7 Clever New Ideas to Make Your Home Life Easier
Looking to ease the pressure of the day-to-day management of your home? These ideas can help
Georgia Madden
10 September 2020
From smart-home products that connect to the internet to make our homes safer and more comfortable to clever non-tech ones that make it easier to run, here are seven clever new ideas that take the hassle out of the daily running of your abode.
“With Australians spending more time at home now than ever, it’s interesting to see the new types of smart home technology they’re looking for to help make life easier and more fun,” says James Cox, new home consultant at Porter Davis.
“One common request we’re getting is for jazzed-up home theatre systems that connect to your smart phone and allow you to create the atmosphere of a cinema at home. Video doorbells have been popular too, which allow you to see and speak to whoever is at your front door through a two-way speaker system or instruct the person delivering your online package where to leave it via your mobile when you’re not home.
“We’re also seeing an increase in demand for Tesla power walls” he says. “These are installed in the garage during a build and are used to store energy for solar self-consumption and time of use load-shifting. They connect to an app that allows you to monitor your energy consumption throughout the day. They also act as a back-up generator in the case of a power outage.”
Some other smart-home sectors (and some just plain clever non-tech ones) gaining traction include:
“One common request we’re getting is for jazzed-up home theatre systems that connect to your smart phone and allow you to create the atmosphere of a cinema at home. Video doorbells have been popular too, which allow you to see and speak to whoever is at your front door through a two-way speaker system or instruct the person delivering your online package where to leave it via your mobile when you’re not home.
“We’re also seeing an increase in demand for Tesla power walls” he says. “These are installed in the garage during a build and are used to store energy for solar self-consumption and time of use load-shifting. They connect to an app that allows you to monitor your energy consumption throughout the day. They also act as a back-up generator in the case of a power outage.”
Some other smart-home sectors (and some just plain clever non-tech ones) gaining traction include:
Samsung’s A30 Smart Lock, $596 at Bunnings Warehouse
1. Keyless locks
Digging around the bottom of your bag for your front door keys is so last century – today, it’s all about smart, keyless locks.
One example is Samsung’s new A30 Smart Lock, which allows you to get into your home using your fingerprint, app or PIN. It can even be integrated with smart devices such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant so you can tell the door to unlock itself.
Other keyless locks to consider include the Samsung Smart Wi-Fi Biometric Mortise Door Lock ($965 at Bunnings) – a chic design in matt black and copper that gives you five different ways to open your front door sans key, and the Dormakaba Grange Smart Pull Handle and Lock ($899 at Bunnings) – a super-slim digitised front door pull that you can open with a pin, fob or smart phone.
1. Keyless locks
Digging around the bottom of your bag for your front door keys is so last century – today, it’s all about smart, keyless locks.
One example is Samsung’s new A30 Smart Lock, which allows you to get into your home using your fingerprint, app or PIN. It can even be integrated with smart devices such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant so you can tell the door to unlock itself.
Other keyless locks to consider include the Samsung Smart Wi-Fi Biometric Mortise Door Lock ($965 at Bunnings) – a chic design in matt black and copper that gives you five different ways to open your front door sans key, and the Dormakaba Grange Smart Pull Handle and Lock ($899 at Bunnings) – a super-slim digitised front door pull that you can open with a pin, fob or smart phone.
Connect SmartHome lights from $10 at Harvey Norman
2. Smart lighting
Good news for anyone who’s keen to jump on the smart-home trend but is carefully watching the budget – connected lighting is becoming increasingly accessible and affordable, and there are plenty of exciting new options available.
For example, Connect SmartHome light bulbs start from $10 each and come in a range of RGB colours and whites that fit into standard lighting sockets – all of which can be controlled by an app on your phone or with a voice command. There are different lighting styles available, including downlights, strip lights and RGB festoon lights to jazz up your outdoor area.
Looking to renovate or improve your home? Find an architect near you on Houzz
2. Smart lighting
Good news for anyone who’s keen to jump on the smart-home trend but is carefully watching the budget – connected lighting is becoming increasingly accessible and affordable, and there are plenty of exciting new options available.
For example, Connect SmartHome light bulbs start from $10 each and come in a range of RGB colours and whites that fit into standard lighting sockets – all of which can be controlled by an app on your phone or with a voice command. There are different lighting styles available, including downlights, strip lights and RGB festoon lights to jazz up your outdoor area.
Looking to renovate or improve your home? Find an architect near you on Houzz
Lucci Connect Circa II Ring LED 600mm Dimmable Smart Pendant in Black, $795 at Beacon Lighting
Or perhaps you like the idea of elegant mood lighting during the working week and funky coloured lighting when it’s time to let your hair down at the weekend. If so, check out Beacon Lighting’s Lucci Connect Circa II Ring LED 600mm Dimmable Smart Pendant – a colour-changing light with countless hues to choose from that can be controlled via voice commands, by an app on your mobile or by connecting it to your smart home system so it comes on automatically at set times of day or night.
Or perhaps you like the idea of elegant mood lighting during the working week and funky coloured lighting when it’s time to let your hair down at the weekend. If so, check out Beacon Lighting’s Lucci Connect Circa II Ring LED 600mm Dimmable Smart Pendant – a colour-changing light with countless hues to choose from that can be controlled via voice commands, by an app on your mobile or by connecting it to your smart home system so it comes on automatically at set times of day or night.
Finally, a lighting innovation that means no more searching in the gloomy depths of cupboards and drawers to find missing items – GlowRight’s USB-rechargeable LED light strips (from $25) are cordless and attach to just about any magnetic indoor surface. Attach them inside wardrobes, doors or under kitchen cabinets and they will switch on when they detect movement and turn off automatically.
3. Package deals
For many people, selecting all the colours, fixtures and finishes that make up a room scheme can be an overwhelming business – something designers and retailers are fast cottoning onto. As a result, cleverly curated room packages are starting to hit the market that allow you to get an on-trend look without any of the headaches.
Beaumont Tiles, for example, has recently released a series of beautifully chosen bathroom packages put together by stylists and expert renovators that include everything from tiles, taps, vanities and shower screens to toilets for an average-sized 25-square-metre bathroom. Some packages include the option of a bathtub and feature walls for added wow. They come in different looks, including coastal, Scandinavian, retro vintage, country chic and contemporary, and range in price from around $3,000 to $15,000.
For many people, selecting all the colours, fixtures and finishes that make up a room scheme can be an overwhelming business – something designers and retailers are fast cottoning onto. As a result, cleverly curated room packages are starting to hit the market that allow you to get an on-trend look without any of the headaches.
Beaumont Tiles, for example, has recently released a series of beautifully chosen bathroom packages put together by stylists and expert renovators that include everything from tiles, taps, vanities and shower screens to toilets for an average-sized 25-square-metre bathroom. Some packages include the option of a bathtub and feature walls for added wow. They come in different looks, including coastal, Scandinavian, retro vintage, country chic and contemporary, and range in price from around $3,000 to $15,000.
Hoselink Auto-Fill Pet Water Bowl, $42.90
4. Easy pet care
Caring for your pet has gone high-tech too. Take your pick from dog leads such as the Petkit Go Smart Pet Leash ($99 at Pet Circle) that tracks your pet’s fitness goals and alerts you to incoming calls, and wifi devices that allow you to play with your pet when you’re in the office (PetCube Play 2 Interactive Wi-Fi Pet Camera, $299, JB Hi-Fi).
You’ll also find clever non-tech products to help you keep your furry friend happy and comfortable too, such as Hoselink’s auto-filling outdoor water bowl that connects to your garden tap and gets topped up as needed. You can use it indoors too – simply attach a plastic water bottle to it rather than a hose.
4. Easy pet care
Caring for your pet has gone high-tech too. Take your pick from dog leads such as the Petkit Go Smart Pet Leash ($99 at Pet Circle) that tracks your pet’s fitness goals and alerts you to incoming calls, and wifi devices that allow you to play with your pet when you’re in the office (PetCube Play 2 Interactive Wi-Fi Pet Camera, $299, JB Hi-Fi).
You’ll also find clever non-tech products to help you keep your furry friend happy and comfortable too, such as Hoselink’s auto-filling outdoor water bowl that connects to your garden tap and gets topped up as needed. You can use it indoors too – simply attach a plastic water bottle to it rather than a hose.
Image: Tint
5. New ways with paint
Choosing the right colour for your walls just got a whole lot easier thanks to clever new products hitting the market. Melbourne-based firm Tint offers reusable peel-and-adhere sample stickers in a generous 21.5 x 21.5-centimetre size so you can move them around and see how different colours will look in different rooms at various times of the day and night – all without damaging your walls.
The stickers are dipped in two coats of paint so they’re true to colour, and they cost $3 each (or get the first three sample stickers for free by signing up to their mailing list).
Browse more great Australian living rooms
5. New ways with paint
Choosing the right colour for your walls just got a whole lot easier thanks to clever new products hitting the market. Melbourne-based firm Tint offers reusable peel-and-adhere sample stickers in a generous 21.5 x 21.5-centimetre size so you can move them around and see how different colours will look in different rooms at various times of the day and night – all without damaging your walls.
The stickers are dipped in two coats of paint so they’re true to colour, and they cost $3 each (or get the first three sample stickers for free by signing up to their mailing list).
Browse more great Australian living rooms
Inspiration can (and often does) come from anywhere when you’re thinking of new paint colours for your home… followed by a frustrating search to find the perfect match in-store. Well, no more: with Taubmans’ new Coloursmith app, simply upload a photo from your mobile phone of the colour you love – whether it’s on a dress, somewhere in nature or sprinkled on your breakfast bowl – and order a pot of your very own bespoke paint colour. Colour makeover done and dusted.
Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo T8 AIVI, $1,299 at JB Hi-Fi
6. Clean floors without lifting a finger
Robotic vacuums have been around for a while, but it’s more than just a little exciting to see ones that can now mop dirty floors too.
Ecovac’s two-in-one Deebot Ozmo T8 AIVI has a powerful vacuum plus two mopping attachments – one specially designed to tackle tougher stains through a high-frequency vibration that simulates a scrubbing motion. It can also identify and avoid common hazards found on the floor, such as cords and slippers, and has an onboard camera so you can monitor cleaning progress (or see what your pets are up to) when you’re not at home.
Other robotic mops on the market include the iRobot Braava 380T ($599), which can pick up large, dry debris and mop hardwood, tile and stone floors, and the iLife V5s Pro Robot Vacuum Cleaner and Mopper ($269 at Matt Blatt), which is an extra-slim model with two suction modes plus a mopping setting.
6. Clean floors without lifting a finger
Robotic vacuums have been around for a while, but it’s more than just a little exciting to see ones that can now mop dirty floors too.
Ecovac’s two-in-one Deebot Ozmo T8 AIVI has a powerful vacuum plus two mopping attachments – one specially designed to tackle tougher stains through a high-frequency vibration that simulates a scrubbing motion. It can also identify and avoid common hazards found on the floor, such as cords and slippers, and has an onboard camera so you can monitor cleaning progress (or see what your pets are up to) when you’re not at home.
Other robotic mops on the market include the iRobot Braava 380T ($599), which can pick up large, dry debris and mop hardwood, tile and stone floors, and the iLife V5s Pro Robot Vacuum Cleaner and Mopper ($269 at Matt Blatt), which is an extra-slim model with two suction modes plus a mopping setting.
Delos Home Wellness Kit, from $699
7. Healthy at home
With most of us spending more time at home now, wellness has become a focus. But finding the time to source all the various element needed to optimise your home’s health can be confusing and time-consuming.
Fortunately, a range of clever companies have stepped in to help. Consider, for example, the Delos Home Wellness Kit – an all-in-one pack with everything you need to boost your health at home. It includes a portable HEPA air filter that cleans the air by removing gases, odours and potentially harmful particles; an under-sink water-purification unit to improve the quality of your drinking water; and circadian-lighting smart bulbs to reduce the effect of artificial light and help reset your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.
Or ditch the chemicals and clean your home the natural way in one fell swoop with a comprehensive non-toxic cleaning kitchen. Check out the Healthy Home Premium Starter Kit from Sally Read Wellness ($299), which includes non-toxic cleaning products for everything from your teeth and body to your kitchen sink. Or, Envirocare Earth’s Healthy Home Starter Pack ($36.75) – a comprehensive collection of powerful non-toxic cleaners for everything from clothing to the bathroom.
Your turn
Which of these would you find most useful in your home? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Want more on cutting-edge ideas for your home? Check out Couture Closets: Smart Wardrobes & Luxe Finishes Are Making Waves
7. Healthy at home
With most of us spending more time at home now, wellness has become a focus. But finding the time to source all the various element needed to optimise your home’s health can be confusing and time-consuming.
Fortunately, a range of clever companies have stepped in to help. Consider, for example, the Delos Home Wellness Kit – an all-in-one pack with everything you need to boost your health at home. It includes a portable HEPA air filter that cleans the air by removing gases, odours and potentially harmful particles; an under-sink water-purification unit to improve the quality of your drinking water; and circadian-lighting smart bulbs to reduce the effect of artificial light and help reset your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.
Or ditch the chemicals and clean your home the natural way in one fell swoop with a comprehensive non-toxic cleaning kitchen. Check out the Healthy Home Premium Starter Kit from Sally Read Wellness ($299), which includes non-toxic cleaning products for everything from your teeth and body to your kitchen sink. Or, Envirocare Earth’s Healthy Home Starter Pack ($36.75) – a comprehensive collection of powerful non-toxic cleaners for everything from clothing to the bathroom.
Your turn
Which of these would you find most useful in your home? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Want more on cutting-edge ideas for your home? Check out Couture Closets: Smart Wardrobes & Luxe Finishes Are Making Waves
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I’ve got to laugh...first world solutions for first world problems!
Definitely like the rechargeable LED lighting, will explore that now for the looming (northern hemisphere) winter
Great for people who are disabled, frail or otherwise unable to do household chores/management. I enjoy pulling up all our blinds inside and outside to keep my arm muscles strong. Housework is great exercise for all our family. It gets us all off our screens, working together and having fun and trains our son in housework and having responsibilities for a shared home.