Smart lighting is changing today's homes in a variety of ways, giving you more control over how you light your home by offering an array of customizations. If you've been thinking about adding smart lighting to your home, here are some questions to ask, to see if smart lighting is right for you:

Do You Want More Control Over Your Lighting?

Smart bulbs connect to your WiFi, allowing them to be controlled via an app on your phone or other mobile device. Most brands will sync all the bulbs together, so you can control each of them with a single app. What can you do with this smart lighting? There are a myriad of options:

• You can set a schedule for your lights.
• Have them turn on first thing in the morning to help you wake up.
• Program them to turn off at a certain hour to make sure the kids go to bed on time.
• You can also control the brightness, based on your needs.
• Dim the dining room lights by half to create the atmosphere for a romantic dinner for two.
• Dim your bedroom lights by two thirds, so you can read in bed without disturbing your partner.
• You can even change the color of your lights (we'll talk about that in a bit).

Would You Like to Save on Your Electric Bill?

The LED bulbs used in smart lighting provide the same amount of light as fluorescent or incandescent bulbs, but use far less energy. Using LED bulbs in any capacity can lower your electric bill considerably. However, smart lighting goes even further. The dimming option allows you to use less energy when you don't need as much light. Plus, by automating your lighting schedule, a smart system ensures that lights don't stay on all day wasting energy if you forget to flip the switch as you leave the room.

Would You Like to be Able to Control Your Lights From Anywhere?

Since your smart lights are controlled via an app, you don't have to be at home to control them. If you're driving home at night and don't want to return to a dark house, you can use the app to turn on a bulb or two wherever you need it. Even if you're halfway around the world on vacation, you can set your lights up to turn on and off at certain times, to make it look like you're home, to any would-be home invaders, tresspassers, or other unsavory characters that might be lurking.

Read more about how to use smart lighting to make your home more secure.

Do You Want More Hue Options From You Home Lighting?

Most light bulbs bathe your home in a standard white glow. If you want other color options, you'll have to switch the bulb out for one of a different color and switch it back when you're done.

Smart lights eliminate this problem by giving you a whole range of colors from which to choose. Give the lights a slight yellow or orange tinge, for a warmer, more inviting feel. Add a tint of green or blue to accentuate your decor. For parties, choose a specific color theme that fits with the occasion, or set your lights to flow back and forth through the entire color spectrum. You can use virtually any color, in any amount. The possibilities are endless.

Is smart lighting right for your home? If you want to have more lighting options, either aesthetically or practically, improve security while you're away, or just reduce your energy bill, then it might be. To learn more about smart lighting and what it can do for you, contact us today.