There’s nothing more inviting that approaching a well-lit home at night. Exterior lighting not only provides a safe path for those walking up to the entranceway, but also discourages those looking to cause trouble. But what if no one is home to turn on the lights? Then the answer is simple: automate them.
Making
the lighting outside your home “smart” can be done in one of two ways: first, by
hiring experts such as the professionals of Just One Touch, California’s #1 rated
Smart Home Integrator and Home Theater Installation company to eliminate the
stress of planning and executing the work. Or for those who prefer a
do-it-yourself approach, there’s a plethora of devices available for use, many
of which can be found at your local Video & Audio Center Superstore.
Regardless of which option you choose, it's good to understand just what
automating your home's exterior lighting is all about before you start.
First decision
you’ll have to make is exactly where to place the lights. When it comes to
illuminating the exterior of a house, there are a few areas that should be
addressed: the driveway, front door and backdoor/patio—all of which function as
points of entry into the home. Other places that can benefit from exterior
lighting include picture windows, the sides of the house, the front yard/back
yard and other areas of the property that are in the dark to provide 100%
visibility of the property.
THE TYPES
OF LIGHTS
Next thing
you’ll need to consider are which type of lights you want to use. There are
many different types of external lights, some feature energy-saving advantages,
some a higher intensity beam and some that will require professional
installation due to increased power requirements. Options may also include
floodlights placed over the garage door to illuminate the driveway, bright LED
bulbs illuminating the entranceway of the front or back doors and lights inset
on the driveway or freestanding on the front yard. There is also the ability to
vary the lighting intensity, as well as the color of the lights (dependent on
the type of light being used). Additionally, some lights are waterproof and
shatterproof, which greatly aid in their longevity. Some lights even have video
cameras built into them which record and/or allow streaming of what is being
seen (both day and night) to the homeowner's computer or mobile device.
ACTIVATING
THE LIGHTS
Since
it's not necessary for all of the lights to be always be on, there must be a
way for them to be turned on when you are coming home. This brings up three
options: the first option being the simplest, in that the light is activated
manually by being directly paired with a key fob/remote that is in the hand of
the homeowner who has just pulled into the driveway/is approaching the front
door. The second option is to have the light turn itself on automatically.
These types of lights feature a sensor that activates the light as soon as it
detects motion.
The third
option for activating the lights remotely is through a home automation system
that works through the home network. These typically work through an app,
enabling both timed and “at-need” control even when you’re not on the premises.
Video
& Audio Center has a wide selection of smart home automation devices and
systems on hand for those looking to DIY. The Superstores are located in Santa
Monica, South Bay, Agoura Hills & The Village at Westfield Topanga in
Woodland Hills.
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