As the technology world continues to evolve, so too does the way we live and work. With that in mind, here are 25 gifts that will help make your loved one’s home smarter in 2022.

  1. A smart speaker: Amazon’s Echo or Google Home are both great options for a smart home starter. Not only can they control your lights and thermostat, but they can also play music and answer questions.
  2. A security camera: Whether you want a indoor or outdoor camera, there are plenty of options available on the market today. Not only will this give you peace of mind when you’re not at home, but it can also be used to keep an eye on your kids or pets while you’re away.
  3. An internet-connected smoke detector: If there is one thing that is becoming increasingly common in homes across the country, it’s internet-connected smoke detectors! These devices not only provide peace of mind by warning you if there is a fire, but they can also send notifications to family members if something goes wrong while you’re away.
  4. A smart water meter: If your loved one lives in an apartment or condo where water usage is billed by the month, then a smart water meter may be a great gift for them! This device connects to their Wi-Fi and tells them how much water they have used each day so they can better manage their consumption habits.
  5. An Amazon Echo Dot: If your loved one already has an Amazon Echo device, then an Echo Dot may be a good option for them as well! This small device plugs into an outlet and allows them to control their devices using voice commands (including setting alarms and turning off lights).
  6. A Nest Learning Thermostat: Nest is known for its high-quality home products, so if your loved one wants to upgrade their thermostat then a ..

A Word on Gifting Smart Home Products

Most of our gift guides don’t require a lengthy introduction, but smart home products are slightly different from other tech products like Bluetooth speakers or pair of touchscreen gloves.

First, you must consider how the recipient will use the devices. Giving your brother a pack of smart security cameras you know he’ll jump at the chance to set up is a lot different than giving your grandmother a video doorbell that requires her to use additional equipment like a smartphone or a smart display. She might love it if you gift her both together and set them up, but it’s something to consider.

Second, and related to that grandmother dilemma, it helps to know what (if any) smart home gear the gift recipient already has. If you know your friend is all in on the Alexa platform or the Google Home platform, it helps you pick out gifts that will mesh with their gear.

The same goes for other sub-platforms within the smart lighting. If you’ve heard them raving about how much they like their Nanoleaf or Philips Hue lights, buying them something from those companies is a slam dunk.

If you know they have smart home stuff but are unsure what platform they use or what gear they have, it’s easy to find out. Start a conversation with them about smart homes and ask them if they recommend the gear they have.

We can’t speak for everybody, but around here, we love talking about our smart home gear and will happily rattle off everything under the sun in our homes and what we think about it.

Smart Home Speakers

Smart home speakers are an all-around slam-dunk when gifting smart home gear. They have been, and remain, the most popular smart home product category, and for good reason.

They’re inexpensive, fun to use, and who doesn’t like on-demand music and voice-based smart home integration parked anywhere they want it in their home?

Smart Displays

Smart displays are just about as popular as smart speakers, and for a good reason. Combine the interface of a small tablet with a smart speaker, and you have an all-in-one station for everything from listening to music to watching cooking videos in the kitchen.

Smart Lights

While smart speakers and smart displays might be the most common smart devices around, they are followed closely by smart lights. And when it comes to flashy fun, you really can’t beat smart lights. From mood lighting to syncing the colors to music to changing the lights for the holidays, you really can’t beat the wow factor of smart lighting.

Smart Security Cameras

Installing security cameras used to be a huge hassle, and you wouldn’t give somebody something requiring them to hire a professional to drill holes in their home and run cable. But now you can get smart cameras that run for months on a single charge, no cable pulling required.

RELATED: How to Mount Your Smart Cameras Without Drilling

Smart Plugs and Energy Monitors

Smart plugs might seem like, well, not a very exciting gift compared to a sleek smart speaker or a cool set of smart light panels. But it’s all about knowing your recipient and smart plugs and related accessories can be a perfect gift for a person who would like to make an existing thing in their home (like a table lamp or a window fan) smart.

They’re also a great gift for the curious folks on your list who love knowing how much a certain thing was used or how much power it used in a given month. And they’re great to have around during the holiday season!

Looking for more gift ideas? Take a look at our other gift guides:

25 Gifts Your Techy Friends Actually Want in 2022 The 25 Best Geeky Stocking Stuffers for 2022 The 25 Best Gifts for Cutting the Cord for 2022 The 25 Best Tech Gifts Under $100 for 2022 25 Gifts for the iPhone User in Your Life for 2022 25 Gifts for the Android User in Your Life for 2022 25 Awesome Board Game Stocking Stuffers for Under $25 in 2022