Smartphones are incredibly popular, especially among younger generations. And that's for good reason- we can access news, food, games, and our social circles right on our phones. But, can you access your home with your phone? Can you control your house's temperature, check on your dog, or make sure your cookies aren't burnt, all with your phone? If not, it might be time to look into smart house technology. 

Thermostat

We could all stand to save some money on heating and cooling. Using a smart thermostat makes that incredibly easy. The Nest Learning Thermostat works with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, meaning you won't have to get up from the couch to get a little cooler or warmer. The Nest model also gives suggestions for money- and energy-saving settings, with better temperatures indicated on the screen with a green leaf icon.

Lighting

Do you want to impress a blind date with some nice mood lighting? Maybe show off a rainbow light show at your next party? Or, you just want to make sure you don't leave the lights on all day and waste electricity. No matter what, smart lighting can be quite handy. Smart lighting generally works using a "smart bulb" which you can control through an app. Smart bulbs like the Phillips Hue let you control intensity, hue, and even schedule your lights to turn on or off at a certain time. Smart light bulbs like the Phillips Hue last an incredibly long time and are energy efficient. 

Cooking

Yes, even your cooking can be smarter! Smart cooking technology isn't just for hobby chefs and smoked salmon-lovers. Most of us appreciate a hot cup of coffee to get us going in the morning. A machine such as the Smarter Coffee machine lets you start up or schedule your coffee machine from your smartphone. And, unlike getting coffee from a coffee shop, you can wait for your fresh joe while you curl up in bed for a few more minutes. 

There are as many types of smart cooking products as there are types of cooking. It's likely that there's an automated tool that can make your best dishes quickly and easily.

Security

Security systems are often the first thing to come to mind when thinking about smart technology. They can consist of a camera or multiple cameras, door and window sensors, and much more. You can access a camera like the Arlo Pro from your phone and see exactly what it sees. With full security systems, you can monitor cameras, all sensors, and control the entire system wherever you go.

A little hesitant to install an entire security system? You can make your home safer without adding a security system or cameras. For example, smart locks allow you to lock and unlock doors easily. This helps you with events as serious as a break-in or as annoying as a broken door hanging ajar. 

Smart Plugs

Out of all of the smart home devices out there, this is the most adaptable. Smart plugs are devices you plug into a normal outlet in order to manage the power from your phone.  The TPS Link Smart Plug can plug into most outlets and turn on or off whatever device is plugged into it. If you want to try out making your house "smarter" without investing a lot, a smart plug is a way to go. 

How Do I Connect?

Only advanced phones are able to use smart home technology. It's important to make sure you have a smartphone with a powerful processor and reliable network, such as the Note 8 backed by T-Mobile. This will ensure you can connect with and control your home devices with minimal issues. 

Imagine driving out into the country for a week-long family trip and realizing you forgot to lock the door. You have an app to fix that- but you have no signal to load it. Your helpful gadgets aren't so helpful unless you can connect to them. Using a reliable phone and network like T-Mobile will let you get the most out of your smart house. 

Smart house technology is growing every year. It may be time for you to hop onboard.