SALT LAKE CITY — It’s hard to deny we live in a rapidly changing world as technology advances and we try to keep up.

When it comes to the smart home market, it seems there are always new additions and variations of products, but knowing whether or not you need them can often be a guessing game.

The following is a list of five smart home gadgets that will actually improve your everyday life and give you more time to focus on other projects:

Smart thermostat

Every smart home needs a smart thermostat to provide the best cooling and heating services, and the Nest thermostat has received some of the highest ratings in its field. The new model boasts a larger screen, stylish profile and brand-new features.

It also uses built-in sensors to track movements in the home and adjusts its heating and cooling control accordingly. The device connects to Wi-Fi so you can make manual changes from your smartphone or tablet. Although the installation process seems finicky, this thermostat can work wonders in your home and keep your house at the perfect temperature.

Smart TV

Though they've been around for awhile, no TV lover's home in 2017 is complete without a 4K television. To be 4K, the television must have a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels. In layman's terms, it means the picture will be four times clearer than an HD TV.

Samsung’s 55-inch 4K TV (UN55KU6600) has a curved screen and internet connectivity so you can access your online streaming sites including Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime and more. Make sure you look into a television service that provides 4K too, however, so this eye-catching technology doesn't go to waste.

Smart plug

We've all spent a large sum of cumulative hours wondering if we switched off the hair straightener, the iron or a lamp, expecting to come back to a small fire or an angry roommate.

WeMo’s Mini Wi-Fi Smart Plug by Belkin fixes this problem while still looking stylish and remaining affordable at under $40. The plug allows you to control your devices from the free app on your phone or tablet, anywhere in the world. While vacationing, you can turn on lights to deter burglars or restore your peace of mind as you wonder if the iron is ablaze.

Related Stories:

How to add value to an old home using automation upgrades

While location may be a home’s key selling point, technology is likely a close second, and spring is the real estate market's time to shine. Here are some easy home automation upgrades to add value to your home.

Smart kitchen scale

Smart technology is revolutionizing the way we cook, too. The Drop Kitchen Scale is a nonslip silicone scale that links with your iOS device to help measure ingredients.

Along with the scale, you gain access to an interactive recipe app with a similar layout to Pinterest that stores hundreds of one-bowl recipes for you to follow. The smart system also works out scaling for you, so there's no more bad math resulting in ruined desserts.

Smart meat thermometer

Many of these smart devices were invented to relieve our 21st-century worries, and the iDevices’s iGrill aims to solve the problem of under or overcooking meats. We all know the problem of opening an oven or grill door to check the temperature and releasing the precious hot air, disturbing the environment inside.

With this device, you can sit back and enjoy your Thanksgiving, summer barbecue or Sunday afternoon using the accompanying app to make sure your meat is cooked to perfection.

When looking to purchase smart devices for your home, make sure you do your research on any products you may be considering, as some can be exceptionally expensive. However, there are many easy solutions to frustrating problems, just a click away.

Related topics