If you can remember the first time you ever watched Iron Man, chances are there’s a part of you which longs for a fully automated smart home. That was certainly the turning point for me, watching how all manner of different things could be automated and made simpler lit a fire inside me which still hasn’t been extinguished.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that something of that scale is still out of reach. And while we can’t promise the stunning ocean view location, we certainly can help you to get closer to that dream.
In 2025, there is a wealth of smart home tech which can help to make you feel like a superhero in your own home. Let’s dive into some of the best ways you can automate things within your living space, to feel like the latest Avenger (mechanical super-suit not included).
A rainbow of colour
Light is one of the most crucial things about our homes. Whether that’s a lamp on a side table, or the ceiling light in the centre of the room, these bulbs can seriously alter the way you perceive your space, throwing light and shade onto every surface.
Despite that, most of us still just throw in any old bulb from the bargain bin, not caring about how it affects the appearance of our homes and our moods. To that end, smart lighting is a godsend.
At the very base level, you can get in and adjust the temperature and power of your lighting, giving you more control over just how you want each room to feel. Snag yourself a coloured bulb and you can take that even further, with mood-shifting hues employed to really galvanise a space.
I love popping the colours of my favourite sports team on during the game, for example. With most brands and apps offering at least some form of automation and profiling, you can usually create some presets for scenarios you use most often, too.
Blinded by the light
Of course, natural light is better than anything man made, so it’s also crucial to get some of that into your space. But getting up in the dark – even just to open the blinds or curtains – can feel like a chore.
I love smart blind and curtain openers for that exact reason. Simply use the app to open them remotely, flooding your space with light. It’s perfect as a morning wake-up call, allowing you to acclimatise before leaving your warm duvet-cocoon.
Again, most of these will allow for some form of automation, too. Units I’ve used in the past allow for opening at a specific time – perfect for getting you up and keeping your body clock in check – while others open at a specific level of light.
That last one is a must for windows with plants in – once there’s enough light to let them photosynthesise, they can automatically open to keep your green friends healthy and happy without any fuss.
Safety first
Both of the points above share a neat secondary trick – aiding the safety of your home. Outdoor smart lighting, for example, can be triggered to turn on when you get home, meaning you’re not subjected to lurking in the shadows around your own home.
The same can happen inside, of course. It’s especially handy if you live alone or are returning to an empty home, ensuring you have full visibility of the space until you’re comfortably inside.
Moreover, though, you can even protect your home when you’re away. As someone who travels a lot, I hate leaving the house for long periods. Trying to find the delicate balance of blinds and curtains open just enough to let some light in for the plants, but not so much that anyone can come and peer in is really tough.
Plus, the lack of lights turning on and off and blinds opening and closing can make the whole thing look very obviously unattended anyway. Automation can fix that though, by remotely adjusting blinds, curtains and lighting to mimic the look of someone at home.
Look Ma, no keys
There’s something so very antiquated about using keys to open doors. But in the modern age, you really needn’t worry about it. Smart locks are so prevalent and so good, that you might never need one again.
There’s an effortless air of cool about wandering up to your front door and waving a phone or even using a fingerprint to gain access. That’s the kind of sci-fi fantasy work which we’ve been surrounded with for generations, but no amount of TV and movies will feel as cool as doing it for yourself.
Some even allow you to automate opening when you get within a certain distance of your front door. That means you can come home from work and simply open an unlocked door, which remains locked and secure while you’re not in the vicinity.
