Creating a Central Smart Home Dashboard with Smart Displays

The Best Smart Display Devices for Central Control

While there are some off-the-shelf gadgets that you could use to control your smart home, you’ll get more out of your smart display if it’s personalised by a professional.

Some examples of professional-grade smart display solutions are:

1. Control4 Touchscreens – A popular option for fully integrated systems, making it possible to have a consistent interface across multiple displays in different rooms.
2. Crestron panels – Known for flexibility, you can create an elegant installation using Crestron touchscreen displays.
3. KNX screens – KNX offers numerous touch panels that you can use to control a smart home.

Although you can use basic retail devices, like the Echo Show or Next Hub Max, to create a simple dashboard, they have limited interoperability with some smart home systems. They also don’t offer the unified experience of a professional solution. A smart display device isn’t just a pretty screen. When configured correctly, it unifies your smart home experience. If you want a seamless system, consider investing in a professional-grade dashboard display rather than making do with the limited compatibility of an off-the-shelf solution.

Why Professionals Use Dedicated Smart Displays

When creating a professionally integrated smart home, installers typically prefer static wall-mounted smart display devices to app-based controllers because:

1. A screen is easier for guests and family to use
2. No reliance on mobile phones – no charge, no problem
3. Purpose-built displays create a clean aesthetic; as they’re built-in, they fit neatly into homes

Designing a Smart Home Dashboard That Works for Your Life

A CEDIA-certified professional can design your smart home dashboard interface so that it works in the best way for your lifestyle and needs.

Some of the things a Smart Home Professional will consider when tailoring a dashboard include:

1. Personal routines and behaviours – What will you use the dashboard for?
2. The number of zones – Is your dashboard controlling one zone or all of them? Do you need different displays in different zones?
3. Priority of systems – If parents turn the downstairs music off from the central panel, can their children still turn it back on from the displays in their bedrooms?
4. Ease of use – Can everyone who needs to use the dashboard do so easily? Are any adjustments needed to make it accessible?

A professional installer will also consider the position of the display and whether you’ll need multiple. For example, you might want to display a central dashboard that unifies your smart home in your hallway. Alternatively, or in addition, you might want multiple displays for different purposes. For example, a professional might advise having one near your front door to control security and external gates, and another in a bedroom focused on the room’s climate, lighting and shading.

Why Use a CEDIA Professional for Your Smart Home Display

A smart home dashboard is only ever as good as your overall system. To get the best smart display, you need a smart home system that integrates all your devices. With a unified set-up, you can control everything through your smart home display. 

A CEDIA-certified Smart Home Professional will help you select the right devices for your home so that everything works together. They’ll also be able to build a tailored user interface (UI) for your smart display device so that its controls suit your needs.

Another benefit of using a CEDIA member for your smart home display is that they’ll ensure long-term performance. They can even offer ongoing support with aftercare plans for updates and changes. If you buy a device off-the-shelf, it’s up to you to install it and adjust it, which can create unexpected challenges.

It’s important to remember that a smart dashboard display is much more than a screen. With the right set-up, it’s a powerful way of controlling your smart home. An expert installation will ensure your smart display will become a seamless part of your daily life. With professional guidance, you’ll soon be able to make changes that will enhance your comfort, security and entertainment at your fingertips.

The Future of Smart Home Dashboards

As with all smart home features, smart dashboards are continuing to evolve with the latest tech developments. AI and automation will change smart displays. One possible evolution is that future displays will soon suggest actions to you on their home screens based on your past actions. They’ll know what adjustments you want to make before you tell them! As smart homes become more complex with an increasing number of elements, there’s a growing need for intuitive interfaces. AI and automation will help here.

To get the most out of your smart home dashboard and future-proof your set-up, consider working with a certified integrator. While a professional installation will cost more than a DIY solution in the short term, it offers many benefits that can make it better value over time. After all, it’s usually more cost-effective to pay once for a professional installation than to splash out on DIY devices and pay for an integrator to fix incompatibility issues. If you’d like to work with a professional to realise your dashboard display vision, visit our CEDIA members directory.