5 Hidden Perks of Home Automation

5 Hidden Perks of Home Automation

The main reason why people turn to home automation is to make their lives easier and boost the comfort within their own home. After all, wouldn’t it be great to control your home’s security, lights and heating system through your smartphone and make all the necessary adjustments without ever having to leave the sofa? On the other hand, this is just one of the many advantages of home automation. The reason why it is the only one that most people talk about is that people are so passionate when it comes to their own comfort. On paper, however, home automation has five hidden perks that appear to be even more impressive.

Greater security

We mentioned that home automation directly leads to a boost in home security, however, not having to walk to the monitor in order to check the cameras is just the tip of the iceberg. Through your smartphone, you can not only check your locks but also lock and unlock your front door, which can be quite reliable. Think about it, how many times has it happened that you’ve forgotten to take your keyring with you? Now, think about the odds of doing the same without your phone.

Utility bill frugality

The next thing with home automation is the fact that it immensely reduces your monthly expense list. For instance, your Wi-Fi sprinkler system can drastically reduce the cost of your water bill, while the installation of a smart thermostat does the same with power. These savings aren’t just made by you no longer being lazy to turn off the light in the hallway. With a home automation system, you have the ability to make a frugal scheme that functions independently of your actions. In this way, you stand to make your money-saving efforts more reliable.

Simpler maintenance

One of the things that a lot of people overlook is the issue of home maintenance. With some automated household systems, like those offered by CBus installers, you can have your home enhanced with a reliable energy metering system. This may sound as yet another budget perk but it goes even further than that. You see, if you watch your home’s energy consumption closely, day after day, you will inevitably notice when something goes wrong. In that situation, you have the ability to make your household maintenance efforts more reactive and more efficient.

Greater control

Not having to stand up in order to set up your thermometer is not nearly the most important function of remote control. Imagine a scenario of walking into a cold home, in the middle of the winter, because you didn’t want to leave thermometer on in order to heat an empty home while you’re at work. With home automation fully implemented into your household, this will become a matter of the past. This kind of control can be displayed in virtually every aspect of your household management.

Reassurance

Finally, acquiring a peace of mind is something that it hard to quantify, yet it has to find its place on the list as one of the greatest perks of home automation. Think about going on a holiday without knowing that you’ve turned off the stove with 100 percent certainty. What do you do? Do you call it all off and cut your holiday short or worry for two weeks straight? With home automation on your side, this doesn’t have to be a problem anymore. For people who have kids, being able to check on the babysitter through your smartphone surveillance while you’re at work is a priceless idea.

As you can see, the benefits of home automation are numerous and each one of them would on its own be a reason enough to go for it. Luckily, you don’t actually have to choose, seeing as how you are bound to receive the entire package either way. Nonetheless, there are certain degrees in your home’s automation and you can still feel free to choose which of the processes you aim to enhance with smart technology and which of them you are about to leave as they are.

Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

Beautiful Design Ideas for Tiny Yards

Beautiful Design Ideas for Tiny Yards

Not everyone who loves gardening and relaxing outdoors is blessed with a yard the size of a soccer field. But, that shouldn’t stop you from getting the most out of your tiny yard and enjoying it with all your heart. Here’s how you can maximize the space and effect of your yard with only a few beautiful and practical design ideas.

Remove Clutter

First things first, start from the clutter. Clutter has a horrible ability to make small spaces look even smaller and uglier, so make sure to create order in your backyard. Of course, store your gardening supplies and tools away, but also pay attention to how you plant and maintain your landscaping. Opting for a few different plants or a one-color palette might help achieve a coherent look.

Create Zones

Even though it might seem contradictory, breaking a small space into different zones might make it look and feel larger. Use pathways, seating and plants to create divisions and turn it into a space full of little cozy nooks. Additionally, placing one part of your seating off the patio and near the yard border will create an illusion of space.

Go Up

If you lack square footage, utilize your vertical spaces! Plant trees and shrubs that grow upwards (dwarf varieties are recommended) and use columnar evergreens. Blooming vines are also a great way to add more greenery that takes up minimal space. These vines will grow on anything from fences to containers and even other shrubs and trees! Plus, they boost privacy and create a super romantic atmosphere!

Bring in the Accent Plants

Small yards often lack life and color, so make sure to bring your outdoor space to life with big planters. Place these containers full of blooming flowers around entrances, seating and other features to liven up the space and bring softness. Impatiens, fuchsias and begonias will all achieve a beautiful effect. However, plan well in advance. Containers require careful placement to be effective. Group them in threes or harmonize the colors of flowers (choose your main color and complement it with a secondary and even tertiary). But, too many colors will completely ruin the point of accents and nothing will dominate—there will only be a mess! If this sounds too complicated to you, it might be best to hire a landscaping expert to help you with this stage. They know just what to do to achieve an elegant and coherent look, even in your tiny space!

Skip the Lawn

If you have a green thumb and really like plants, you can skip the lawn and turn your entire yard into a garden! Divide the space with paths, layer the greenery and voila! You might have a small yard, but you’ll have a big garden!

Add a Small Water or Fire Feature

Many people think water features have to be big pools with waterfalls, but you can actually get a very small feature and achieve just the same effect. For instance, get a small reflecting pool or a Japanese trough that will shower you with relaxing sounds. Fire pits can warm up the space and give it a romantic vibe during the chilly evenings. And if you pick the right design, these fire features can easily also double as little coffee tables in the summer!

Mix It Up

If you want to achieve a dramatic visual effect, you can add interest to your yard by mixing interesting elements. For instance, mix regular stepping stones with mosaic ones, mix contemporary planters with vintage ones or mix exotic succulents with local wildflowers. This way, no one will even notice the size of your space!

As you can see, size is not everything. With these ingenious landscaping ideas, your small yard will be super functional, cozy and beautiful. 

Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

86 Ways To Enjoy The Summer With Your Kids

SUMMER FUN

1.       Play in the pool outside.

2.       Visit your local community pool.

3.       Go running around your neighborhood.

4.       Camp out in your backyard.

5.       Have a BBQ

6.       Have a Hot Dog party.

7.       Learn new recipes.

8.       Visit your local Farmer’s Market.

9.       Enjoy Tinley Park’s Cruise Nights every Tuesday night on Oak Park Ave.

10.   Play Pokemon Go, go around town catching them all.

11.   Visit your local Library.

12.   Go hiking.

13.   Free Family Night at Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier (Thursday Evenings and First Sundays)

14.   Visit Maggie Daley Park

15.   Splash around at Millennium Park Crown Fountain.

16.   Tinley Park’s Music in the Plaza, every other Saturday night (Zabrocki Plaza).

17.   Visit Lincoln Park Conservatory.

18.   Visit Lincoln Park Zoo.

19.   Visit Brookfield Zoo.

20.   Buckingham Fountain.

21.   Go swimming at Montrose Beach.

22.   Family Kite Festival in Elmhurst 8/6/2016.

23.   Chicago Air & Water Show 8/20 & 8/21.

24.   Robotics Day Camp in Tinley Park.

25.   Watch a kid’s movie at Marcus Cinema in Orland Park.

26.   Odyssey Fun World in Tinley Park.

27.   Go Bowling.

28.   Biking in Forest Preserve

29.   Play softball with your neighbors.

30.   Eat ice cream at your local ice cream shop.

31.   Listen to music.

32.   Dance around to music.

33.   Have a water balloon fight.

34.   Watch a fireworks show.

35.   Have a block party.

36.   Plant flowers.

37.   Play Laser Tag.

38.   Take a bubble bath outside.

39.   Go bird watching.

40.   Stage a play.

41.   Build a fort.

42.   Invent something with old parts in the garage.

43.   Collect lightning bugs.

44.   Go on a picnic.

45.   Bake cookies.

46.   Visit your local Firehouse for a tour.

47.   Play board games.

48.   Make instruments out of junk around the house.

49.   Lay out and look at the stars.

50.   Visit an animal shelter.

51.   Play Hide & Seek.

52.   Make funny skits.

53.   Make a movie with your friends.

54.   Ask your neighbors if they need their pets walked.

55.   Visit your local park.

56.   Play card games.

57.   Cook a meal with your kids.

58.   Make a fun homemade pizza.

59.   Have a movie night at home.

60.   Make a painting.

61.   Visit grandma & grandpa.

62.   Learn magic tricks.

63.   Make s’mores.

64.   Eat popsicles.

65.   Blow bubbles.

66.   Build paper air planes.

67.   Tell stories with a flashlight.

68.   Visit a lake.

69.   Make tacos.

70.   Eat frozen yogurt.

71.   Build sandcastles.

72.   Have a video game party.

73.   Open a lemonade stand.

74.   Have a talent show with your friends.

75.   Run through sprinklers.

76.   Go to a carnival.

77.   Draw with sidewalk chalk.

78.   Wash the car.

79.   Build a Lego tower.

80.   Play I spy.

81.   Learn a new language.

82.   Volunteer.

83.   Read a book.

84.   Build a campfire.

85.   Create a scrapbook.

86.   Take a nap.