Growing demand for convenience, energy-efficiency, comfort and aesthetics in homes is propelling the Indian home automation market to new heights. Near double-digit growth in the next couple of years will take the smart home market to $ 9.2 billion, creating opportunities for a plethora of solution providers, according to Resurgent India and NAREDCO.Widening scopeAs the market expands, automation is gradually spanning every element of a home: lighting, sunshine, shade, temperature, security, entertainment, and so on. Aashita Chadha, Cofounder, The KariGhars, sees automation not just as a layer of useful technology to add to homes but as an invisible concierge that can allow a family to focus on living while it works in the background, intuitively taking care of all these elements.In a home called Gran Carmen, Chadha included smart lighting systems in every room to adjust brightness and mood with a single touch or voice command. The preset options are soft ambient tones for evenings and focused task lighting. Sensors help to regulate temperature and air-conditioning based on occupancy, to ensure comfort while optimising energy consumption. Biometric access, smart locks and real-time surveillance integrated with mobile alerts secure the property. Motorised curtains and blinds automatically syncing with natural light patterns or client preferences further enhance comfort while contributing to energy-efficiency. A centralised home-theatre and multiroom audio setup allows entertainment to follow residents from one space to another, creating an immersive living experience without clutter. All these systems are unified under a single app for effortless anytime, anywhere control. In The Tranquil Manor in Delhi, a home spanning a living room, dining area, lounge area and three bedrooms, the smart features include lighting systems designed to adapt to mood and function, HVAC automation for precise climate control with energy-efficiency based on occupancy and external conditions, and curtains programmed to filter natural light and be regulated with a single touch or voice command. Project designer Gurpreet Singh, Founder, Design Essence, says, “Automation enhances the quality of a space, making a home functional and sensorial, attuned to its users’ rhythms.” Sound integration, which ensures music and audio can travel across spaces, creating immersive atmospheres for intimate evenings or lively gatherings, is a vital part of smart homes, adds Jasleen Chalotra, Founder, Design Essence. “Smart devices and centralised controls merge convenience with sustainability, offering home occupants an elevated lifestyle experience.”In Concrete Heaven, a smart home, the curtains are programmed to respond to voice commands or natural daylight patterns, improving energy economy without compromising privacy. The HVAC systems are synchronised with occupancy sensors and outside temperatures. Digital door locks and covert cameras managed by a single app enable homeowners to monitor entries, control access remotely, and receive real-time notifications. Surmounting challengesImplementing smart homes comes with challenges like device compatibility, high initial costs and the need for seamless integration across multiple platforms, explains Singh. “Connectivity issues also pose hurdles.”Strong Wi-Fi coverage is essential for smooth functioning but not always available across the home, agrees Ekta Verma, Principal Interior Designer, ETOS Designs. “Not all devices communicate seamlessly, which is why selecting devices from the same ecosystem is often necessary to ensure integration.”Singh underscores the need for careful planning to ensure user-friendly interfaces for complex automation systems. “Adopting interoperable systems, prioritising cybersecurity and ensuring regular software updates also help surmount challenges,” he says. “Working closely with system integrators immediately following the layout planning stage helps ensure all the devices, hubs and control systems are included in the design development process,” says Chirag Gupta, Founder and Principal Architect, Sculpt Design Studio.Another challenge is to ensure home occupants of all age groups, including the elderly, are comfortable with the app-based or voice-controlled systems, adds Verma. According to Singh, user education plays a key role in maximising efficiency, while phased implementation allows gradual adaptation.Another best practice is to integrate smart technology without showiness, believes Vardha Aggarwal, Founder and Principal Architect, Sculpt Design Studio. She recommends preserving the simple architectural language of a space by carefully hiding important components, including DB boxes, routers and Wi-Fi hubs, under panelling or behind handmade cabinetry.Brand preferencesHome solutions and systems from brands like Creston and Lutron help add a new level of convenience for users, says Singh. “KNX Automation, ABB and Schneider Electric are among the best smart home solution providers,” according to Gupta.In Concrete Heaven, a residence, a fully programmable smart lighting system using KNX protocols offered a variety of lighting settings and dimming presets to accommodate different moods and times of day, shares Aggarwal. “Smart keypads from ABB and Schneider [instead of conventional switches] control the warmth and intensity of these lights, allowing the transition from a gentle ambient glow in the evening to brighter, more practical lighting during the day.”Meanwhile, Sapna Aggarwal, Founder, ANSA Architecture & Interiors, recommends the digital addressable lighting interface (DALI), a protocol for digital lighting control, for which some vendors have built extension modules to integrate other functions such as curtains and HVAC, to ensure control is truly at the home occupant’s fingertips, or even at the sound of their voice. “Whether it’s adjusting sunlight, setting the perfect audio mood, tightening security or curating a scene that matches your state of mind, the system transforms living into an effortless experience,” she says. “Every device speaks to DALI and DALI speaks back, ensuring seamless coordination between gadgets, moods and moments. It’s not just a smart home – it’s a home that thinks with you, offering comfort, safety and luxury under one roof. A home where every element listens, responds and flows in harmony with your lifestyle.”Verma suggests smart lighting systems from Philips Hue, Wipro, Lutron and OSRAM Lightify, with the options spanning dimmable, colour-changing and voice-controlled lighting solutions. “For automated climate control, we recommend solutions from Daikin and Google Nest. Yale, Godrej and Hikvision digital locks can be monitored through mobile apps. Amazon Alexa, Google Nest, Apple Home are control centres options to tie together the smart devices,” says Verma. “Motorised curtains or blinds from Somfy or Lutron blend luxury with practicality. In entertainment, Bose speakers paired with Samsung’s Frame TV have been a recent standout integration, enhancing functionality while complementing interiors.”Chadha recommends Dalton for curtain automation, Stoic touch switches, Yale biometrics and Flik Vision cameras.Cost mattersWhile the cost of integrating home automation depends on the scale and scope of the project, Gupta reckons it can vary between ₹ 20,000 and ₹ 1.5 lakh.Home automation can cost from ₹ 7-10 lakh for a midsized apartment to ₹ 20-40 lakh for larger homes, depending on the brand selection and level of automation, according to Verma.“Automating 800 square yards could cost about ₹ 40 lakh,” estimates Chalotra. Options at many price points ensure there’s something for everyone.  Quotes:Automation is not just a layer of useful technology to add to homes but an invisible concierge. - Aashita Chadha, Cofounder, The KariGharsAutomation enhances the quality of a space, making a home functional and sensorial. - Gurpreet Singh, Founder, Design EssenceKNX Automation, ABB and Schneider Electric are among the best smart home solution providers. - Chirag Gupta, Founder and Principal Architect, Sculpt Design StudioSound integration ensures music and audio can travel across spaces. - Jasleen Chalotra, Founder, Design EssenceSmart keypads from ABB and Schneider control the warmth and intensity of a smart lighting system. - Vardha Aggarwal, Founder and Principal Architect, Sculpt Design StudioDALI automation ensures control is truly at the home occupant’s fingertips, or at the sound of their voice. - Sapna Aggarwal, Founder, ANSA Architecture & InteriorsMotorised curtains or blinds from Somfy or Lutron blend luxury with practicality. - Ekta Verma, Principal Interior Designer, ETOS Designs