The ‘smart home’ has been a buzzword in the Internet of Things (IoT) space for a few years. But Gartner predicts that 20.4 billion ‘things’ will be connected by 2020.

With so much excellent technology coming online, now is as good a time as any to start building your own automated home.

But smart devices range from refrigerators, kettles and thermostats to weight loss gadgets and security systems. Where do you start?

Read on to discover the best smart home appliances of 2018.

LG InstaView ThinQ(TM) Black Stainless Steel Refrigerator

LG’s SmartThinQ line features a range of refrigerators. The InstaView ThinQ is the closest you’ll get to futuristic tech in your kitchen.

The touchscreen on the door turns transparent so you can see what’s inside your fridge. You can leave digital notes on the touchscreen for your family.

And are you always throwing food out because you miss the expiry date? Set expiry dates for your food so the InstaView can let you know when it’s about to go off.

Most smart devices come with companion apps to control their features. The InstaView ThinQ is no different. You can check the contents of your fridge from the app while you’re at the store.

Stream your music through the fridge’s built-in speakers for a better cooking experience. It even has a vacation mode to save energy that you can enable through the app.

SkyBell HD

Smart doorbells like the SkyBell are a great way to add peace of mind to your home security set up.

You can use its 1080p camera to get a real-time view of your doorstep. Just switch on the app on your smartphone. That’s helpful if you need to tell a deliveryman where to leave a parcel.

It also has motion sensors that will start recording if someone comes too close to your house. Free cloud storage will host those videos for you.

The SkyBell features an anti-rust coating. It also comes with a battery so you won’t lose functionality in a power outage.

WeMo Mini Smart Plug

Picture the scene. You’re halfway to the airport for the vacation of a lifetime. Except…did you leave an appliance plugged in?

You don’t have time to go back and check. So what do you do?

If you have the WeMo Mini Smart Plug, you won’t panic. You can use the smartphone app to turn off the power outlets from wherever you are.

That’s helpful if you want to turn off an appliance in your child’s bedroom at night. You don’t need to physically go in and disturb them.

Philips Hue Smart Lightbulbs

These smart light bulbs are a great addition to a smart home if you’re focused on environmental credentials.

The white bulbs can be turned on and off from your smartphone. You can even dim them to change the atmosphere using the app.

The color-changing bulbs can be synced with music for a real home light display. Or use them to mimic sunrise and wake up naturally, instead of being shocked awake by an alarm clock.

There are other smart bulbs available but the Philips Hue system is compatible with lots of other devices and systems.

Nest Thermostat

The Nest Learning Thermostat looks like any normal thermostat. Its basic function controls your home’s temperature in your home.

But the Nest Thermostat actually learns how you use your house. It gets to know which rooms you use, and when, so it doesn’t waste energy heating rooms you don’t use.

It gives you ultimate control over your home environment. Use the app to turn the heating on while you head home after working late. Or turn on the thermostat’s Auto-Away Assist function. The device uses your GPS location to check if you’re home, turning off the heating if you’re not.

The Auto-Away feature also unlocks other powerful functionality. The Nest thermostat can even turn off lights, lock doors, and activate your smart security system when you leave.

ShapeScale Bathroom Scale

In the US, 38.2% of people aged 15+ classify as obese. Why not turn to technology to help with your weight loss goals?

You don’t need scales to tell you how much you weigh. You need better information than that. Fat and muscle don’t weigh the same. So if you start hitting the gym and your weight goes up, that could be because you’re putting on muscle.

The ShapeScale provides exactly that kind of information. It creates a 3D scan of your body which it sends to your smartphone. See at a glance where you’ve gained or lost fat. It’ll also pinpoint where you built muscle.

The data gives you a better overall picture of your physical composition.

Mr. Coffee Smart Coffeemaker

Last but not least, the humble coffeemaker even comes in a ‘smart’ variety for your 2018 smart home. If you’re someone who likes to stay caffeinated, then this model could be the perfect device for you.

Install the Mr. Coffee Smart Coffeemaker‘s companion app so you can start the brewing process with a tap of a button. So your coffee can be ready before you get downstairs in the morning. Or you can keep the coffee flowing if you’re hosting a dinner party.

The maker will even send you a push notification to let you know the coffee is ready.

Choose from a range of brew settings so your coffee is just the way you like it. You’ll get ten cups of coffee out of each brew. The thermal carafe keeps it warm for you.

This List Just Scratches the Smart Home Surface

Smart home devices exist for a whole host of functions, from gardening and cooking to health and fitness. They’re easy to program from your smartphone, saving you time and often energy.

The best advice we can give when shopping for devices is to look at your existing ‘infrastructure’. Are you an Amazon user? Apple, or Android? Choose devices that integrate with those platforms for better connectivity.

Are you interested in building your smart home? Contact us today to find out how we can help you.