Smart homes offer the possibility of installing new system components even at a later date and cover every aspect of the home. It is therefore important to design the electrical system connected to smart systems so that it is open to the future needs in all areas of the home, following the right steps for a high-standard result.

In a smart home, Wi-Fi, heating, entertainment, security and all other functions are interconnected. When designing the electrical system, you should be aware of all the features, the needs of those who live there, and any requirements that may arise in the future.

For example, at a later time you may need a study for remote working, perhaps in the bedroom of a grown-up child who has moved out. Or you may be planning to use two rooms as a Bed & Breakfast business.

The more you can anticipate these needs, the better the smart home system can satisfy the specific requirements of the home.

To do this, it is helpful to ask yourself some questions about your smart home project:

● When furnished, where will the home appliances, TV and other smart devices be placed in the various rooms?
● Is there a need for more than one control panel, or can the system be centrally controlled from a single panel?
● What is the maximum distance between the devices and the nearest power point?
● Which smart devices are going to be installed? And how many?
● What types of cables do the chosen devices need?
● Will the installed devices also need a power supply? With what requirements?
● In the future, will there be a need to expand the smart home system?

All these questions are crucial, because a smart home system designed from scratch can ensure the integration of all the functions of the traditional home: the electrical and air conditioning system, alarms and video surveillance, internet network, plant watering and so on.

Once you have decided which of the home’s components you wish to integrate into the smart system and identified the specific requirements, you can effectively plan the system using electrical design software, run the wiring and install the components.

These are similar and complementary to those of a traditional electrical system. Traditional systems include flush-mounted boxes, electrical panels, junction boxes etc.; smart home systems follow similar principals, but together with the electrical system, there are also push-button panels, thermostats, actuators and sensors required for the detection and monitoring of the electric loads.

A wired system of this capacity offers a wide range of customisation options but requires a certain amount of invasive masonry work in the walls. That is why it is important to plan for all the requirements and to install the systems during renovation or building of the property.

Where wall modifications are not an option, the flexibility of the wireless smart components comes to the rescue. Apart from the devices, there are also sockets, adhesive switches and control panels that communicate remotely without the need for wiring.

In this way,  there is no need to connect the electrical system to all the smart functions, as the rooms can be enhanced with minimal and unobtrusive installation work.

Of course, these functions have limits in terms of room customisation, but they can breathe new life into and increase the value of spaces without the need for great investments, especially in rooms of historical interest or with particularly special designer interiors.

Two solutions that increase the liveability of homes and help limit consumption, both of them allowing you to enjoy innovative solutions in keeping with modern needs.