These 5 tech solutions will turn your backyard into an even better place to hang out with family and friends. They'll let you set the right mood for any activity or time of day.
Summertime in Quebec flies by fast, so it's important to make the most of good times with family and friends. A wide range of connected technology is available to make your backyard, deck or garden even smarter. How? By letting you easily adjust your lighting, audio and more!
1. Install smart garden lights
Planting and maintaining flower beds takes a lot of time and hard work. But it all pays off when it's time to admire the results—which will be even more impressive with some beautiful lighting.
Manufacturers now offer easy-to-install stake lights that will allow you to achieve just the right effect. Thanks to wireless technology, you can choose the colour of your lights and make them turn on and off automatically. It's a great example of smart ambient lighting.
Philips Hue Lily spot light 3-pack, $349.99.
2. Hide your speakers in plain sight
Afternoons by the pool with your friends are even more fun with a good playlist. There are lots of ways to get good-quality audio into your backyard and create the perfect sound environment.
The range of available options includes rechargeable wireless speakers. These have two minor drawbacks—you need to make sure the battery is sufficiently charged to ensure uninterrupted listening, and you must move them each time you charge them.
Speakers that can be hidden in your flower beds offer a more practical solution, as they don't have to be moved to and from the house. There are lots of models available, including some with integrated lighting.
Our favourite is a pair of Bluetooth speakers from OSD Audio. They blend right into the background because they're disguised as big rocks! They can be permanently hooked up to an outdoor power outlet. That way, you'll be able to enjoy the summer's top tunes. Best of all, your guests will be none the wiser and wonder where the music's coming from!
Outdoor Bluetooth speakers by OSD Audio, $230.
3. Automate your deck's ambient lighting
Innovations in LED technology have given rise to a wide range of ambient lighting solutions. Products such as rope lights and light curtains can give your evenings on the deck a whole new look.
Controlling lights manually can be tedious so it's much easier to use a smart Wi-Fi plug. You can control your lighting remotely and even have your lights turn on automatically at sunset if you want!
We've chosen the Kasa smart Wi-Fi outdoor plug by TP-Link. You can use it to control two sets of lights individually. It is the perfect complement to these 5 technological tools for the BBQ.
TP-Link Kasa smart Wi-Fi outdoor plug, $30.
4. Create your very own drive-in theatre
Do you have fond memories of watching movies under the stars at a drive-in theatre? Are you less than impressed with the movie nights in your local park?
Technology has progressed to the point where you can easily set up your own backyard movie theatre. All you need is an outdoor projector and screen. These two items are available in a wide range of price points.
We recommend choosing the best high-definition projector (720p or 1080p resolution) that fits in your budget. The only limitation is that you must wait for the sun to go down to get the best results.
This inflatable screen offers a picture of up to 16 feet—that's seven times bigger than a 65-inch TV screen. It's bound to impress movie lovers of all ages!
Vevor inflatable movie screen, $201.99.
If you prefer to listen to your movies indoors, here are 5 ways to improve your home theater.
5. Maintain a beautiful green space with a smart watering system
There's nothing better than sitting in the yard when it's at its greenest! Ensuring a lush green lawn and healthy trees and plants requires a good watering strategy that respects local water-use regulations.
There are smart watering systems available that let you automate and control everything from your phone. For example: LinkTap G2S irrigation technology lets you connect a series of water hoses to a Wi-Fi-connected valve.
You can use the LinkTap app to set the best watering schedule based on your needs and municipal bylaws. The system will even detect rainfall and can skip watering when it's not needed. The LinkTap G2S is a worthy investment that can help you manage your water consumption.
LinkTap G2S wireless water timer, $179.
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