Hello all, and welcome to 2018! As the holidays come to an end, and we reflect upon the year that was and our resolutions for the next year, you may feel like you’re all alone in making some lifestyle changes. Whether it is eating better, quitting smoking, or getting rid of that dangerous Christmas tree before Memorial Day, smart home automation can help with all these and much more.

As we’ve explored before, the ways a home automation system can enhance your life are endless. By using your home automation system to your advantage, you’ll not only stick to your resolutions for the year, you’ll be setting yourself for success for years to come. Here are a few ways smart home automation can help.

Entertain Family and Friends

What’s the point of having a smart home if you can’t share it with others? With just a few simple programs to your home, you’ll be able to have guests over and be able to give them your attention and create a vibe that will ensure they’ll want to visit again. Here’s how:

• Program lights to blink when guests arrive:
  Whether you’re in the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, or outside, you’ll always know when your guests have arrived. Simply program your control panel to trigger blinking lights for however long you want (three to five seconds should do) whenever the doorbell is rung. By doing so, you’ll be able to warmly greet all of your guests into your home.
• Program a “Party Scene”:
  Once you’ve cultivated that playlist of all playlists, you can easily sync it to your home controls and device. Create a general “party” setting with lights and music, or get custom with a setting for your summer barbecue, winter wine mixer, or spring garden party.

Cook at Home

So now the guests have RSVPed, your home is a finely-tuned party throwing machine, and catering from your favorite restaurant has been ordered.

That would work, but let’s be real—ordering out is SO 2017. You’ve declared to cook at home more this year, and in 2018 you won’t have to do it alone with your smart kitchen.

With your Control4 Smart home, you have access to their exciting new “When >> Then” feature.

If you plan on being in the kitchen more this year, you can set up a series of cause and effect programs that will work with you to create all of your culinary masterpieces. For example:

• “When the garage door opens, turn on kitchen lights and play ‘cooking playlist’.
  If your home lights your kitchen and gets you in the mood to cook before you’ve even walked in the door, you’re much more likely to get in there and get to work.
• “When the stove-top is turned on, then turn on exhaust fan.”
  Mishaps happen, and maybe in the beginning you’ll want to keep that fan on just in case.

Whatever your resolutions for 2018 may be, let your smart home help make this year full of joy with friends and loved ones, conquering new challenges, and much more. Cheers to a wonderful 2018!