There’s no shortage of smart home gear on the market, but not all of it sticks. There are certain things that I prefer to keep "dumb" versions of in my home, but over time, I’ve found a handful of devices that aren't just great in theory, they genuinely make my home better in practice as well. After a while, these 6 devices stopped feeling like little experiments, and instead, they became mainstays in my household.

Smart plugs

Simplest addition to a smart home

Smart plugs are an excellent way to dip your toes into the pool of home automation, and they're the first thing I started including in my own home. I started with my espresso machine; while it is a manual machine where I have to grind and tamp my own beans, a smart plug allows me to set exactly when the machine turns the boiler on, ensuring all parts of the machine are heated up and ready to roll as soon as I stumble into the kitchen. You plug the smart plug into the outlet, and then pair it to your Wi-Fi or Zigbee hub, where it can be controlled via another device.

Smart thermostat

Temperature control at your fingertips

Smart thermostats are one of those things that nobody realizes they need until after they get one. After about a month of having one, I can't believe I ever lived without one before. Besides being able to tweak the set temperature of your home, you can also program it to automatically change the temperature based on time of day, or even the weather outside. It also ensures you're able to control it when traveling, so if you forget to turn the system off before you leave, you can easily do so from wherever you are.

Security cameras

A must if you own a home

Security cameras, including those on a smart doorbell, are an incredibly important part of my smart home, and I truly can't see myself living without them. Mount cameras at entrances, or anywhere you need coverage, and then connect them to your home network via the cloud or even local storage. Solutions can range from total DIY, wiring and configuration all done yourself, to proprietary, plug and play systems that can get you up and running quickly. I lean more towards the former, allowing more control over where the data is sent and kept.

Smart locks

Best way to simplify your physical security

There is truly nothing I hate more than having to juggle so many physical keys, and while I'll always keep some kind of physical backup for getting into my home, most entrances have had their deadbolts replaced with smart locks. You can set up auto-locking functions, temporary access codes, and other methods of entry, so you never have to second guess if you locked the door or if you left the spare key in the right spot.

Smart lighting

Essential for any smart home

Smart lighting can be set up using individual smart bulbs, or controlled at the switch or dimmer. Both approaches have their pros and cons, but the end result is pretty much the same. You can set lights to automatically change based on the time of day, and they can be controlled via an app instead of having to physically flip a switch. It's nice being able to set brighter lights in the morning to help with waking up, and dimmer, warmer tones in the evening to help wind down.

Smart Speakers

Fill your rooms with tunes and integrate it with a home assistant

Smart speakers are great for filling up your rooms with music, but they're capable of so much more. Place them in high-traffic areas, such as the kitchen and living room, and they can become an extension of your mobile assistant, like Google or Siri. You can also stay agnostic to brand by utilizing a third-party speaker connected to your network in some fashion. It's just very useful for hands-free functions, especially if your phone isn't nearby.

My smart home devices simplified my life

What started as a few experiments has turned into a lifestyle upgrade. These smart home devices blend into my routine so seamlessly that I hardly notice them. It's only when I stay somewhere without them that I realize how much I miss the convenience. If you’re just starting out, pick one or two, and you might find yourself putting together your smart home faster than you expect.