How to Create a Smart Home – What You Need to Know About Smart Home Technology

Smart home technology has the power to transform the way you live in your home. But where should you begin with planning a scheme and integrating modern tech into your everyday life? From smart heating to whole-house automation, we take a look at designing a smart home that suits you

Rebecca Foster & Emily Batesmith

Smart home technology has come on leaps and bounds over the past few years, and more and more self builders and renovators are finding ways of incorporating this tech into their everyday lives and new home’s infrastructure.

A decade ago, you might have dismissed the concept of a smart home with fully integrated heating, lighting, security and audio visual as a fad. A well-designed and seamlessly integrated automation system, though, now has the potential to transform the way you interact with your property.

Smart home technology can broadly be divided into two categories – DIY smart home products purchased off-the-shelf and set up by the end user, and fully integrated (usually hard-wired) setups that require professional installation. Every house has at least a basic level of heating, lighting and security. Smart home tech, however, can give you maximum control over how the building runs – boosting efficiency and saving you money in the long-term.

Getting it right is all about integrating devices that will change how you interact with your property. “A real smart home should make life easier and give you more time for living rather than cluttering up your day with tech gimmicks you have to babysit,” says Philipp Schuster from Loxone.

From the key considerations to smart heating and whole-house automation, here we’re investigating how you can use smart home technology to design, build and specify a smart setup that works for you.

Jump to smart home technology FAQs answered

What Can Smart Home Technology Do?

Broadly speaking, smart technology can be divided into several areas: audio visual, lighting, security, and heating/ventilation/cooling. You might cherry-pick just a few of these elements, or choose to bring them all together in one whole-house package.

When planning your smart home, start by considering who will live or lives in the property, both now and in the future, and what their needs might be. Think about how each person enjoys music or streams TV, for instance, who works or studies from home, what security provisions might be useful and what lighting controls are required. “Be clear on your objectives and essentials to begin with,” says Darren Palmer, director of sales at Baulogic.

How to Create a Smart Home: What You Need to Know About Smart Home Technology

Gartec’s Artico HomeLift Compact was recognised as Best Home Technology Product in the 2024 Build It Awards. The judges were impressed by the starting price of £18,500 – making it a credible option for those with mobility limitations to install a quality lift that means they can stay in their homes rather than having to move

Taking a room-by-room approach can be helpful. Assess how you currently use spaces and how your changing needs over the years might help shape your plans. Perhaps a downstairs playroom could one day be converted into a cinema room or home office?

It’s also useful to think about how different systems can be integrated alongside one another. For example, you might want a coordinated setup where automated blinds work alongside your light fittings to create pre-programmed scenes at the swipe of a button.

find smart home products

Does a Professional Need to Install my Smart Home Technology?

DIY products can provide a useful entry-level solution into the smart tech arena. However, an integrated setup that coordinates various systems (heating, lighting, security etc) will pave the way for better connectivity and a more seamless experience that’s fully tailored to your needs.

The sooner you engage a professional to help plan this, the more efficient the results will be. At the early design stage of a project, an experienced smart home installer may bring ideas you might not have considered. They’ll also help you plan a system that reflects your aspirations and budget. “Plus, a seasoned professional will have done this sort of project lots of times – we know which brands are solid,” says Owen Maddock, smart home specialist and owner of Cinema Works.

Bringing a suitable qualified installer on board early means they can effectively plan what cabling needs to be fitted and where. For instance, most homes will not have wiring installed around the windows by default – but if you plan on fitting smart blinds, this is essential.

CLOSER LOOK How can I use smart home technology to futureproof my house?

Living at home for longer is a major factor for those investing in smart tech products and installations. Getting the infrastructure right is crucial for a flexible, reliable and future-ready smart home that’s capable of evolving alongside your changing needs. “All cabling should be CAT6 as an absolute minimum,” says Owen, owner of Cinema Works. “CAT6A is even better and higher bandwidth for future needs.”

Darren from Baulogic recommends going for a hard-wired system using the KNX open global standard. “This supports heating, security, shading and lighting,” he says.

It’s more cost-effective and less disruptive to install additional cabling at first fix stage, rather than having to retrofit it as and when you decide to add new functionality. “It’s very expensive after the build, as you’ll need a plasterer to follow on,” says Owen. Plus, you’ll be keeping your options open if you don’t have the budget to install all the bells and whistles you want immediately. Running the wiring for a state-of-the-art sound system during the first fix works is relatively cheap to do, for instance, and you can always install the speakers a few years down the line when your finances have recovered.

Above: Winner of Best Home Technology Installation in the 2023 Build It Awards, Smart Control Technologies created a technologically advanced home for an 18-year old wheelchair user who has restricted use of their right hand. At its heart is a Niko smart home system that can control the doors and windows, as well as lighting, heating, blinds and the video intercom

Many smart home specialists offer modular systems that can be easily added to over time. “We recommend a base package focused on entrances, the living area and landing, providing heating, lighting and security,” says Darren. “Baulogic can be built to fit within different budgets and to suit individual requirements.” Team that with future-ready cabling, such as KNX, and you’ll have the flexibility to adapt the setup over time. For example, even if you don’t envision needing automated blinds immediately, it’s always a good idea to wire in the cables to add these later on.

“When you consider the cost of a care home could be upwards of £1,000 per week, then spending £20,000 on a smart home that lets you live at home for an additional year is a great investment,” says Andy Moss, MD at Moss Technical. “A smart home can be flexible to your changing needs, so it’s important to think about the next five, 10, even 20 years.”

Where Should My Smart Home Technology Go?

Think about how you can accommodate the brains of the system in the design phase – many self builders will already be planning to incorporate a fully-fledged plant room, for instance.

“Your technology needs are likely to grow over time, so make sure that tech isn’t shoehorned in between electrics and heating in a too-small services cupboard,” says Owen. “Make sure it’s well-ventilated, too, or your equipment could overheat and fail earlier than it should. Allow for active cooling fans if you can.”

Moss Technical supplied the Niko system for Build It’s Self Build Education House. The main panel (left), is the brain, talking to all the control panels and devices via Bus cabling

Do I Need a Good Internet Connection?

Don’t overlook the importance of reliable internet provision throughout your home, as this is crucial for many smart devices. When factored in from the design stage of your project, wires can be run strategically to ensure broadband is well distributed.

Anything that can be hardwired to a network port, such as your smart TV, should be. This will free up the Wi-Fi connection for fully wireless devices such as phones and tablets.

Need expert advice on smart home tech options?

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Can I Go Fully Wireless with Smart Home Technology?

If you’re keen to take a fully integrated, whole-house approach, the broad consensus is that a wired infrastructure provides superior performance and flexibility. But wireless solutions do have their place – particularly if you want to add functionality to an existing home, but don’t intend to knock down walls or strip out floors to run cabling. The snag is that the more devices you have connected to your home’s Wi-Fi, the greater the potential for the system to slow down or freeze.

Niko Digital Black is a sleek, discreet wall touch screen and thermostat. It provides a user-friendly interface for the Niko Home Control system and enables you to control up to 12 functions in one go via pre-set scenes

One way to alleviate issues around sluggish connectivity is to do away with your internet provider’s router and fit a more powerful model instead. Incorporating hard-wired access points (WAPs) will also deliver better connectivity than using Wi-Fi boosters. R

eleased in 2019, Wi-Fi 6 is the gold standard for wireless routers and access points to distribute internet from strategic locations around the house. Wi-Fi 7 is currently under development and, while it’s not likely to launch until late 2024 at the earliest, some manufacturers have already announced routers and devices that support this standard.

Let’s take a look at the different kinds of of smart home technology and how you can incorporate them into your self build or renovation plans:

Smart Home Heating

Smart home heating systems can help you maintain a close eye on energy consumption, essential with the current surge in utility prices.

Digital thermostats work alongside smart phones, watches and tablets, allowing you to manage your heating on-the-go. So, you can tap a button remotely to stop the heating from coming on when you’ve not come home as planned, or turn it off if you’ve left the house and realised you left the boiler going. You can also manage individual radiators and choose to zone temperatures, without having to go round every room and check the various thermostats.

Smart home heating controls can go even further than this, adjusting themselves as they learn about your household routine or checking in with the weather forecast. “Our Wave controller works intelligently with your boiler to only fire up at the power needed to reach the right temperature,” says Martyn Bridges from Worcester Bosch. “Features like this allow you to avoid wasting energy, and in turn help to cut your bills.” You’ll also be able to fully understand your household energy consumption, and adjust any unwanted habits accordingly.

The ErP (Energy Related Products) directive is an EU regulation designed to boost the performance of heating and hot water products, under which controls are rated into eight categories. Simple on/off thermostats start at class 1 and technology goes up to multi zone controllers categorised under class 8.

How to Create a Smart Home: Here's What You Need to Know About Smart Home Technology

The Worcester Wave thermostat allows you to programme and control your central heating and hot water over Wi-Fi via the Wave app on your phone. Schedule the time you want your hot water to come on and choose the temperatures you want your central heating to reach at different times of the day and days of the week

“A smart control with weather and load compensating features is a class 5 controller with potential for a 4% efficiency uplift,” says Martyn. “So, when your smart thermostat is combined with a high performance boiler, your central heating system could boast an impressive efficiency rating of 98% (A+).”

Schneider Electric supplied a smart home design for this project, using the open-source KNX protocol to build in long-term flexibility

Specialist thermostats can work alongside various power sources and emitters, including renewable tech and underfloor heating. They are especially effective when it comes to achieving synergy between the different components.

“Our smart balancing system shows a 20% energy saving compared to a normal setup,” says David Playfoot from underfloor heating specialist Uponor. “Having an auto balancing system means it can react and compensate when thermostatic radiator valves are changed.”

CASE STUDY Complete smart home control

TYPE OF PROJECT New home for a young family

SMART HOME FEATURES Lighting with dimming and presence detection; heating and ventilation; dynamic, weather-responsive blinds

The owners of this bespoke new build property in Southern Germany were looking to create a home with sustainability at its heart. The young family wanted complete building control, enabling them to achieve maximum comfort and functionality. They were quickly convinced by the benefits of the future-proof, internationally recognised KNX standard, which allows integration of applications and devices from multiple manufacturers.

Lighting scenes, smart and sustainable temperature control, and automated shading were top of the family’s wish list for their new home. They also wanted a robust system that’s not Wi-Fi dependent, as they were keen to ensure true building automation both now and in the future. The owners chose a long-time friend as their installer (to find an accredited KNX installer in the UK, head to the KNX website).

Together, they specified a Theben system including KNX actuators for blinds, switches, heating appliances, ventilation monitoring and dimming – with presence detectors providing ultra-efficient lighting control. The blinds are complemented by Theben’s KNX weather station, which detects wind, rain, brightness, temperature and supports sun position tracking for fully automatic, dynamic solar control. Video monitoring and intercom door entry enhance security.

Each room benefits from simplified push button operation, so occupants can easily access pre-programmed scenarios via wall controls and handheld devices. Remote access functionality also enables maintenance service updates, reducing the need for future call-outs. The owners can send notifications to request changes or additional scenes, which can then be installed remotely and hassle-free.

The family are thrilled with their easy-to-use, flexible Theben KNX system. Highlights are the presence-dependent lighting controls and convenient scene selection – which includes a dimming sleep function that’s ideal for their toddler. The automated raising and lowering of the blinds improves solar control and energy management, delivering great value.

In the UK, a similar smart installation – including switching channels; blind, dimming and heating circuits; controls; weather station; visulisation; switches; outlets; door entry; and consumer unit – would cost around £25,000. The total electrical cost was around £60,000.

Smart Home Lighting

Whether it’s making sure you’ve got enough task lighting in the kitchen or the right ambience when you’re cosied up on the sofa, smart lighting systems can accommodate to any living scenario.

Zoning and layering are buzz words in the lighting world and smart home technology can help you to efficiently support these. Zoning refers to the particular placement of light, and layering refers to the combination of different sources to create the perfect set up. With these in mind, and with the help of smart home systems, you’ll be able to programme pre-set schemes to conveniently choose your preferred arrangement.

“A well-conceived design will use multiple circuits of lights,” says Iain Shaw from Brilliant Lighting. “Instead of twiddling multiple dimmers and having to remember what switch does what, you just press the button called ‘cooking’ or ‘dining’. It’s intuitive and practical.”

This striking Passivhaus features a whole-home smart control and lighting system from Loxone

What’s more, with these options you can accurately tailor the level of required light to suit different moods or times of day. Sometimes a brightness level of 80% feels more comfortable than 100%, for instance.

“There’s no need for banks of switches and dimmers to achieve this; just an easy-to-understand keypad,” adds Iain. You can also integrate sensors so that the lights turn on automatically when you walk into a room. Using smart home technology to create a whole-house integrated system can mean pre-programming to set your ensuite bathroom lights to a low brightness overnight.

Colourful mood lighting sets the scene in this Epitome Living smart home

There are plenty of DIY smart systems out there that are great for creating fun lighting in individual spaces, but a whole-house smart home scheme is best left to a specialist installer. “A professional system requires a qualified installer to commission and set up, and the homeowner can then modify the arrangement’s behaviour as their needs change,” says Iain.

Prices vary, from smart home technology allowing you to control two or three lights available for under £100 up to whole house wired systems from £15,000 and more.

Buying & selling a smart home – what’s involved?

With more of us moving towards integrating technology into our living environments, the number of smart houses changing hands on the property market is growing fast. Depending on the complexity of the install and whether the seller is intending to take any of it with them (more likely in a wireless setup), there can be a bit of work to do to get a house ready for a new owner. This includes:

Disabling the existing homeowners’ administrative access to all smart devices that will be remaining in the house.
Deciding whether any hubs, devices etc are to be taken by the current owner. If you’re selling, replacing RF light switches, for instance, may not be worth the cost and time. You should always leave the property in a functional state for the buyer.
Ensuring everyone’s aware of what technology’s staying and what’s going (some systems generate a digital connection map that could be shared), along with all relevant instruction manuals etc.
Letting the buyer know if future-ready cable runs are present.
Resetting every remaining item to its factory defaults.
Reconfiguring the system and all devices to suit the new homeowners’ priorities and usage patterns.

In some cases, it may make sense to work with the original installer to navigate this process. A high-end whole-house system, for instance, could take several days to prepare for handover – something that’s not likely to be top of your busy to-do list when you’re moving.

Smart Home Security Systems

A smart home security system goes way beyond cameras. You can have sensors to monitor movement on doors, windows and around the garden, for instance. Keyless locks are fab for easy but secure access. You can even now fit a smart home with detectors for water leakage, smoke and mechanical failure of appliances – plus much more.

The great thing about smart home technology is that you can keep tabs on what’s going on at home even when you aren’t there. Some devices will allow you to answer a knock at the door via a screen when you’re away from the property, for instance, so whoever was calling doesn’t need to know that you’re not actually in.

Control door entry from your phone with the Ultion Nuki Plus smart lock. You can auto-lock your door from anywhere, send electronic keys to guests and use a physical key for manual operation. It can easily replace any common UK push-down door handle using the existing fittings to get up and running in minutes, so no drilling or wiring is required

“Only about 30% of reported burglaries in the UK are solved,” says Fred Potter from Netatmo. “The new generation of smart security cameras can detect unusual situations and automatically report any activity to the homeowner. This quick action means you can take the appropriate steps immediately, such as calling the police or triggering an alarm.”

These cameras can often distinguish between people, cars and animals as well detecting familiar faces, such as relatives, and may send you a notification letting you know who’s arrived.

“You can create customised scenarios to connect cameras to other smart home devices,” adds Fred. “For instance, you could activate an ‘arrive home’ function via the app or using Siri voice control to switch a floodlight on, unlock the door and power on the heating.”

Many security devices are fairly easy to install yourself, but if you’re after tech synergy with other smart gadgets in your home, you might want to engage the skills of a specialist. Modern smart cameras tend to start from around £200 each.

Whole-House Audio-Visual Smart Home Technology

Smart home audio visual (AV) systems have been around for a while now, but it isn’t all about creating a home cinema and can actually be very accessibly priced.

“You don’t have to automate your entire home if your budget doesn’t allow; it’s possible to design a system that can grow with you,” says Phillip Pini from Crestron. “Consider everything you want to achieve and then prioritise.”

Multi-room audio will allow you to play different music in various zones and control the volume – even in the garden. Plus, you can integrate your speakers with security to interrupt the music when the doorbell rings.

This award-winning home cinema project was created by CEDIA member ARLED Cinema. The goal was to create a space to showcase a new level of luxury home cinema where customers could become fully immersed in a digital world

You can have screens recessed with speakers discretely hidden in walls, and a TV in your bathroom to watch from the bath, for instance. You can even buy tubs with built in speakers and lights.

The options are endless, but the right setup for you is really down to your individual requirements, which means prices vary dramatically. “Every project is different and every solution unique to the homeowner,” says Phillip.

FAQs

How much does smart heating cost to install?

Smart heating costs vary depending on the home’s layout and your specific requirements. Basic setups can be straightforward, and potentially done DIY. However, for more complex systems or larger properties, pro installation and or high-end products may be required. Regardless of what is chosen, smart heating provides a valuable long-term investment, offering savings on energy bills and increased property value.

“If you take the Wiser multi-zone Kit 1 as an example, costing £309, and allow for an additional three smart radiator thermostats so you have room-to-room control, at a combined price of £160, that’s a total cost of just under £470 for the full system, plus fitting costs if you opt to use an installer,” says James Clark, technical training manager at Wiser. “With the savings you make on your energy bills using a smart heating system, you’re likely to pay this off in under a year, which means any savings made after this period are money in the bank.”

What mistakes should I try and avoid when installing a smart heating system?

When choosing a smart heating control system, it’s vital to ensure compatibility with your existing setup. A product that partners seamlessly with your current configuration will save both time and money. Before making your selection, consult a trained installer who can help you avoid making any costly mistakes. They can help identify the best solution tailored to your home’s needs, ensuring optimal efficiency from the start.

Wireless heating controls are compatible with most modern boilers, including combis, and can usually be installed without needing new radiators or major modifications. These controls offer a significant upgrade, often with easy installation, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of smart heating without overhauling your existing setup.

What should I think about in terms of ensuring device compatibility?

“Look for tech that is designed to talk to each other. This level of interconnectivity is not standard for all devices,” says Lucy Han, head of global product group, building and home automation at ABB Electrification’s Smart Buildings. “Be sure to seek out products that are based on the smart home industry standards for networking and connectivity, Matter and Thread. That really is the critical starting point. ABB’s products are interoperable systems, easy to integrate with a continuously growing ecosystem of partners, which means they easily interconnect. With the Matter Protocol, which is built to provide interoperability and platform independence, you can easily and securely control your smart home devices from any platform you prefer.”

Is it worth installing a video doorbell?

Video doorbells are a modern phenomenon, surging in popularity thanks to their ease of installation and affordable cost (Ring, for example, starts from £99.99). These devices allow you to see, hear and speak to visitors from your smartphone. Video doorbells often include motion detection and recording, so that you can review footage if you miss an alert or need to check who visited while you were out. Many security devices offer cloud storage for footage, allowing you to save and review recordings after an alert.

Are smart locks really secure – how do they work?

Smart locks provide keyless entry, allowing you to secure doors remotely via an app or PIN code. “I’ve noticed a shift in our clients’ preferences from traditional locks to smarter options like those from Yale and August. These modern locks offer remote access and monitoring, making a significant difference for those leading busy lives or often away from home,” says Dave Hamilton, founder at Rockhopper Locks. These systems can be integrated with other smart home devices, such as security cameras or door sensors, and can also provide temporary access codes for visitors or service providers.

This article was originally published in September 2022 and has been updated with new content in July 2025.

Rebecca Foster

Rebecca is a former Features Editor of Build It magazine. She loves architecture and design and scours the UK for the latest projects to inspire both self-builders and renovators.

Emily Batesmith

Emily Batesmith is the Editor of Build It magazine, and an architecture addict. She has an in-depth understanding of the challenges self-builders and renovators face, as well as a keen eye for design. She curates all of Build It's real-life reader homes.