Game changer home ideas

[TheSilentSister]

Self closing kitchen cupboard doors. I'm in awe. Just had a kitchen makeover. You push the doors like you normally do but they then just pull themselves to close, silently. Ok, I'm easily pleased. Tell me your game changer home things. Anything for an easier life or just pure amusement.

Turkish style toilet, it gives you a little wash so toilet paper is just for drying off. Much more hygienic.

Do you mean the curtains or the lights etc?

The curtains can also be opened manually, not just via the electrics
The same as the lights, appliances- they all still have regular light switches, on/off buttons.

If there was a power cut though- none of the electrics would work!

Hue bulbs and room scenes so we can have the lighting right for whatever we are doing, and didn't need expensive re-wiring to separate lights on the same switch.

Bonus is being able to switch on automated routines for lighting when we are away.

A robot vac mop, best gift to yourself ever!

A kitchen bin cabinet fitted with a magic eye in the kickboard, so it opens by itself when you stick your foot underneath. Really useful when my hands are dirty from cooking, or when my hands are clean and I don’t want to touch the bin. In short, really useful 😁

Ikea kitchen cabinets in the bathrooms. So much storage, and the sink is at the right height.

An external tap at the front of the house so I can water plants.

Solar panels

Air conditioning controlled from my phone.

An electronic front door lock with a touch pad - never having to look for keys or worrying that kids will lose their keys.

How do you make this happen?is it all down to the bulbs?

ive never been able to make Alexa do anything useful aside from cooking timers

Look at the Alexa app for 'routines'

Also can someone explain the internet of things to me please?

In a home, IoT devices are anything that connects to a network, e.g. smart bulbs, robot vacuum, Alexa, bluetooth speakers etc.

I would add another game-changer for us has been solar panels, but with the caveat that we live in a sunny country, so YMMV.

I'm so wary of Alexa.

I feel uncomfortable with that level of intrusion into the home.

The 2 dishwashers idea I love though.

Wireless motion-sensored “under-cupboard” lights.

They attach to their partner magnet which sticks on any indoor surface. They have a long battery life but recharge quickly through a USB plug. They come on immediately when triggered, at the light level you set, and are brilliant for poky little spots like cupboards that you may need to access in the dark. Or for night-time toilet trips to light the room or route without putting on the main lights (that in this house would then get left on).

I agree, I don't have an Alexa. I control my smart home through the HomeKit app, and have the privacy settings on my phone set so it doesn't listen to me.

No Alexa here either. I control Hue lights with the app or Hue switches.

Boiling water tap

Remote control (or Alexa if you prefer) operated blinds. No string cords gradually turning black where touched by grubby hands.

AEG ComfortLift dishwasher. The lower rack sides out and up to the same level as the top to allow for easy loading and unloading. First dishwasher in the world to do it. Absolutely amazing, wouldn’t go back to having any other type of dishwasher.

USB plugs in usual electrical sockets. I think you'd need to upgrade from USB to whatever the new thing is but they've made the world of difference.

Being able to control the hearing via your phone. We have a nest but I know there are other brands that do the same thing.

How much are your electricity costs?

@SnowdaySewday do you have a link ?

"Wireless motion-sensored “under-cupboard” lights.

They attach to their partner magnet "

Averages over the year to about 75€ a month, which considering we're entirely on electric (including pumping the water, because we're not on the mains), is pretty good.

Our next plan for IoT is to make our solar installation more efficient by adding smart battery and water heating modules (at the moment it's just 3 micro-generation panels with no storage, plus a 4-panel DC solar water heater). Hopefully then we should be more or less only paying the standing charges.

As I said upthread though, this is in an area of Portugal that gets a lot of sun, so what's cost-effective for us may not apply in the same way elsewhere.

@TheLeadbetterLife

Ah I missed the Portugal part!

Mine were from Amazon. Use my wording for your search.

I would like a Japanese toilet. I have experienced one and it was joyous and fulfilling once I’d got my head around it.

We have Japanese toilets, it’s probably the things most guests comment on! They are fab. Would thoroughly recommend.

You’re not supposed to put your head in it.. (sorry! 😁)