Smart home technology has become part of everyday life, and modern wireless standards, connected sensors and user-friendly apps make retrofitting easy without costly renovations. With the right products and a little planning, an existing apartment can quickly be transformed into a smart home, whether it’s heating control, lighting systems or security technology.
Retrofitting a smart home – step by step
As with most projects, good planning forms the basis of successful implementation. It is best to start in areas that will have the greatest impact on everyday life. Questioning existing habits can be helpful: Which processes can be automated? Which functions could enhance comfort? This makes it easy to create a smart home plan that is tailored to your needs and budget.
The same applies to installation: the technology must suit the living space. For most households, wireless solutions are the best choice. Since radio standards such as Zigbee and Z-Wave do not require cables to be installed, they can be retrofitted quickly and easily. While Wi-Fi devices are particularly beginner-friendly and flexible in terms of placement, Zigbee and Z-Wave stand out for their stability and energy efficiency. This is especially advantageous when multiple devices are connected to the network. Wired systems, on the other hand, are better suited to new builds or extensive renovations, since cables need to be integrated into walls and ceilings. In this case, planning should take place well before renovation work begins.
A home only becomes truly smart when its individual components are integrated. When devices communicate with each other, intelligent routines are created. For example, the radiator thermostat can be set to automatically reduce the temperature as soon as a window is opened, or the motion detector can be set to switch on the light as soon as it registers movement. A central control app or hub provides an overview of, and convenient access to, all systems.
To ensure the technology remains future-proof, it is worth checking the supported standards. The new cross-manufacturer standard Matter is designed to simplify compatibility between devices from a wide range of brands. Meanwhile, Zigbee and Z-Wave remain an established, reliable and energy-efficient solution. If you ensure that new devices support these communication standards, you will enjoy long-term flexibility.
Save energy with smart technology.
Smart devices can significantly reduce a household’s energy consumption without compromising on comfort. This is particularly beneficial in rented flats, where major renovations are not possible. An important first step is to identify energy guzzlers. Intelligent adapters and electricity meters measure the actual consumption of individual appliances and reveal which old appliances consume too much energy or draw unnecessary power in standby mode. This enables you to decide whether to replace them or at least switch them off automatically.Lighting also offers significant savings potential: modern LED bulbs consume far less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last much longer. When used with motion sensors or timer functions, lights only come on when needed, which is ideal for hallways, storage rooms and stairwells.
Another advantage of smart home technology is transparency: networked apps enable you to view energy and heating data in real time at any time. Many systems offer statistics or personalised recommendations to help identify and address inefficient habits, optimising consumption in a targeted manner. This makes saving energy not only easier, but also more motivating when successes can be tracked and evaluated in real time on the app.
Comfort and automation in everyday life
A smart home not only makes everyday life more efficient, but also more comfortable. Today, many functions can be conveniently controlled via a smartphone app or voice assistant, whether you’re sitting on the sofa or out and about. The most popular platforms, such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple Home, are supported by numerous devices and enable intuitive operation at the touch of a button or with a voice command.A smart home’s potential is further enhanced through automation: so-called routines or scenes allow several devices to be controlled simultaneously. For instance, a ‘good morning’ routine could open the blinds, turn on the lights, and adjust the heating to a comfortable temperature. In the evening, the ‘living room off’ routine ensures that the lighting, TV and smart sockets are automatically switched off. This saves time and, thanks to targeted control, energy too.
A variety of retrofittable devices are available, enabling existing homes to be easily upgraded. These include smart switches that can replace or supplement conventional light switches, and smart sockets that can connect almost any electrical appliance to the internet. This means that older technology can quickly become part of the smart home system and be digitally controlled.
Security and protection
Retrofitting your home with smart technology can significantly improve your home security. The most well-known examples of this technology are door and window sensors, motion detectors, smoke detectors, and cameras. These can usually be installed with minimal effort and controlled via an app. They help you to monitor your home and detect burglaries or other incidents at an early stage.However, data security is an important consideration: before purchasing, check whether the manufacturer provides regular software updates throughout the expected lifespan of the product. All devices should support current encryption standards, particularly if you use cloud services. This ensures that the system remains reliably protected and your data remains secure.
AI in the smart home: when your home thinks for itself
The next stage of the smart home will be characterised by artificial intelligence (AI). Modern systems will analyse residents’ usage behaviour and automatically adjust heating and lighting controls to their habits. Thanks to machine learning (ML) algorithms, processes will also increasingly be controlled proactively. Devices will no longer just respond to immediate commands; they will also be able to anticipate needs.The outlook shows that autonomous smart homes are becoming increasingly realistic. In the future, networked devices could make decisions independently, optimise energy consumption, and make everyday life even more comfortable, all without manual intervention.
Cover image: Adobe Stock
