With all of the new technology available in home living, there has never been a better time to be an apartment…or an apartment dweller. Technology is ubiquitous in our daily lives, from our smart phones to our smart homes.
But has your apartment been keeping up with all of the latest trends? You don’t have to renovate your rental to take advantage of modern perks. Consider purchasing any of the following smart devices to upgrade your apartment and keep your deposit.
- Smart lock Kwikset Kevo’s smart lock eliminates the need to scramble for your keys to unlock your apartment. Just touch the lock and your door opens (no physical key required!), with help from Bluetooth connectivity on your smart phone. You can also lock and unlock your door remotely with the Kevo App. The app allows you to schedule, send, and delete eKeys, so you don’t have to be physically present to let someone into your apartment. You can track who comes and goes and receive lock status updates for peace of mind. The lock comes with a physical key for your landlord and for you to use as backup, in case your phone dies.
- Smart lights Transform everyday lighting into something extraordinary with Philips Hue lights. Choose from an array of colors and pre-set light scenes to create the right ambiance for any occasion. You can turn your lights on and off remotely and sync the lights to your music, TV, or games for an immersive experience. Make sure your apartment stays…lit.
- Smart thermostat If you’ve ever forgotten to raise the temperature in your apartment before you left for work or gotten up sweaty in the middle of the night to lower the temperature, you’ll appreciate the Nest thermostat. You can use your phone to change the temperature in your apartment with the Nest thermostat, which also learns your schedule and automatically adjusts to suit your habits—your own personal climate control. It also helps cut energy costs, so you can enjoy a lower bill too (win).
- Smart home assistan Virtual voice-controlled assistants are everywhere and you have plenty to choose from, such as Amazon’s Alexa, Google’s Assistant, and Apple’s Siri. Smart home assistants can answer a variety of questions using online search tools in addition to playing music (including Brad’s favorite: bossa nova) and an array of radio programs. You can also use them to connect to other smart devices, including many of the products cited on this list. For example, you can connect your Philips Hue lights to your Amazon Echo and say “Alexa, turn on lights” instead of fumbling to find a light switch in your dark apartment.
- Smart showerhead For the environmentally conscious and the financially responsible—the WaterHawk showerhead allows users to take control of their water usage while enjoying a rainfall shower. Powered by water (a product so green, it’s blue), this showerhead comes with an LED display that shows the current water temperature and uses color indicators to alert you when your water has reached your preferred temperature. Track data in real time, from how many gallons of water you use per minute to the maximum temperature of your hot water heater. No apps, hubs, or batteries are required, making it easy to use all around. Tech for the technophobe?
- Smart digital art frame The Electric Objects’ EO1 is a digital art frame that uses a powerful integrated computer to render the most advanced digital art. Choose artwork from the internet’s best artists as well as collections from museums, libraries, and art institutions right from your phone. Change your wall décor whenever you feel like it, for events or just to suit your mood. What, this old thing?
The best thing about these products is that they are all portable. Take them with you when you move out of your current apartment and reap the benefits for as long as you have them.
