I personally use and love!
1. Kasa Smart Plugs – Effortless Control for Any Device
I looove using Kasa Smart Plugs ($28/4pck) to turn regular appliances into smart devices. Whether it’s a lamp, coffee maker, or holiday lights, I can control everything with my phone or using Alexa.
I mainly use them to control the lamps throughout my home--I love ambient lighting to make my home feel cozy! What I don't love is remembering to turn them on or off. With these Kasa plugs, I can easily create schedules and have them turn on at sunset and off at a later time.
I also have to say, smart plugs are SO much better than smart light bulbs! When your power goes out inevitably, or you accidentally hit the light switch, you don't have to reset these like you would with the smart light bulbs, and that was enough to make me a convert.
The app is super easy to use and set up is a breeze!
2. Eufy Smart Lock C30 – Keyless Entry for Peace of Mind
The Eufy Smart Lock C30 ($60!) has been a game-changer for my home security. I can lock and unlock my door using a passcode, or the Eufy app. No more fumbling for keys! It’s perfect for when I have guests or need to let someone in when I’m not home. Plus, it auto-locks, so I never have to stress about forgetting. It connects to your WIFI and doesn't require a smart bridge!
I bought this lock to replace my standard garage door lock and wish I would have found this sooner because I bought the Schlage Encode Smart Lock ($229) for my front door a few years ago, and while it's great, the Eufy lock does the exact same thing for $169 LESS! Save your money, and get the Eufy one!
The set up is super easy, I did it myself! All you need is a screwdriver and your phone.
3. Pura Smart Scent Diffuser – A Home That Always Smells Amazing
The Pura Smart Scent Diffuser (FREE when you subscribe to 2 scents) lets me control my home’s fragrance right from my phone. I can schedule scents, adjust intensity, and switch fragrances without lifting a finger. It’s a small luxury that makes a big difference!
They have a ton of amazing scents that are clean & non-toxic to keep you and your family safe (furry ones too). If you happen to get a fragrance you don't love, you're able to swap it out with another one, free of charge!
The best part is that you're able to use geo-tracking so if you're not within the geofence you set, the diffuser stays off so that you're not wasting your scents on an empty home!
4. Genie Quiet Lift Connect Garage Door Opener – Smooth & Silent Operation
One of the first things we bought when we moved into our house was the Genie Quiet Lift Connect Garage Door Opener ($255) has made coming and going so much easier. It’s super quiet (no more loud garage door noises!) and connects to my phone, so I can open or close my garage from anywhere. And if you’re like me, always second-guessing whether you left the garage open, this is a must-have! You can set it to automatically close your door after a certain amount of time. This has been a life saver on several occasions!
5. Ecobee Smart Thermostat – Energy Savings & Comfort
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat ($189) is one of my favorite smart home upgrades because it helps me save on energy bills while keeping my home at the perfect temperature. It learns my schedule, adjusts automatically, and even works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit.
The best part is being able to control it from my phone, so I don't have to get up and walk across the whole house just to change the temperature (it's not lazy, it's convenient!)
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