Audio Visual Solutions

Home Technology and Home Design Can Work Together

By Electronic House

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A high tech home doesn’t have to look like something out of Star Wars. When people think about home automation and advanced smart control technologies, they often believe their homes will be overwhelmed by awkward-looking devices and blinking lights (of course, they can, if you like that). However, tech companies have learned that high-tech systems also need to fit into the kinds of homes people live in now, not the future homes of science fiction.

Televisions, including HDTVs, flat panels, and Ultra HD sets are great examples of this trend. As TV technology improves it also gets easier and easier to seamlessly integrate into the home. At one time the bezel of a typical flat screen TV was a wide, attention-getting frame. Now they’re practically non-existent, which makes the TV much more aesthetically pleasing to the homeowner (and easier for interior designers to deal with). Skilled integrators can make even the largest TV disappear via motorized lifts and cabinets or decorative frames that can conceal the TV behind artwork when it’s not being used.

Smart home control systems are one of the biggest technology grown areas. Every day we hear of new developments in smart lighting and automation. Aside from the ease-of-use and control abilities of these systems, one of their benefits is that aesthetically please keypads and touchpanels can replace wall banks full of old-fashioned dimmers and switches.  “Wall acne,” a term some integrators use to describe excess use of light switches, can be completely replaced by decorative multifunction keypads that take up a lot less space and do more things. Some people even choose to eliminate that completely by turning control over to smart phone apps or portable touchpanels and remotes.

Sometimes there are places where a control switch is absolutely necessary, but homeowners don’t need to be restricted to boring white or beige switches and dimmers. Smart control keypads and wireless dimmers now come in a wide assortment of designs-much more than your average home supply stores carry. Skilled integrators can even customize wall plates and keypads to exactly fit a home’s unique aesthetic.

Aside from the control devices, new smart lighting systems add decorative features and style to a home. Lighting can be customized, and light scenes changed at the touch of a button to create the perfect ambience for any time of the day or any special event. New color-changing light technologies allow even more possibilities for people who want to decorate with light-and you never need to touch a light switch.

A home’s shades and blinds can even become part of a smart home system through the use of innovative motorized window solutions. The selection of fabrics and styles for motorized shades is as comprehensive as any interior designer could want. By integrating your window coverings to a home automation system, you add energy efficiency and security as well as adding to your home’s décor.