Sure, we get a couple of cold, wet days here and there this time of year (and even the occasional, uncharacteristic snow flurry), but the fact of the matter is, spring is just around the corner in San Antonio and the Hill Country. Now is the perfect time to upgrade your smart home system to take advantage of the upcoming warmer, sunnier days. Smart home and home automation technology is always adapting and evolving, and there’s something for everyone – even those who are admittedly less technically sophisticated. Today’s smart home devices and systems seamlessly blend into your home’s design, making life more comfortable, efficient, and overall more enjoyable, and there’s never been a better time to consider a smart home upgrade than now.

If you’ve considered adding smart home automation to your San Antonio area home, but aren’t sure where to start, consider starting with an upgrade to one of these four areas.

OUTDOOR OR WHOLE-HOME AUDIO

Take advantage of beautiful San Antonio and Hill Country spring nights and enjoy music everywhere you may roam, from the backyard to the kitchen. With an integrated whole home audio system, your high-quality speakers will connect to your streaming services, playlists, and digital libraries at the same time. Your favorite ‘90s playlist or that super addictive true crime podcast? Hear it every step of the way from the backyard deck to the living room. Alternatively, each member of your family can choose to listen to their own music individually on separate speakers, and a the home audio professionals at Dominion Design & Integration can design audio zones that won’t interrupt each other.

MOTORIZED WINDOW SHADES

In this part of the state, the afternoon sun can be absolutely scorching. Also, with so many new developments being built around San Antonio, there’s almost always a new neighbor that’s just a little bit closer than you’d probably prefer. Whether you need more privacy or just don’t want to bake in the afternoons, an upgrade to motorized window shades, like the Serena by Lutron, could be just the ticket you need. The shades will lower automatically, either by a timed system, voice command, or a touch of a button. They’re an easy, but effective, smart home upgrade for just about any home.

Choose between room-darkening fabrics or light-preserving that allow you to still gaze outside and enjoy spring flowers. The shades will lower almost completely silently, too, so guests and activities won’t be interrupted.

HOME THEATER CONTROL

While the world pivoted and shifted through the COVID-19 pandemic, one way that home owners tried to resume some semblance of normalcy was by upgrading their home theater systems. With so many blockbuster movies going straight to streaming services, an upgraded home theater can essentially recreate the movie theater experience, right from the comfort and safety of your own home. From Sony 4K TV’s and crystal-clear projectors to voice-controlled lighting and theater-quality sound, the number of options to fine tune your home theater experience is nearly limitless.

CUSTOMIZED LIGHTING

Lighting has proven effects on our moods and mental health, so why use standard, boring old lightbulbs? Lighting control is the latest development in smart home technology. It adjusts your home’s lights throughout the day to match your circadian rhythm.

Lighting control makes it easy to stay focused and alert in the morning with white-blue light, like the sunny sky. In the late afternoon, relax and mellow out with warm, soft lighting. You’ll sleep better, feel more relaxed, and may even improve your exercise and eating habits. Tunable lighting is the best update you can make this spring for wellness.

To get started on your newly upgraded smart home, contact the professionals at Dominion Design and Integration. We’d love to help design a perfect custom smart home for your needs.