Over the past decade there has been a lot of talk about home automation, but only recently has smart home technology sparked genuine interest from home owners wanting to simplify their life. Benefits such as increased efficiency and reduced energy use have positioned home automation as an attractive investment for home owners. Further to this, the most popular solutions are small and easy to use, making them convenient and accessible for everyday consumers.

So what’s next for home automation and what are the big trends for 2016? Here are my top three tips for the smart home technology of the future.

1. Apps

2016 is the year of ‘right here, right now’. For the modern home owner who wants everything at their fingertips, apps offer unprecedented control over the home as they allow users to operate a system or appliance from a smart phone or tablet with ease.

Lighting is one household system that can be significantly improved by using apps, enabling users to create the perfect atmosphere at the touch of a button. Applications can allow users to control individual lights, groups of lights or groups of groups, no matter where they are.

Smart apps also simplify the challenges associated with reducing a household’s carbon footprint. There are a number of smart home apps that monitor energy use and allow home owners to adjust energy consumption as a result. For example, energy monitoring tools can help home owners stay on track by sending notifications and alerts to users when they’ve reached or exceeded monthly energy targets. As consumers become increasingly conscious of their environmental impact, apps like these are set to experience significant growth.

2. Motion sensors and switches

Over the next year we will see huge uptake in automatic sensors and switches as consumers begin to realise that creating a smart home is not as expensive as it sounds! Solutions such as motion sensors, sunset switches, timers and dimmers are becoming increasingly affordable and accessible to the average home owner. The best part is these automated products offer precise control over everyday electrical items without any additional input from home owners.

3. Integration and scalability

With more and more connected devices within the home, many of which are likely to be competing products and systems, integration and scalability will be a big focus in 2016.

All-in-one solutions that make life easier for home owners by offering connections between individual devices will be in high demand. Home automation systems can be used as a single interface to control climate, blinds and energy management, plus much more. These integrated systems are capable of consolidating many types of devices around the home, making them the ultimate home automation choice for consumers wanting to stay ahead of the pack.