Smart home technology is evolving fast, especially as we move into 2025. But as technology rapidly evolves, homeowners are left wondering: When should I upgrade my smart devices?

At SimpleHome, we help clients cut through the noise and offering expert advice on when to upgrade, what to upgrade, and how to future-proof your smart home setup.

When Should You Upgrade?

Not all smart devices need replacing the moment a new version hits the market. Many products, like smart thermostats, lights, and security cameras remain reliable for years. However, there are key signs that it's time for an upgrade:

• No More Software Support: If your device no longer receives updates, it becomes more vulnerable to security threats and compatibility issues. That’s a good cue to upgrade.
  
  

Smart Home Technology for the Modern Dad

What makes a house feel like home? For many dads, it’s the ability to unwind in comfort, enjoy quality time with loved ones, and create lasting memories—all with ease. At SimpleHome, we design smart home solutions that support those moments, seamlessly blending innovation with everyday living.

Built for the Best Seat in the House

From epic movie marathons to game-day gatherings, a high-performance media room is more than just screens and speakers—it’s a space made for connection. With immersive sound, stunning visuals, and intuitive smart controls, we craft entertainment spaces where Dad can relax, host, or dive into his favorite pastimes.

Backyard Entertainment, Upgraded 

The big game, your favorite playlist, movie night under the stars—outdoor AV is here to elevate it all. With weatherproof TVs, high-performance outdoor speakers, and full smart control across property, the backyard for Dad becomes the ultimate entertainment zone. Whether he’s grilling, hosting, or winding down, every moment is seamless, immersive, and effortlessly connected.

Dad-Approved Gift Idea!

Need a last-minute Father’s Day gift?  We’ve got 22 JBL CLIP4 Bluetooth speakers in stock, compact, durable, and perfect for golf bags, beach days, or backyard grilling. Pick one up at our Westwood location or we’ll ship it straight to your door.

At simpleHome, we specialize in creating a unique and magical experience within the home. We aim to craft spaces where families feel an indescribable sense of comfort and tranquility. Understanding and interpreting our customers’ needs are at the core of what we do. Integrated and seamless lighting, climate control, and entertainment play significant roles in shaping the ideal living experience. We are part of the design team from the beginning, ensuring that the right technology is chosen to provide a wonderful experience from the design stage through to the final tutorial and the celebratory glass raised. 

A magnificent home encompasses various elements: architecture, interior design, electronics, and the overall ambiance, which contributes to the Zen of the home. We aim to provide a full sensory experience, making controlling the home's features effortless and natural, ensuring that technology remains hidden, and allowing family members to simply enjoy their living spaces without effort. Today’s home tech is far more than the traditional visible elements like TVs and box speakers; it encompasses the functional electronics that are in every luxury home: Circadian lighting, automated shades, energy management, as well as air and water filtration and monitoring. 

Our clients want convenient, seamless, and consistently reliable interactions with content and information, delivered in the least intrusive way. They also want to interact with devices and platforms in a way that is intuitive and readily accessible. Companies that can provide this redefine the digital environment, creating a much deeper, immersive experience. 

Blending Technology into Daily Lives 

Here are some of the ways we achieve this: 

The Future of Window Treatments Is Here!

Automated window treatments are transforming the way we interact with our living spaces, offering unmatched convenience, energy efficiency, privacy, and home security. Whether you're looking to simplify your daily routine, boost your home's efficiency, or elevate its aesthetic appeal, automated window treatments can make a dramatic impact.

As technology evolves, smart home integration continues to expand, making automated window treatments an investment that pays off in both functionality and style.

Ready to upgrade your home with automated window treatments? The future of home design is smarter, simpler, and more efficient than ever before. These innovative solutions give you effortless control over natural light and privacy, while enhancing the style and functionality of your interior spaces. They're a must-have for homeowners!

  What is The SimpleHome Integrated Lighting Program?

Lighting plays a key role in any space, indoors and out. For most of us, it is the first element we feel.  It defines the intent of the space: for recreation, entertainment, relaxation or work. But to make a lighting design truly shine, it takes more than just light fixtures. It combines all aspects of light control: luminaires, shades, drapes, and automated windows. In addition, and very importantly, it involves members of the project team right from the beginning: Architect, Builder, Interior Designer, Lighting Designer, Electrician and Client.

This cohesive approach avoids the many pitfalls of residential lighting and results in superior long-term performance. There are varying levels of expertise among the professionals on a project. SimpleHome acts as the Technology Integrator, supplementing and coordinating the team. We recommend a certified lighting consultant when the budget allows. When it doesn’t, our lighting specialist works alongside our shade specialist and the project team. This big picture approach considers not just the technology but the time of day and year and position to the sun. A control system, e.g. Lutron, conducts this orchestra for carefree operation.

Who benefits from the Integrated Lighting Program?

You’re at a friend’s party and loving the music they’re playing. But when you look around, you can’t find the loudspeakers. Where is the sound coming from? The room is perfect: the design, the detail, the furnishings, the art. You look again. Nothing. Not a music speaker in sight, yet the sound is marvelous!  That’s the job of Invisible Speakers. They don’t just “blend” into the room, they disappear!

What Are Invisible Loudspeakers exactly?

As the name suggests, invisible speakers are built-in and can’t be seen. They are designed to be hidden from view and engineered to work without any appearance. They are part of the construction process. The frame is installed in the open walls, then the speaker is installed when the plasterboard is in, and then comes a Level 5 skim coat.  In other words, it becomes part of the wall. When the job is done, the furniture is moved in, the party starts, and the room comes alive with the sound of music. No large box speakers taking up floor space or detracting from the aesthetic of the designer’s vision.

As the sun rises, so do your shades. The lighting softly shifts from a warm glow as sunshine illuminates the room. Cue a morning wake up soundtrack and the latest news displays – all without effort.   

Your home is a stage for your life, but setting the scene shouldn’t be a herculean effort. With the magic of simpleHome Automation, setting the scene for your best life can be as easy as walking into a room.  

 Understanding Home Automation 

Creating Dream Spaces: Listening to Family Needs 

Personalization is the key to comfort. Your home should cater to the needs of you and your family, from the tools you need to the temperature and environment. With home automation, shifting environmental conditions to meet the needs of your family is easy, ensuring a space that always suits you, . Whether you’re snuggling up for a movie night or cooking a bountiful breakfast, the lighting, sound, and temperature of your space are set for the perfect ambience.  

Lighting for your backyard oasis

Landscape lighting serves as the silent orchestrator of outdoor ambiance, seamlessly blending functionality with aesthetics. As the sun sets, it transforms ordinary spaces into enchanting realms, guiding footsteps, highlighting architectural wonders, and accentuating the beauty of nature. In this guide, we delve into the art and science of landscape lighting, exploring best practices and innovative techniques to elevate your outdoor experience. 

Lighting Control: One of the hallmarks of an exceptional outdoor lighting system is intuitive control. With simpleHome, you have the power to orchestrate the perfect ambiance with just a tap of your finger. Whether you desire a soft, romantic glow or vibrant illumination for outdoor gatherings, our lighting control solutions offer unparalleled flexibility and ease of use. Lighting can also be programmed based on the astronomical clock, ensuring your home is never left in darkness. 

Lighting Design: A harmonious marriage between landscape design and lighting is essential for creating captivating outdoor spaces. At simpleHome, we understand the intricate interplay between form and function. Our team collaborates closely with architects and designers to seamlessly integrate lighting solutions into the fabric of your outdoor environment. From accentuating architectural features to illuminating lush greenery, every aspect of your landscape is meticulously curated to evoke a sense of wonder and enchantment. 

Thoughtful Placement: Gone are the days of harsh glare and blinding lights. Outdoor illumination is a symphony of subtlety and sophistication. Strategic placement of fixtures ensures that every corner of your outdoor oasis is bathed in gentle, inviting light. From gracefully uplit trees to softly illuminated pathways, our lighting solutions combined with the artistry of your landscape architect transform your yard into a captivating nocturnal paradise. 

Types of Landscape Lighting: All these types are available in marine grade, ensuring durability and longevity, especially for coastal homes. 

Architectural Electronics, dba SimpleHome, a pioneer in smart home technology, proudly marks its 50th anniversary, celebrating five decades of innovation, reliability, and a commitment to the luxury design community.

Founded in 1973, SimpleHome quickly became a leader in the luxury home electronics industry, providing high-quality alarm systems at a time when most were unreliable. By the mid-1980s, the company had transformed alongside technological advancements, providing every type of home electronics to the luxury residential market and specialty tech to restaurants and corporate boardrooms.

At SimpleHome, the ethos is clear – to create living spaces that are functional, aesthetic, and simple. From basic WiFi speakers, thermostats, and cams to the sophisticated technologies of Circadian lighting, Lutron motorized shades, and air and water monitoring systems, SimpleHome is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for its customers.

"We've spent 50 years understanding what people need and how to make it hassle-free. Our focus has always been on reliability and ease of use," says Brad Smith, Chief Performance Officer and Principal. "At SimpleHome, we are truly committed to keeping it simple and reliable while still providing the fun and luxury you expect in a quality home.”

Key highlights of SimpleHome's 50-year journey include:

Explore How Outdoor Lighting Can Turn Your Next Design or Build into a Dream Staycation for Buyers!

Landscape lighting can do much more than light a property's pathways and dark exterior areas. Modern lighting solutions can easily turn any new build in Cape Cod, MA, into a visual dream, creating an outdoor space for homeowners that feels comfortable, private, and vacation-esque. 

If you're searching for a way to branch out regarding designs and how your clients or potential buyers will use the outside areas of their new home, you're in the right place. Keep reading to explore how simpleHome and professionally designed and installed landscape lighting come together to bring beauty to every backyard. 

Attract Clients and Investors with an Outdoor Entertainment Oasis in All Your Projects 

Who wouldn’t like an entertainment oasis in their own backyard? It’s the perfect place to disconnect from the world and connect to the latest outdoor TV and surround sound system. Considering how competitive the local design and construction industries are, that may be just the extra edge you need for your projects to stand out in a crowded field. 

At simpleHome, we partner with design and construction professionals in Cape Cod, MA, and the greater area, adding value to their projects through the installation and integration of smart technologies. 

In this article, we explore how an outdoor TV can anchor the backyard in all your projects, adding value, convenience, and a beautiful backyard that will help you close any deal!

CREATE A UNIQUE AND INVITING SPACE FOR HOMEOWNERS

If you envision creating a peaceful outdoor oasis for your residential clients, it all starts with the pool. As the premier backyard focal point, a pool can add hours of enjoyment to any home. When homeowners invest in a pool installation, they want to get the most out of the area. Pool area lighting adds aesthetic and safety features to the backyard, making them valuable to any home. Consider how pool area lighting could help you sell properties and acquire more residential clients. 

Continue reading for ways to create an outdoor sanctuary for your clients using pool area lighting in Boston, MA, backyards.

A Variety of Considerations Make Outdoor Lighting a Complex Task

Outdoor lighting can elevate the curb appeal of your home at night and assist with needed safety by illuminating walkways and entrances. Beyond this, homeowners enjoy the twinkle of lights in the evening which add a festive feel to any outdoor gathering.

Sometimes homeowners consider completing outdoor lighting projects themselves. However, we caution against this, as they can be complex. By the time a homeowner discovers that they are in over their heads, it may be too late and have cost them a lot of time and money. That’s why we recommend hiring a professional team like ours to help install outdoor lighting at your beautiful home in Cape Cod, MA.

Continue reading to uncover why outdoor lighting jobs are best left to professionals.

Get Ready for Spring By Updating Your Backyard Entertainment Options

As spring fever takes hold, you may daydream about fun summertime outdoor activities, including backyard barbeques and pool parties. But, considering these plans, have you wondered about the layer of excitement that new outdoor speakers could add to your activities? It doesn’t matter if you’re planning loud gatherings or quiet ones; outdoor audio can add levels of fun to any outdoor activity in Boston, MA.

Continue reading to learn about the features of Sonance’s Landscape Series of outdoor speakers—the perfect addition to any backyard fun.

Clear the Clutter and Share Your Video Sources

At simpleHome, our team is made up of home automation veterans—technology experts who realize that the best is almost always the simplest. We’re committed to enhancing our clients' daily lives through smart home automation and entertainment that’s easy to use and effortless to enjoy. 

One system that defines this outlook on smart homes (and life in general) is the video distribution system. This system delivers crystal-clear, 4K high-definition video to every TV in your home. But it gets better: a distributed video system shares media sources across multiple TVs. Gone are the bulky cable boxes and wiring—now, all your sources are in one location, possibly on a custom media rack in a closet, and, from there, distributed to all your TVs. Guess what else becomes obsolete? The multiple remotes for every device.

Let’s see how it’s done and the ease of living and enjoyment this system offers homeowners in Boston, MA, and the surrounding areas.

Enhance the Experience of Every Space with a Whole-Home Audio System

Your home in Dover, MA, is unique. You have taken the time to design every space as an extension of yourself and your lifestyle. The furniture, finishes, and overall decor already look great, but something is missing. 

As the leading technology integrator in Massachusetts, simpleHome can design and install a whole-home audio system tailored to your needs, helping you get the most out of any room at home. 

In this article, we will explore how whole-home audio enhances the character and design of three different spaces in a smart home: the entrance, the home theater, and the backyard. 

Integrate, Automated, Motorized Shades Will Improve Every Technology System In Your Smart Home

In the middle of a Cape Cod, MA, winter, your porch and sunroom probably lie desolate, gathering dust from disuse since they’re too cold to spend time in. But what if there was a way to extend your living space year round? Good news: there is! Hunter Douglas shades add incredible value to any design and construction project. Whether it is AV, lighting, or HVAC systems, motorized shades are the key to greater comfort, control, and energy efficiency. 

As the leading technology integrator in The Cape, simpleHome knows what it takes to add the most value to a smart home. Read on to learn why Hunter Douglas motorized shades are in so many of our projects and how we install and integrate them to enhance all other technology systems.

Learn How Personalized Automation Features Put You in Control

The popularity of smart home technology has grown immensely, and chances are you've experienced a few features already yourself. But there comes a point when it no longer makes sense to manage several individual components, and it's best to combine them into one intelligent OS, like a Control4 system.

With Control4, you can combine all your smart technology into one easy-to-use control center. No more downloading ten different apps on your phone to use various features. If you like simplicity and streamlined function, consider a Control4 system for your home in Dover, MA, or the Greater Boston area.

Continue reading to learn more about how you can personalize a Control4 system to add ease to your daily life.

Check Out These Smart Shades from Hunter Douglas

Is your smart home in Lexington, MA, getting too hot and bright in the summer or chilly and rather gloomy throughout the winter months? If so, taking a look at your lighting control system and existing window treatments may be in order. We’ve addressed lighting control in previous blogs, but when it comes to shades, there are few brands offering the quality and variety of Hunter Douglas. 

At simpleHome, our team of technology installers and integrators will determine which type of Hunter Douglas shades are best for you, whether you are in Lexington or anywhere else in the Greater Boston Area. 

Read on to learn more about the window treatment options available from our brand partners at Hunter Douglas.

A Professional Network Setup Optimizes All Your Home Technologies

The Internet has come a long way since the days of “You’ve got mail.” Today, networks of interconnected smart devices comprise the Internet of things (IoT) and are part of our homes and daily lives. However, for these products to work effectively, network strength and reliability are key. 

At simpleHome, we design and install performance-driven technology solutions, helping our clients in Boston, MA and the greater area create the perfect home network setup. Here are some ways a professional network installation will optimize every technology system in your smart home.