One of the coolest things about having a home lighting control system is the ability to create pre-set scenes. These scenes let you manage multiple fixtures at once so you can set the perfect environment to watch your favorite movies or simply make it easier to wake up in the morning. Using scenes not only makes your Austin, TX home more efficient, but it can also help enhance its style.

Instead of needing multiple switches on the walls to control your lights, you can have an elegant keypad on the wall with each button corresponding to a specific scene. Another great thing about scenes? They’re uniquely yours. The experts at Relative Home Systems can create scenes that match up to your specific activities and preferences. In this blog, we give you some ideas to get you started.

SEE MORE: Gain Control of Your Lights with Lutron and Crestron

Wake Up

Schedule a scene that slowly turns on your lights and opens the shades to wake you up in the morning. If you’re a deep sleeper, you can incorporate your whole home audio so music begins playing through your in-ceiling speakers until you get up. Assign a button in your keypad to turn off the scene. By having to get up to turn it off, you’re less likely to fall back asleep.

For many people, it can be difficult to find efficient outdoor audio solutions that let them enjoy their favorite artists or playlists on the porch, patio or pool. The most popular approach is opting for Wi-Fi or Bluetooth speakers that are easy to move around and let you stream music directly from your phone. While these makeshift solutions can work in the short term, using outdoor speakers linked to a whole home audio system will yield better results in the long run for four main reasons. Keep reading to learn what they are. 

SEE MORE: Best Speaker Layouts for Outdoor Audio

Damage to Your Equipment

Most wireless speakers are not meant for outdoor use and can be prone to damage caused by water, humidity, or dust.  If you're careful not to take the speakers out in bad weather and bring them back in as soon as you're done, you might be able to keep the speakers safe from serious harm. But if you think outdoor audio is something you'll often be using, the small damage can pile up over time, so even if you're extremely careful, your wireless speakers are likely going to suffer from too much outdoor use. 

Lower-Quality Sound

Music is one of those things that can set the mood for many activities – or inactivity, as the case may be. Whether you use it to pump you up as you pump iron in your exercise room, fall asleep to Norah Jones in the bedroom, or have a rocking party playlist for entertaining, music is foundational.

If you’re looking at installing or upgrading your home sound system in Houston, you have many choices. It might be an almost bewildering task, as there has never been as much choice in audio systems as there is today. From powered and wireless speakers to traditional two-channel separate components to home theater audio, there is a vast array of equipment and options to consider.

What’s the best way to break it all down? Keep reading to see what you’ll want to consider.

SEE ALSO: How to Build the Ultimate Whole Home Audio System

Speakers

Most people tend to think about speakers first when it comes to home sound systems. They are one of the most critical factors for getting the sound quality you would like, but definitely not the only one. The choice of speakers, however, tends to influence much of what you need for other equipment in your installation.

We’re fortunate in the Houston area, as our Texas winters are mild. Summer may be over, but it’s still a great time to be outside. Spending time in your patio relaxing or entertaining doesn’t mean you have to leave the music inside.

If you’re particular about audio quality, you don’t want to settle for a portable Bluetooth speaker. You want a system that can move you when you want to party, and also one with detail and nuance when you want to relax in your patio with a good read and some background tunes.

If you’re ready for a high-quality outdoor sound system in the Woodlands, now is a great time to install it. Keep reading to learn more.

SEE ALSO: What is the Best Speaker Layout for Your Outdoor Audio?

Purpose Built Outdoor Sound

With the right outdoor audio system, settling for inferior sound is a thing of the past. Your speakers can blend into your landscape seamlessly, or they can stand out if you prefer with artful modern designs like those from Coastal Source. You also won't have to worry about the Texas weather; high-quality outdoor speakers are made to withstand rain, heat, and cold, season after season.

The holidays look a bit different this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the festivities while staying at home in Austin, TX. Home automation brings a new layer of excitement to an already fun time of year by making life easier and more enjoyable.

We strive to bring trusted technology trends to our clients’ homes so they can enjoy themselves with multi-room audio, private home theaters, lighting control, and more. Read on below to learn two ways Relative Home Systems can incorporate smart home control and help you add a little more pizazz to your end-of-year celebrations.

SEE ALSO: How Do Biophilia and Smart Home Technology Mix?

Livens the Mood

There’s nothing quite like hearing your favorite holiday playlist for the first time each year. Why not stream your favorite songs from your personal music collection or favorite TIDAL playlists on your whole-home audio system? Colorful LED lighting can also help energize the mood while you’re playing your seasonal playlists, too. Bathe the room in holiday colors—red and green, blue and white, or any combination you choose!

Mariah Carey’s seasonal favorite, “All I Want for Christmas” will get stuck in your head in no time—just tap a button on your Control4 Neeo remote, and the song will stream from every speaker you pass as you walk from the festively lit kitchen to the family room to the outdoor patio.

For many people, it can be difficult to find efficient outdoor audio solutions that let them enjoy their favorite artists or playlists on the porch, patio or pool. The most popular approach is opting for Wi-Fi or Bluetooth speakers that are easy to move around and let you stream music directly from your phone. While these makeshift solutions can work in the short term, using outdoor speakers linked to a whole home audio system will yield better results in the long run for four main reasons. Keep reading to learn what they are. 

SEE MORE: Best Speaker Layouts for Outdoor Audio

Damage to Your Equipment

Most wireless speakers are not meant for outdoor use and can be prone to damage caused by water, humidity, or dust.  If you're careful not to take the speakers out in bad weather and bring them back in as soon as you're done, you might be able to keep the speakers safe from serious harm. But if you think outdoor audio is something you'll often be using, the small damage can pile up over time, so even if you're extremely careful, your wireless speakers are likely going to suffer from too much outdoor use. 

Lower-Quality Sound

One of the coolest things about having a home lighting control system is the ability to create pre-set scenes. These scenes let you manage multiple fixtures at once so you can set the perfect environment to watch your favorite movies or simply make it easier to wake up in the morning. Using scenes not only makes your Austin, TX home more efficient, but it can also help enhance its style.

Instead of needing multiple switches on the walls to control your lights, you can have an elegant keypad on the wall with each button corresponding to a specific scene. Another great thing about scenes? They’re uniquely yours. The experts at Relative Home Systems can create scenes that match up to your specific activities and preferences. In this blog, we give you some ideas to get you started.

SEE MORE: Gain Control of Your Lights with Lutron and Crestron

Wake Up

Schedule a scene that slowly turns on your lights and opens the shades to wake you up in the morning. If you’re a deep sleeper, you can incorporate your whole home audio so music begins playing through your in-ceiling speakers until you get up. Assign a button in your keypad to turn off the scene. By having to get up to turn it off, you’re less likely to fall back asleep.