Your Guide To The Smart Home

  • Best Robot Lawn Mowers

    Robot lawn mowers are a convenient and efficient way to keep your lawn looking its best. With so many options on the market, it can be difficult to know which one is the best for your needs. Here are some of the top robot lawn mowers available today: No matter which robot lawn mower you…

  • Best Robot Vacuum

    Best Robot Vacuum

    Most people don’t know that the first automatic vacuum cleaner called Trilobite was already presented in 1997 by the swedish company Electrolux. And even Dyson, the market leader for vacuums, released their own robot in 2001. But in either cases the price or the time wasn’t right yet. It wasn’t until 2002 when iRobot shook…

  • Best Alexa Compatible Smart Lights

    Best Alexa Compatible Smart Lights

    Enrich your home with Alexa compatible smart lights and control them with your voice! You’ll see it is both useful and fun! Enjoy the experience! Imagine that you can tell your lights how you wish them to shine! If you are an Alexa owner, this is possible by changing traditional lighting with Alexa compatible smart…

  • Best Alexa Compatible Thermostats

    Best Alexa Compatible Thermostats

    Today, a big plus, if you are competing in the world of smart home devices, is to be Alexa compatible. Many manufacturers are aware of this fact and they made their brands working with Alexa in order to improve the complete smart home experience. The following are the most popular, Amazon Alexa compatible and highly…

  • Z-Wave

    Z-Wave

    Z-Wave was developed by a Danish startup called Zensys. It is a proprietary wireless communications protocol specifically designed for the needs of remote control applications and therefore all kinds of home automation devices.  While using a low-power wireless technology it supports the communication via a mesh structure which means that several Z-Wave devices also act…

  • DIY Wireless Doorbell

    DIY Wireless Doorbell

    Can’t find the right smart doorbell for your home? Don’t worry! We’ve prepared a special tutorial on different DIY Wireless doorbell options in the latest part of our smart home guide. Let’s get started.

  • Best Garage Door Opener

    Best Garage Door Opener

    The future is now and whether you’d like to upgrade your old garage door system to work with your smart home devices or install a completely new garage door controller, we’ve gathered the best smart garage door opener and controller options currently available on the market.

  • Best Motion Sensor Light Switches

    Best Motion Sensor Light Switches

    A Motion Sensor Light Switch is often also referred to as “Occupancy Light Switch” as well as “Vacancy Light Switch”. But there is a difference between the two. An Occupancy Light Switch automatically turns on the lights as soon as motion is detected in the sensor range and automatically turns the lights off when the…

  • Best Z-Wave Controllers

    Best Z-Wave Controllers

    The market for Z-Wave controllers can be a bit overwhelming at first glance but we compiled a comprehensive list of the most suitable controllers for being the central component of a majority of home automation systems. We created a short review of every product to summarize the most important key points. We will also guide…

  • Best Zigbee Controllers

    Best Zigbee Controllers

    If you are into a smart home and automatisation, you wish to make all the devices work together. And that is where the ZigBee controllers enter the scene. Like a puzzle, you can put all your smart gadgets to work connected via the controller. For your convenience, we have chosen five best Zigbee controllers, and…

  • Best Z-Wave USB Stick

    Best Z-Wave USB Stick

    If you don’t know what home automation protocol to choose yet and want to dive deeper into the intricacies of orchestrating your home – buying a cheap Z-Wave USB adapter might be the perfect option for you. These sticks turn your ordinary pc into a fully customizable Z-Wave controller.

  • Best Z-Wave Thermostat

    Best Z-Wave Thermostat

    If your home automation system is centered around Z-Wave or consists at least of one Z-Wave enabled controller we have selected the best products that will fit your needs. On this page, you will find short reviews of what we would consider the best z-wave thermostats.

  • Best Alexa Compatible Coffee Makers

    Best Alexa Compatible Coffee Makers

    Why wouldn’t you enjoy your perfect cup of coffee every morning, or have fun with friends instead of preparing coffee in the kitchen? Check out best Alexa compatible coffee makers! You certainly can live without them, but once you learn that smell of your favourite coffee can wake you up, you will simply love this…

  • Best Alexa Compatible Garage Door Openers

    Best Alexa Compatible Garage Door Openers

    Alexa compatible garage door openers enable you to feel secure because you can check if the door is properly closed by asking your Amazon Echo or by checking the status on your mobile from wherever you are. This improvement will certainly take you one step closer to the perfect security of your home. Most of…

  • Best Smart Home Security Cameras

    Best Smart Home Security Cameras

    The home security is one of the points in life that concerns us all very much. It is not only about burglaries, it includes oven or heater left on or window left open. Not so long time ago, if you wanted to invest in the home security system, you would have to spend a huge…

  • Best Alexa Compatible Robot Vacuums

    Best Alexa Compatible Robot Vacuums

    You certainly can live without them, but once you learn that vacuuming can be done even if you are not home, you will simply love smart vacuums! Why wouldn’t you enjoy your free time while the robot vacuum is doing his job on the route you have set up? Check out best Alexa compatible robot…

  • Best Home Security Camera Systems

    Best Home Security Camera Systems

    Home security has been one of the main niches of the smart home industry. But how does the technology stand in 2017? What are the best new inventions? We decide to tackle these issues by giving a check with the best home security camera systems for 2017.

  • Best Smart Lights

    Best Smart Lights

    Smart lights are the easiest way to introduce smart appliances into the home. It is one of the lowest price and easy to install gadgets. On smart lighting solutions, you can learn, adjust and get used to smart home appliances and perhaps in the future broaden your home with other more complex smart appliances. We…

  • DIY Z-Wave Garage Door Controller

    DIY Z-Wave Garage Door Controller

    Want to make your garage door opener a bit smarter? This week in our Smart Home Guide we’ve decided to share with you a few DIY Z-Wave garage door controller solutions, to help you out with your home automation task.

  • Best Smart Thermostat

    Best Smart Thermostat

    The days of relying on an inaccurate spin-dial thermostat are long over. Programmable thermostats have come a long way over the last decade, and one of the latest advancements is something known as a smart thermostat. While regular thermostats allow you to adjust and set the temperature in a room with a control panel or…

  • Best Smart Locks

    Best Smart Locks

    We’re through first half of the year, and by now we have a pretty clear idea of what are the best smart locks in 2018. Smart locks are predicted to be a fastest growing segment in the smart home devices industry in 2018. If we speak about customers, smart locks became popular among the broad…

  • Universal Powerline Bus

    Universal Powerline Bus

    Universal Powerline Bus or short UPB is a communication protocol developed for the needs of home automation. As the name suggests it uses the existing powerlines of homes for sending data. It was developed in 1999 by PCS Powerline Systems and was inspired by the already ubiquitous X10 protocol.

  • Best Smart Office Products

    Best Smart Office Products

    Have you already made your home a smart home? Then, you know all the benefits of it. But have you considered making your office a smart office and get to know all of its benefits? It doesn’t matter what kind of business you run, whether it is a small business, dental or medical office or…

  • A Z-Wave Smart Home Setup

    A Z-Wave Smart Home Setup

    In the first part of our BYSH Complete Automation Guides series, we’ll tackle the making of a z-wave smart home setup. Check it out!

  • Best Home Security Devices

    Best Home Security Devices

    Security – that reassuring sense that everything’s okay. It enables us to fully appreciate life and live to our full potential. Modern technology offers some new tools for enhancing security, major protection that’s also a lot of fun. But fun doesn’t mean fickle. Here are a few choices of security gadgets that are seriously efficient…

  • X10

    X10

    As the oldest protocol on the market, X10 has built up quite some reputation over the last 30 years. X10 was originally designed for powerline communication only but through time the need for wireless communication emerged.

  • DIY Z-Wave Automatic Blinds

    DIY Z-Wave Automatic Blinds

    With the help of Z-Wave Automatic Blinds technology, you’ll be able to make your home even smarter. The best part is you’ll be able to achieve that on a budget! Can you imagine waking up and sun rays gently touching your face? In some Sci-Fi movies, you will find people not having to push buttons…

  • DIY Amazon Alexa Smart Toaster

    DIY Amazon Alexa Smart Toaster

    Ever wanted to make your toaster smarter? While the Griffin Smart Toaster still isn’t widely available on the market, there are various DIY solutions that help you turn your current toaster into an automated device. Let’s check out just how you can do so.

  • Z-Wave vs. Zigbee Breakdown – A Price Comparison

    Z-Wave vs. Zigbee Breakdown – A Price Comparison

    Z-Wave and Zigbee have many differences, but which one would end up costing you cheaper? Are Zigbee products cheaper than their Z-Wave counterparts? Let’s check with a detailed price comparison.  Recently, we’ve been doing some inventory and we found that our love for Z-Wave products is quite obvious. (Heck, it’s even right there in the…

  • These are the 10 Best Amazon Alexa Skills

    These are the 10 Best Amazon Alexa Skills

    Amazon Alexa is not just a smart home device; it is a lifestyle! Amazon Alexa skill is the application that is performed after your voice command. It works as the brain of different smart devices in your home, and can also respond to you. The result is a smarter home controlled by your voice. Alexa…

  • Best Smart Speakers

    Best Smart Speakers

    What a better start of the year, than to have a new smart assistant in your home? We’ve done our best to outline the best smart speakers the market has to offer in 2019. 

  • Best Smart Home Starter Kit Offers

    Best Smart Home Starter Kit Offers

    Starting with home automation can be a difficult and costly task and that’s why different companies offer some of their products in bundles. To help you choose the most affordable, functional and easy to set up bundles, we’ve gathered the best smart home starter kits for your automated home. Check our top picks here.

  • Zigbee vs. Z-Wave

    Zigbee vs. Z-Wave

    Zigbee and Z-Wave are the two major protocols running for the spot of best wireless communication protocol for the smart home. Yet, does Zigbee manage to comply with all industry standards? Let’s discuss!  It’s obvious that here at BuildYourSmartHome.co we are quite the Z-Wave enthusiasts. However, if we are completely frank, our team doesn’t care…

  • Best Alexa Compatible Cameras and Door Locks

    Best Alexa Compatible Cameras and Door Locks

    We all get forgetful sometimes and wonder did we lock the front door or want to check what kids are doing in another room or in the yard. With Alexa compatible cameras and door locks, you get one complete system for home security and you can check if you left the door open from the…

  • Obscure Smart Bathroom Devices

    Obscure Smart Bathroom Devices

    What are the oddest of the odd smart bathroom products? Let’s check out just how far home automation tech has gone in the privatest of rooms! Let’s check out the most obscure products for your bathroom right now!

  • Best Bluetooth Garage Door Controller

    Best Bluetooth Garage Door Controller

    Bluetooth technology is evolving faster than ever. It provides people with easy wireless solutions for their smart homes. And with the help of a Bluetooth garage door controller, you’d be even able to open your garage door remotely!

  • Smart Shower Systems and Smart Shower Heads

    Smart Shower Systems and Smart Shower Heads

    What’s better than going to shower and having the water at just the right temperature without the need of any adjustments? Also helping you save the environment by preserving water, smart shower systems and smart shower heads are here to make your shower time that much better. However, are they truly worth it? Talking about…

  • Advances in Security of Smart Homes

    Advances in Security of Smart Homes

    Based on recent research, 30 million households are expected to switch to smart homes in the United Stated by next year. Family safety becomes the top motivator for adopting smart home technology (63%) followed by convenience (53%).

  • Best Alexa Compatible Doorbell

    Best Alexa Compatible Doorbell

    Living in a world of smart homes as a smart device means that you are up to date and technically advanced. But if you really want to be on the top of the hill, you need to be connected with other devices and, of course, Alexa. Even if you are a doorbell! For your convenience,…

  • How to Turn Your Hi-Fi Stereo System into a Smart Home Wonder  

    How to Turn Your Hi-Fi Stereo System into a Smart Home Wonder  

    Want to have a top-of-the-life Smart Hi-Fi System? We’re here to help you turn your Hi-Fi Stereo System into a Smart Home Wonder.

  • 4 Outrageous DIY Home Automation Projects

    4 Outrageous DIY Home Automation Projects

    What’s the crazies DIY home automation project you can think of? We’ll these are even more wacky and outrageous. Check it out!

  • The Crestron Home Automation System

    The Crestron Home Automation System

    Crestron made the Top Ten Review Award list for being a company whose high standards for running an automation system capable of supporting one of the largest networks operating today. Their system package also comes complete with their own professional installers that take care of every detail for you. Their professional installers ensure that every…

  • The Control 4 Home Automation System

    The Control 4 Home Automation System

    In 2003, Will West, Mark Morgan, and Eric Smith started Control4 with the goal of creating an effective platform for a convenient home through advanced technology. Their products were first debuted at the CEDIA tech show in 2004, and their initial production line was available later that year.

  • The mControl v3 Home Automation System

    The mControl v3 Home Automation System

    Founded in 1998, the software development company Embedded Automation designed and developed a number of breakthrough technologies intended to help create a completely digital home. The firm operated as a division of the mHome product group of companies. It marketed its innovative line of products through an mHome Authorized Dealer Network in the United States…

  • Best Alexa Compatible Switches and Plugs

    Best Alexa Compatible Switches and Plugs

    If you already have Amazon Alexa, why wouldn’t you enrich your home with small inexpensive gadgets like Alexa compatible switches and plugs? They are an excellent way to improve your home and are pretty much basic smart devices that are really useful. They will release you from worrying if you have switched off the heater…

  • ZigBee

    ZigBee

    ZigBee is a home automation protocol which was originally invented for the use in Personal Area Networks (PAN). Like Z-Wave it uses low power radio frequency communication which results in long battery lives for ZigBee using devices. The protocal is based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard and is widely considered as an alternative to Bluetooth…

  • What is the Best Smoke Detector?

    What is the Best Smoke Detector?

    Every year in the United States, nearly 3,000 people die in residential fires. Although accidental fires can occur at any time, one of the best ways to keep you and your family safe is to install a smoke detector in every room of your home. With that in mind, we decided to head out and…

  • How to Play Music with Amazon Echo

    How to Play Music with Amazon Echo

    Once you have purchased the Amazon Echo, an explorative adventurous spirit wakes up in you! What can it do, how can it help me and what are all its indefinite possibilities? Once you have connected it to all smart devices in-house and found out all Alexa’s skills starting from morning alarm to telling a goodnight…

  • A smart kitchen makes cooking a lovely experience

    A smart kitchen makes cooking a lovely experience

    Wouldn’t you think that a kitchen is a magical place? It plays an essential role in our lives: it is not only the place where you prepare and enjoy meals, but it is also a place of family gathering, an area where we have fun with friends and where many lovely memories are made. But…

  • Best Z-Wave Garage Door Controller

    Best Z-Wave Garage Door Controller

    Z-Wave is one of the most widely used wireless communication protocols in the world of smart home and IoT devices. That’s why, if you are looking for an easy and smart garage door solution, one of your best options is to choose a Z-Wave Garage Door Controller.

  • Best Smart Wireless Doorbell for your Home

    Best Smart Wireless Doorbell for your Home

    Wireless technology has come a long way in the past few years and new technologies offer exciting possibilities for the Smart Home. That’s why we’ve decided to check out which is the Best Wireless Doorbell for the Smart Home.

  • How to control your Ceiling Fan with Z-Wave

    How to control your Ceiling Fan with Z-Wave

    Ceiling fans are very popular in the United States and have a long history of existence. The first models appeared in the 1860s and were not yet powered by electricity but rather by a stream of running water. Nowadays almost every U.S. based household has at least one ceiling fan at home.

  • The Best Budget Smart Home Devices

    The Best Budget Smart Home Devices

    Home Automation is considered to be an expensive hobby. Nevertheless, affordable tech exists in every niche. With that in mind, here are the best budget smart home devices of 2017.

  • A Z-Wave Interview with Dr. Christian Paetz – “It’s a no-brainier!”

    A Z-Wave Interview with Dr. Christian Paetz – “It’s a no-brainier!”

    Earlier this month we had the chance to talk with Z-Wave expert Dr. Christian Paetz. The author of two of the most prominent books about the wireless protocol, Z-Wave Basics: Remote Control in Smart Homes and Z-Wave Essentials, Dr. Paetz is also the primary representative of the Z-Wave alliance. Here’s what we asked him and what he…

  • The Best Smart Kitchen Products

    The Best Smart Kitchen Products

    Want to purchase a new small appliance, but don’t know whether or not all those new ‘smart’ features are worth it? Let’s check out the best small smart home appliances of 2017 to help you make your purchasing choice.

  • Smarter Coffee Machine

    Smarter Coffee Machine

    Smarter is a manufacturing company that tries to break the mold. Instead of going for the same old smart home products we are used to seeing on the market, It tries to provide us with fresh new ideas that revolutionize the way we perceive smart tech. But does their Smarter Coffee Machine does its job well? Let’s…

  • Mr. Coffee Wi-Fi Enabled Smart Coffee Brewer

    Mr. Coffee Wi-Fi Enabled Smart Coffee Brewer

    Everyone likes to be waken up by the nice aroma of freshly ground, hot coffee. Can the We-Mo supported, Mr. Coffee Wi-Fi Enabled Smart Coffee Brewer do that? We decided to get our hands on one and see what this home automation beast can do. 

  • Behmor Connected – The Ultimate Smart Coffee Maker?

    Behmor Connected – The Ultimate Smart Coffee Maker?

    The Behmor Connected is a smart coffee maker aiming to enhance your coffee brewing experience. But does the smart appliance deliver what every caffeine addict dreams about? Or is it just the next piece of technology that uses the ‘smart’ hype train to trampoline its price? Let’s find out.

  • Best Plug-n-Power Home Automation Kits

    Best Plug-n-Power Home Automation Kits

    Want to implement a new easy to install smart home solution? Check out our picks for the best plug-n-power home automation kits currently available on the market today.

  • The Smart Home Guide: How to Work With the Smart Home IFTTT Platform

    The Smart Home Guide: How to Work With the Smart Home IFTTT Platform

    Are you ready to make your home a bit more automated? Make sure to check out this week’s smart home guide, where we tackle the smart home IFTTT platform and how to use it.

  • 5 Awesome Smart Home Videos You Have to Check Out

    5 Awesome Smart Home Videos You Have to Check Out

    The home automation trend is just starting to catch up, but there are people have already found various ways to mess with smart home tech in order to have some fun. Here are just 5 smart home videos that are truly awesome and that will make your day.  Often serious and discussing major topics within…

  • Cheap Smart Home Tech and Where to Start on a Budget

    Cheap Smart Home Tech and Where to Start on a Budget

    When people think of smart home tech, they usually imagine an expensive luxurious home with equipment and appliances worth in the thousands. However, this is not always the case. Here are a few tips on how to get started with a smart home on a budget with this smart home guide on cheap smart home…

  • The Voice Controlled Amazon Alexa Game Room of Your Dreams

    The Voice Controlled Amazon Alexa Game Room of Your Dreams

    We all know that Alexa can play you any song on your smart home speakers. However, have you thought about Alexa playing your favorite song on the jukebox? The guys at Liberty games certainly have, and they’ve created what may very well be, the perfect voice-controlled Games room in existence today.

  • 10 Amazing Facts About the History of the Smart Home

    10 Amazing Facts About the History of the Smart Home

    Have you ever wondered who’s the first to come up with the idea of a smart home? What about the first home automation devices? Here are 15 amazing facts about the history of the smart home, to answer your questions.

  • The World of Home Automation and What you Need to Know About Smart Homes

    The World of Home Automation and What you Need to Know About Smart Homes

    New smart home products make the home automation experience easier and more seamless, letting more people get into the world of home automation.

  • 7 Extremely Curious and Creative IoT Projects for the Smart Home

    7 Extremely Curious and Creative IoT Projects for the Smart Home

    With a huge number of do-it-yourself options available, anyone can start making their homes more intelligent with the help of a few simple interconnected IoT boards. While most people go for the more obvious smart home solutions, others create incredibly imaginative and sometimes downright weird IoT devices for the smart home. With that in mind,…

  • Easy Home Automation Solutions to Increase Your Productivity

    Easy Home Automation Solutions to Increase Your Productivity

    Ever since the dawn of man, humans have been trying to make their lives easier. Even the wheel, the first machines, and the first computers had the purpose of completing mundane tasks and increasing our productivity. This idea is also one of the driving factors behind the recent trend of Home Automation solutions. Some might…

  • Neato Vs Roomba

    Neato Vs Roomba

    Robotic Vacuums: Neato Robotics vs. iRobot Roomba Robotic vacuums continue to enjoy a great deal of popularity, with new models and more features being added every year. With so many brands and features available for purchase, it can take some time to navigate the information and specifications to determine which robotic vacuum is the best…

  • 5 Favorite Home Automation Hacks with IFTTT

    5 Favorite Home Automation Hacks with IFTTT

    For those of you unfamiliar with IFTTT, it’s a program/website/app that allows you to connect different systems and create rules, or as they call them, “recipes”. IFTTT becomes especially awesome when you connect all of your smart home devices. Instead of waiting for your favorite brand to launch a version 2 or an update, you…

  • 10 Crazy Smart Home Gadgets You’ve Never Heard Of

    10 Crazy Smart Home Gadgets You’ve Never Heard Of

    A thermostat that talks to your washing machine? A baby bottle that talks to your smartphone and tells you how much and how fast your baby is feeding? A belt that adjusts itself depending on your activities for the day? Here are the 10 Most Crazy Smart Home Gadgets You’ve Never Heard Of.

  • How to use your iPhone as a Wireless Light Switch

    How to use your iPhone as a Wireless Light Switch

    You can easily turn your iPhone into a wireless light switch with the right technology. Please keep in mind that you will always need corresponding hardware to turn your iPhone into a home automation command & control center. Below we have listed the top convenient solutions to control your lighting in your house wirelessly.

  • KNX

    KNX

    KNX is an abbreviation for the word Konnex and describes a standardized protocol for building control and also has its place in traditional home automation. Its biggest advantage is the independence of any particular hardware platform which means that it could also be executed on an 8-bit microcontroller.

  • Smart Thermostats – What you need to know

    Smart Thermostats – What you need to know

    Your normal thermostat helps you to adjust the temperature in your home, letting you control the heating and the air conditiong. The difference between Smart Thermostats and regular thermostats is the fact that they can learn from your specific needs and behaviours.

  • Insteon

    Insteon

    Insteon tries to combine the best of both worlds which means it supports powerline communication as well as radio frequency communication. Considering it only as a protocol would be an understatement. It is rather a complete technology stack which also consists of separate protocols for the two different types of communication.