6 ways to make your home a little smarter for 2025

This paid piece is sponsored by Montgomery’s.

Looking for a little easier living in the year ahead? Try putting tech to work inside your home.

If you haven’t explored the latest smart-home technology, you might be surprised how seamlessly it can integrated with a few easy updates.

“They’ve come a long way with smart-home integration, so there’s likely going to be at least one option you’ll enjoy considering,” said Alyssa Gacke, an interior design consultant at Montgomery’s in Sioux Falls.

Just as Montgomery’s can deliver a “Whole Home Experience,” helping you select everything from flooring to furniture, lighting to window treatments, the interior designers are well versed in how you can put technology to work inside your home.

“Technology is continually evolving, and it’s something we pay attention to in the industry just like trends in design and furnishings,” Gacke said.

Here’s a look at six ways you can weave some “smart” upgrades into your home.

Light the way

Pull up Gacke’s connected devices at home and you’ll find “Fancisco,” a ceiling fan that’s able to be controlled through an app or smart-home device such as Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assist.

“There’s an option to turn them on and off with your phone or tablet, or you can tell your smart-home device to turn them off,” she said.

“Smart” light bulbs also offer a way to modernize many light fixtures in such a way that they, too, easily are operated digitally.

Power up

Many recliners, sectionals and sofas now offer integrated charging ports or pads, ensuring your devices stay ready to serve you as you relax.

“What we’re seeing is expansion from just USB ports to include USBC given how some devices have changed,” Gacke said.

“They’re also nicely integrated into a lot of furniture, so it’s not going to look overly techy.”

Not near a power source? The designers can help with that too.

“Many open concepts call for furniture in the center of a room, not near a wall or outlet in the floor, or you don’t want the look of a cord, so we’re able to help bring in battery packs for those pieces,” Gacke said.

Window innovations

Window coverings can be an easy and convenient way to weave a little tech into your home.

Control your shades with the click of a button? It’s possible with many options on the market today.

“You can set them up to work with a remote, an app or through Alexa and Google,” Gacke said.

“It will allow you to open, close or adjust them, which is especially helpful with higher windows, as you’re traveling or even with our shortening amount of daylight this time of year.”

Sleep smart

Tech definitely can be a help in your bed, thanks to a number of new advancements.

“We have adjustable bases for mattresses that can connect to Alexa or Google, so you can say ‘bedtime,’ and with a memory setting, the base immediately will adjust to how you prefer to sleep,” Gacke said.

“You can also use it control integrated LED lighting underneath the base, and some of the newer models even include an integrated white noise machine and relaxation motor designed to lull you to sleep.”

Many of the bases include charging capabilities.

And don’t forget the nightstands – there are many that also come with charging opportunities or can be customized for them.

“If they’re not already available, we often can incorporate that when we custom-build furniture,” Gacke said.

Outdoor options

The same smart light bulbs that are used to power your chandeliers or lamps can be incorporated into your outdoor living.

“We can help with many options for exterior lighting,” Gacke said. “And in many cases, you could add smart bulbs to give you control over things like patio and porch lights no matter where you are.”

Plus, bring in some music or listen to the game while you’re outside with Bluetooth-controlled speakers.

Evolving sound

Speaking of sound, the Montgomery’s design team will be watching what’s next in home audio as recent markets have shown new options for integrating speakers with furniture such as sofas and tables.

“They’re an interesting concept, so we’re looking forward to seeing how the speakers are incorporated into furniture design and what functionality customers will get from them,” Gacke said.

“I realize sometimes customers wonder about maintenance and durability as they invest in smart-home tech, so it’s important to know that we’re doing our homework before we connect you with options. The products we’ll show you have great warranties, and we also stand behind our products, so we’ll make it a nonissue for you to take advantage of the latest and greatest however it best fits your lifestyle.”

Start smarter

Ready to learn more about how your home could benefit from smart-home technology? Stop in any Montgomery’s location to take advantage of complimentary design services from the team of experts.