Ways To Make Your Home Smarter, On Any Budget

Jingling brass keys, in-wall light switches, and smoke detectors that chirp in the middle of the night — one day we’ll look back on these as artifacts of an antiquated time. Thanks to smartphones, you can eliminate life's little inconveniences like these and replace them with smarter alternatives, controlled with the tap of an app.

Smart home products aren’t just high-priced novelty anymore — they’re something even the most budget-conscious or technophobic among us can handle. Not only are these gizmos built to work seamlessly with your smartphone of choice, but thanks to Apple’s focus on HomeKit-connectivity, soon enough an Apple Watch could be your home’s remote. (And should toggling between the apps each gadget uses make you loopy, you can add a Wink or Amazon’s Echo to the mix, which control multiple products across multiple brands within one system.)

With light systems programmed to wake you every morning, mattress accessories to ensure you sleep tight, and keyless entry welcoming you home each night, the future is now — and it promises to make your life much easier. Click through to see examples.