Style Your Home Like An HGTV Smart Home With These Elegant Finishes

The digital age is well upon us now, and while many argue over the merits and demerits of AI, smart homes — designed to make home life easier and more seamless — continue to rise. Home improvement television giant HGTV has spent the past 10 years of its sweepstakes focusing on homes featuring this technology. HGTV Smart Home is the network's annual giveaway, where winners win a tech-savvy home, a car, and a $100,000 cash prize. Fans can enter twice daily for their chance to win the package, but what makes it different from a regular home giveaway is that this focuses on producing a modern, tech-focused design, making the winner feel like they're firmly in the digital age. For example, in 2022, the home featured solar-powered skylight shades, a smart bed that monitors your body and environment, and embedded lighting in the deck stairs outside.

This, in turn, has inspired those watching at home to introduce some of these smart technologies into their own abodes. Smart home appliances come in all forms and sizes, making it easy to dabble in the experience. A tiny little tech detail can make a big difference in any room in the home, from a smart showerhead that controls water temperature and pressure to intelligent toilets that heat up the seats and have nightlights for better navigation. Whatever the smart need, here are some elegant and innovative ways to upgrade your home to look like an HGTV Smart Home.

In the decades since they first came to occupy space in our living rooms, manufacturers have found increasingly innovative ways to make the television sleeker, more interactive, and more discreet. 2023's Smart Home featured one of the most inconspicuous ways yet — the Samsung QLED Frame TV. Smart technology may make a home more digitally connected, but it doesn't have to compromise aesthetics. The 75-inch Frame TV featured in HGTV's 2023 sweepstake is one of the most versatile, thanks to its Art Mode option. In it, owners can access a plethora of artworks to be displayed on a carousel when it is not in use. The screen also displays these in matte mode, making the TV look less like a digital screen and more like a canvas. You can even choose a customized frame, solidifying its artwork status.

However, if you don't have $3,000 to spend on a TV, you can try recreating something similar on the one you already have at home. Most TVs have a slideshow feature that pops up when the TV goes to sleep. Each brand and model has a Screensaver button in a different place, but you can typically find it by hitting the Settings icon and going to either "Display & Sounds," "Theme," "Recognition & Sharing," or something similar. Choose the slideshow feature, and you will be asked to choose images from your Gallery. Set the slide speed to slow, and you're done! If you can't find the correct settings on your TV, you can also get the Artcast app, which has more than 400 galleries you can choose from. Download it onto your TV, and select the painting that best fits your aesthetic.

Picture it: You're in your kitchen trying a new recipe for the first time. Your hands are full, your countertops are packed, and your neck is hurting from having to hunch over to check the recipe as you go. In 2019, HGTV's Smart Home makeover came up with an exciting solution for this and many other problems in one. They did this by installing a smart screen above the stove. Called the GE Profile Kitchen Hub, it retails for $1,169 and offers an easier way to cook while keeping your recipe in a convenient place. It also allows the chef to make and receive video calls easily so as not to disrupt your cooking. The screen operates like an iPad or smart TV, with a virtual assistant that can take and execute verbal commands, which is convenient when your hands are full. Moreover, if you're a reluctant cook who often gets bored with the process, this smart screen and ventilation combo from GE offers you streaming options. That's right. You can now watch your favorite shows while stirring your famous carbonara sauce.

If that price tag is a bit too high for you, you can recreate something similar in your home with the help of an under-cabinet tablet holder. You can buy one anywhere from Amazon to Walmart, choosing between wood or metal materials. It's not as sleek and integrated as the GE Profile Kitchen Hub, and you need to own a tablet for this to work, but it's a great workaround. For example, a maple wood version on Amazon is only $87, and it can double as a cookbook holder.

One of HGTV's 2023 smart features was the Sleep Number Climate360 smart bed, which retails for $9,000 for a Queen. It can regulate the temperature to keep you warm or cool depending on your (and your partner's) body temperature throughout the night. But that's not all this intelligent mattress can do. It can simultaneously adjust both sides of the bed without disrupting either occupant — knowing when to raise or lower the head of the bed to stop your partner from snoring, warm or cool the feet, regulate body temperature, and even adjust the firmness of the mattress accordingly. It can also warm your feet and cool your body simultaneously, be adjusted into Zero Gravity mode, which soothes your nervous system by lifting your legs and tilting your head, and has preset modes for watching TV or reading.

However, this isn't the only smart bed on the market. Depending on your sleep needs and preferences, you can find a smart bed that offers motion and firmness adjustments, temperature calibration, and other features for better sleep — and a lower price point. The Eight Sleep Pod 3 smart mattress is $3,395 for a Queen, and it tracks your resting heart rate, automatically changes the temperature based on your comfort preferences and sleep phases, offers sleep and health reports, and has an integrated vibration and thermal alarm that can target just one side of the bed. There is also the Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Bed, which retails for $3,999 for a Queen. While it has adjustable firmness you can control, it also has integrated technology that responds to your movements and automatically adjusts firmness while you sleep. It also tracks your sleeping patterns, breathing, and heart rate, sending a report to your phone. While the Climate360 smart bed has more features, these options still give you technology-aided sleep.

Magic mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all? With the interactive mirror, you might just get a verbal answer in return. The 2022 sweepstakes included smart mirrors in the house, which are mirrors that connect to your phone via WiFI or Bluetooth and have a digital display on the screen. The ones used in the giveaway had shadowless lights that help with applying makeup and motion-sensing nightlights. It's also Aleza-enabled, allowing the user to play music, get the weather forecast, and adjust the lighting with their voice.

While HGTV didn't share which specific brand was used, you can get a similar one by investing in the Homeworks Smart Bathroom Mirror. Sold for $392 on Amazon, it is Alexa-integrated but can also be operated via your phone. It has Bluetooth speakers for music, a night light, and color-changing LED lights that let you pick whether you want cool light, warm light, soft light, and so on. It also has an anti-fog pad, ensuring it will stay visible even after the steamiest of showers.

What makes a shower smart? In the case of the 2023 smart home, the detachable wireless speaker in the shower head is one answer. Called the Moxie Showerhead and Speaker, it retails for $178 at Kohler and comes in three finishes: Matte black, brushed nickel, and chrome. It is Alexa voice-activated, allowing you to switch songs or podcasts without using your wet and soapy hands. The speaker also detaches, letting you take it to the pool or beach. Because of that, it has two different sound settings: "shower" and "normal."

Interestingly, 2023 wasn't the first time a smart shower was installed in one of the sweepstakes homes. While the overhead shower feature in this year's home allows users to play music while sudsing up, there is far more than a smart shower can do. The 2022 shower fixture – Kohler's DTV+ Smart Showering System — had LED screens that allow you to control sound, water pressure, and temperature and offer chroma- and hydrotherapy options. As if that's not enough, this fixed shower head uses a technology that combines air with water to create larger water droplets for an enriched experience. You might have had great showers in the past, but they're likely to pale compared to a smart shower experience.

As more of our appliances and mod-cons go the smart route, it's no surprise that every fixture in our home can be in some way updated and upgraded to meet our needs. Even when we're not aware we need them. Take the EIR smart toilet, for instance. This 2023 HGTV smart home feature boasts advanced technology to elevate the toilet-going experience. Made by Kohler and retails for $5,325, one of its eye-catching features is its hands-free motion sensor which allows you to open and close the toilet without touching the lid. Additionally, seating with adjustable temperatures, warm-air drying, and adjustable sprays makes for a comfier experience. Plus, a handy LED night light in the bowl makes it easy to make your way to and from the toilet at night. The sleek design and elongated toilet bowl give this a luxurious feel that adds to the elegance of your smart bathroom. Not to mention the automatic deodorization addition to keep the space fresh after every use.

While smart toilets are pricey across the market, some are more affordable than others. Take the Vovo Smart Toilet, for example. It retails for $1,410 and has adjustable water temperature and pressure, heated seating, a drying function, and LED lighting. Plus, you can control it either through the remote control or your phone, adding an extra layer of ease.

Some might argue that one of the true luxuries of the sleeping experience is not having to get up to manually pull back one's curtains in the morning or shut them at night. If this is your truth, you'll be glad to hear that you don't have to, thanks to automatic skylights! As featured in the 2023 sweepstakes, the Velux Solar Powered Fresh Air Skylights in the bedroom have smartphone-controlled room-darkening shades for a great night's rest. The shades are controlled by solar power, which means you won't be adding to your energy bill for this sleek feature. Plus, since they're "Fresh Air" skylights, they also open to allow circulation. But thanks to their built-in rain sensor, they will automatically close if they sense a drizzle or downpour is imminent.

These particular skylights cost between $2,800 – $5,700 to install, or $2,000 – $3,600 to replace an existing one. But since they utilize solar power, they're eligible for a 30% federal tax credit. However, these prices are just estimates. They can lower or raise depending on where you live, what window size you need, or where you buy them from. For example, on Roofing4Us, one Velux window costs between $800 – $1,000.

As our homes are getting greener — figuratively and literally — so are our thumbs. Many homeowners are embarking on journeys into plant parenthood at an exciting time. With workarounds for such limitations as space and access to natural light, it's a great time to get into gardening. One of the exciting innovations in smart gardening combines solutions for space, soil, and water through hydroponic gardening. This gardening system uses water rather than dirt to grow plants and is a great option for indoor planting. In the case of HGTV's 2021 smart home renovation, the designers chose the Rise Garden Indoor Hydroponic System, which retails for $749. The garden station lets you grow up to 36 plants and has a smartphone-controlled lighting system that allows you to grow vegetables throughout the year. It has an adjustable grow light, app-controlled temperature and watering schedule, and a plant diary to keep track of how your crops are doing. Plus, it's voice-controlled, allowing you to request changes from the couch. And while the HGTV smart home had this in the pantry, this self-contained pseudo-garden can be placed anywhere in your home. 

If you're looking for a more affordable option, try a smaller version like the Amorning system, which clocks in at $69 on Amazon. You can grow up to six herbs, fruits, or veggies, and it has an integrated app that lets you control the light conditions and monitor water levels. Plus, it's Alexa enabled, allowing you to make changes hands-free. 

As we try our best to incorporate more sanitary practices in our lives post-lockdown, there are still some areas we can improve. Enter the touchless faucet. Already big with modern public restrooms, this innovative design works through sensory detection, meaning there's no contact with the tap. In some cases, this could also be a sustainable approach to water conservation and lower energy bills.

In 2021, when the world was still freshly reeling from the chaos of the pandemic, this was front of mind. HGTV's in-house smart home designer Tiffany Brooks must have thought the same because this was a key feature in the smart kitchen of the renovated home. She chose Kohler's Graze faucet, which retails for $826 and is voice-activated, responding to various commands controlling water pressure and quantities. A simple wave across the tap turns the faucet on and off, making it more sanitary than contact taps. Additionally, the touchless faucet remains at the temperature it was set to during its last use. This means you don't have to try to get it back to the warm or cold temperature every time you use it.

If you want something more budget-friendly, try Kohler's Setra faucet for $336. While it doesn't have voice-activated capabilities, it is touchless. All you need to do is put your hands or a pot in front of it, and the water will start pouring. Once you move away from the spout, it will automatically turn off.   

One of the most intriguing features of the 2022 smart home sweepstakes was the voice-controlled lighting fixtures above the kitchen island. These three pendant lights can be adjusted for brightness as well as turned off and on by a simple command. What makes these fixtures even more exciting is how the brass coating gives them a vintage feel, making them an even more unassuming smart gadget. 

While HGTV didn't share which lighting system they used, there are many smart bulbs and switches to choose from; the trick is to figure out the best combination for your home and lighting needs. A major fan favorite is the Philips Hue light system, which supports Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. To set up a smart light switch, you need to download your voice assistant's platform app. Apple has HomeKit, Alexa has Skills, and Google has Home. Once that is set up, you then need a corresponding speaker, such as Amazon's Echo or Siri's HomePod. Then get Philips Hue light bulbs, which cost $44.99 a bulb, and download the Philipps app. Integrate the Philipps app with your voice assitant's platform, and you're good to go! If that price feels steep, you can only use it for strategic spots in your house. For example, try adding them to your foyer, kitchen island, or recessed lights nearest the TV.