A home lighting automation system dims and brightens light fixtures and smart blubs to certain settings, and goes beyond simply mounting dimmers on your walls. With the best home lighting automation system you’ll be able to adjust multiple areas or rooms at the same time from one device, such as a smart phone or tablet (or even custom keypads).
Moreover, a home lighting automation system enables switches to be grouped together to create lighting “zones.” For example, in the living room, one zone of lights could include all the overhead fixtures; another the table lamps, a third the small LED strips mounted inside a bookshelf and the last tiny LED bulbs tucked around the perimeter of the cove ceiling. By arranging the room lights in this manner and tying them to a lighting control system each zone can be controlled independently. During a holiday gathering, you might activate a zone to call attention to a family portrait above the mantel; at a cocktail party a different zone of lights could be activated to bring out the color and texture of cozy furnishings in the sitting area.
Like lights, shades too are part of a complete control package. Even with the best, most intricately designed lighting control system installed in your house, sunlight can throw a huge monkey wrench into its effectiveness. It’s wise to complement your smart lighting products and systems with motorized shades.
When motorized, automatic window shades and draperies can position themselves in a way that allows the lights in the room to do their magic without any interference from the conditions outside. Conversely, they can adjust to allow sunlight to contribute to the look and feel of the room and to weave the outdoor scenery into the room environment.
No matter what their objective, the shades themselves can function as a decorative element. Shades also protect your furniture or artwork from the intense rays of the sun. With a motorized shade and home lighting automation system, you don’t need to be in the room to make sure your furnishings are protected.
If you want to learn more about smart lighting control or motorized shade solutions, and how your smart phone or tablet can be the key to your new wireless home control system, download this free special report.
In this FREE report you’ll find tips on using lighting scenes, how lighting control can improve your home theater or media room, plus a hands-on review of an easy-to-use wireless smart lighting control system.
This article was originally published on December 8, 2014 and was updated on June 30, 2015