
In the past, every home was a collection of independent and manually operated systems. The only device you had to control your house at a distance was a garage door opener. With the increasingly fast pace of innovation, however, home technology integration has arrived in a big way. Now you can monitor and adjust a variety of your home’s systems automatically as well as from apps on your phone or computer. We’ll look at three of the most popular ways to make your home smart.

Even if it’s something as simple as adding a couple of lamps for accent lighting, changing the lighting is one of the best ways to make a room (or your entire home) more inviting. It enhances the mood and feel of a room, making it more cozy and relaxing, bringing out the color of furnishings, drapes and wall décor or making the room brighter and airier. Here are some ideas on how to change the lighting in your house and give it a quick makeover that doesn’t require a remodel: