These days, you can never be too safe. Fortunately, there’s a smart security camera for pretty much every use. These nifty devices can cover every square inch of your home, giving you a sense of security and peace of mind.
While you don’t have to go overboard and place a smart camera in every nook and cranny of your home, there are some strategic placements that optimize their effectiveness. Here’s a look at the best places to install a smart camera.
1. Front Door
Intruders often try to break in through side entrances or windows, but the front door is also a common point of entry. That’s why it’s important to secure your front door with smart devices. Given that this is such a key location, consider using either a floodlight camera that records high-resolution videos for easy surveillance or a video doorbell that allows you to interact with visitors remotely while also recording all the activity outside.
2. Living Room
It’s a good idea to secure areas you commonly use, like your living room, with a smart security camera. By installing a discreet indoor camera with two-way communication—the type of camera that allows you to see and communicate with people and pets in the space, you’ll be able to keep an eye on the people walking in and out of this space and speak remotely to visitors and your furry friends.
Keep in mind that your living room is likely to have many blind spots. And since it is one of the most used rooms in the house, you want to ensure that your smart camera’s placement offers strategic coverage with a clear view of all the entrances and your most valuable possessions.
3. Nursery
If you’re a parent, it’s a good idea to purchase smart gadgets that will make parenting easier and help you keep your child safe. At the very least, you should have a dedicated baby monitor equipped with night vision video monitoring and sound alerts to keep a check on them.
A smart video baby monitor will offer a real-time visual feed, allowing you to check in on your baby without disturbing their sleep. More importantly, it will alert you to any unusual movement or sounds in the vicinity of the baby, so you can respond promptly to any needs or potential threats.
4. Home Office
If you work out of your home often or have a dedicated home office, make sure to install a discreet smart camera with privacy shutters, so it provides a good balance between efficient surveillance and privacy.
Given that smart cameras usually offer real-time, remote surveillance, you’ll also be able to keep an eye on your workstation while you are away from your desk. While this may not be a necessity if you don’t work with sensitive data, it’s indispensable if you handle confidential information or proprietary projects.
5. Backyard and Pool
People sometimes struggle to incorporate smart technology in the outdoor areas of their homes. But if you have kids or pets or even just like hosting people, it’s important to secure your backyard and pool with the right types of smart cameras. Typically, cameras that are designed for these places will be weatherproof, enabling them to record footage despite rain, wind, and intense sun exposure.
These cameras also usually have long-range motion sensors, which help capture better footage. Once you’ve purchased your smart cameras, ensure that they are strategically placed to cover pool perimeters, play areas in the backyard, and access points leading to your home from the patio.
6. Garage
A camera is a must-have smart gadget for your garage. While the garage is often overlooked, it’s an important place to have a smart camera since you’re likely to have expensive possessions, like your vehicle and tools, in this space. What’s more, if your garage is connected to your home, securing it with a smart camera will also prevent unauthorized entry. Make sure that the smart camera you place in the garage covers all blind spots.
If this is unavoidable with just one camera, it’s best to have multiple cameras with overlapping feeds to ensure nothing is missed. When shopping for a camera for your garage, make sure to opt for one that has effective night vision and motion-sensing capabilities with a high resolution.
7. Windows
Apart from your main door, the windows, especially those located on the sides, are the most obvious points of entry for burglars. To secure these places and have clear visuals of any activity outside your window, it's best to purchase a window-mounted smart camera.
The camera should be capable of capturing wide-angle shots and have a motion sensor. Keep in mind, though, that significant window glare and reflections diminish image and video quality greatly. If you face this issue, you can place the camera closer to the glass or use motion-activated lights outside, so the exterior lights up in case of any motion, helping the camera capture a better shot.
Alternatively, if the camera comes with a light that is creating the glare, check if there is an option to turn off the light alone. If none of these solutions work, you could mount the camera outside the window.
8. Driveway
A driveway camera can help you monitor people and traffic coming in and going out of your home, helping deter car thieves and prevent break-ins. This is all the more important if you travel frequently since you’ll be able to keep an eye on your driveway from your smartphone at any time.
When purchasing a camera for your driveway, make sure to buy one that is weatherproof, has night vision capabilities, and records HD footage, so you can keep track of all activity, day and night.
Ensuring Smarter Security With the Right Cameras
Smart security cameras can go a long way in ensuring that you and your property remain safe. As you navigate this purchase process, it’s vital to do your research and pick the right type of camera for the part of your home you’re trying to secure.
Make sure to also purchase cameras with features that meet specific needs, whether that’s a weatherproof rating for a camera in the backyard or night-vision capability for your garage. With the right camera choices and strategic placements, you’ll be able to create a custom security solution for your space.