When it comes to interior design, lighting is one of the most important elements you’ll have to consider. While incandescent light bulbs have been the standard for many decades, lighting technology has recently evolved. The most recent advance is smart lighting systems that give you better control over your home’s entire lighting system, even if you’re not there. A smart lighting system lets you turn individual lights on or off manually, in addition to providing you with more advanced controls you can access with a smartphone, tablet or computer.

With a smart lighting system, you can do things like adjust light intensity or set individual lights to turn themselves off at a specific time from anywhere with an Internet connection. There are also many other benefits to fitting your home with this new automation technology. Here is a simple overview of the main ones.

Finances

Smart lighting systems have been shown to be very energy-efficient. By cutting down on the amount of electricity you use for lighting, you’ll save money on your energy bills. Smart lighting systems use LED light bulbs, which are far superior to traditional bulbs as far as energy efficiency goes. They use less power to produce the same amount of light compared to an incandescent bulbs. The system lets you dim the lights as needed without having to install dimmers. Furthermore, as smart lighting systems let you control the lights in all parts of your home from any Internet-enabled device, you can see which lights are on and instantly turn them off if they’re not needed.

Another important advantage LED bulbs have over traditional ones is the fact that they keep on working far longer without burning out. While the lifespan of an LED light bulb will vary depending on the specific model you have and how many hours the bulb is on each day, most will last 10 to 20 years. This means you’ll rarely have to change them, which not only saves you money, but also helps protect the environment by reducing waste.

Health

There are several ways that smart lighting can help you live a healthier lifestyle. One of the most important ones is by providing you with the opportunity to sleep better. Exposure to bright lights in the evening has been shown to disrupt the production of melatonin, a hormone that helps the brain regulate your body’s sleep cycle. Smart lights can be programmed to switch to a different color temperature and begin to dim in the evening, which has been shown to help in the production of melatonin. The reverse can be done in the morning, as the lights can be set to gradually brighten before your alarm goes off.

While research is still ongoing, there is evidence that changing the color temperature of your lights can help prevent anxiety and improve your mood. This is especially the case during the darker months of winter, when you can set your lights to a warmer color and brighter intensity.

Design

Smart lighting products now have the ability to produce light in different colors. By installing smart bulbs in lamps and strip lights, you can change the colors of your walls without having to paint them. As there’s hundreds of millions of colors you can choose from and the ability to control the intensity of the lighting, the possibilities are truly endless.

There are many ways to use your lights for entertainment. By integrating your lighting system with a home automation system, you can do things like create a color show for a party, send your lights in a color loop when the International Space Station passes above your home or make your lights match the colors of your balloons when hosting a birthday party. These are just a few of the ways this new home automation technology can make your living space more fun.

Security

Smart lighting is able to make your home safer in many different ways. As you control the lights in every room even if you’re not around, you can make your lights work as if someone was at home by turning them on or off. Lighting automation systems are superior to simple timers when it comes to security, as they can make lights turn themselves on and off in different rooms at random times. This makes it less likely that burglars casing the neighborhood will figure out that the lights are automatically controlled.

Some systems can be fitted with motion sensors for both indoor and outdoor lighting. This keeps your home safe by illuminating the area whenever motion is detected outside. When installed on indoor lights, motion detectors make things easier if you need to get out of bed at night, as you don’t have to turn the lights on manually.

Control

What makes a smart lighting system truly “smart” is the fact that it doesn’t rely on traditional switches and dimmers to work. Of course, you can still flip the switch on the wall to turn the lights on, but you can also use any Internet-enabled device, like a smartphone, tablet or PC. A smart lighting system can be accessed from anywhere with an Internet connection, so you get full control of the lights in every room of your home, even while you’re away.

Smart lighting systems all have a scheduling feature that lets you set when the lights in different parts of your home go on or off. You can even set them to become gradually brighter after a certain time in the evening.

Final Word

Smart lighting is a new technology that lets you control your home’s lights from any device connected to the Internet. By installing this new type of lighting system in your home, you will quickly see the many benefits it can bring you. These include saving money by lowering your energy consumption, better security, health benefits and the ability to make lighting a more integral part of your interior design.

BIO: Joe Peters is a Baltimore-based freelance writer and an ultimate tech enthusiast. When he is not working his magic as a marketing consultant, this incurable tech junkie enjoys reading about latest apps and gadgets and binge-watching his favorite TV shows. You can reach him @bmorepeters