Halloween decorations seem to become more and more elaborate each year. The number of lights and inflatable creatures populating the front lawns and porches of the nation continuously grows — there are even television specials and competitions dedicated to haunted home makeovers.
One of the most effective ways to elevate your scare game to a pro level is by incorporating the smart home devices that you already own. These potent little gadgets can be utilized in a number of highly effective ways to enhance the atmosphere of both the indoor and outdoor environment of your home to create the best Halloween experience ever.
Here are a few ideas on how to get the most out of your smart devices this Hallow’s Eve and make your haunted house the talk of the neighborhood.
Shop this article: Amazon Echo, Ring video doorbell and Google Nest Doorbell
Besides a smartphone, you will need a few devices to create your holiday magic this Halloween. Following is a suggested list of items to help get you started.
The Amazon Echo smart speaker has 3D sound that will help you create the maximum spooky effect, and the thousands of voice commands will give you control over your whole home.
This Ring video doorbell works with Alexa and offers not only excellent audio and video quality, but it also offers motion detection, making it perfect for all of your Halloween needs.
Another popular option is the Google Nest Doorbell, which offers spooky Halloween sounds when used with the Nest app. When someone next rings the doorbell, it'll play a randomized sound such as an evil laugh, a howling werewolf, a cackling witch and more.
The TP-Link Tapo Smart Plug Mini is a top-of-the-line smart plug that is fully compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience.
These smart bulbs work with Alexa and support dimming and color settings through voice control so you can create the perfect mood for your Halloween festivities.
Philip’s Alexa-compatible Outdoor Smart Spot Light kit gives you up to 16 million colors and shades so you can paint your outdoor environment in the ideal hues for the spooky season.
This portable Bluetooth speaker can quickly be positioned wherever you'd like—behind a tree, in the bushes, etc. It can play for up to 12 continuous hours (more than enough for Halloween) and even has a built-in light if you'd like to add a strobe effect to the festivities.
One of the most important elements to executing a good jump scare is the timing. The camera on a smart doorbell can clue you in to the perfect moment to trigger a clap of thunder, a scream, or a barking dog sound effect. Even better, you can use the two-way audio feature on your smart doorbell along with a creepy voice and a simple "Boo!" to give all your visitors a significant startle.
Think of your smart plugs as remotely controlled on/off switches. You can use your smartphone, virtual assistant, or smart home device to turn specific smart outlets on and off whenever you desire.
For instance, if you'd like different lights to illuminate your home at designated times or intervals to create a simple home light show (both inside and out), you can do that manually or via an external trigger, such as a motion detector.
Or, if you'd prefer your fog machine to turn on the instant anyone steps onto your porch, that kind of wizardry is effortless to perform with a motion detector or a doorbell camera and a smart plug. The many ways you can use a smart plug to trigger specific devices are only limited by your creativity.
Most people think it's the sudden turning on of a light that produces the best reaction. However, it's far more effective to turn all the lights off, plunging an unsuspecting visitor into absolute darkness without warning, especially if it is accompanied by a sinister laugh that emanates from behind a nearby bush.
Alternatively, flashing on an orange or red living room light can make a frightful silhouette suddenly visible in your front bay window, giving your visitors a delightful scare. However, if you don't want to terrify your little costumed guests, color-changing smart lights can be used to subtly alter the atmosphere of your home.
Internal speakers can provide the soundtrack to your Halloween party and make every room in your house part of the festivities. However, a far more fun (and scary) application of Bluetooth speakers is to cleverly hide a few outdoor models in strategic places so you can produce a spooky sound such as shuffling footsteps, groans, rustling leaves, or even whispers in the dark that are triggered whenever people approach your home.
The key component to creating the most effective ghostly experience is the controller. The type of controller (or the combination of controllers) you decide to use is ultimately up to you as each has its benefits. You could even choose multiple ways to trigger your Halloween effects if desired.
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Allen Foster writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
