Best Gadgets Inside the HGTV 2018 Smart Home

Smart Home of Our Dreams

The HGTV Smart Home for 2018 has all the tech amenities you could dream of, and we had a chance to go hands-on with all of them. Located in Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina, this 2,850-square-foot abode has smart toilets with customizable lights, a hidden game room with a crazy light show and smart mirrors that can show you the news and weather while you brush your teeth.

You can enter to win this prize package worth $1.6 million — which also happens to include a Mercedes GLC 350e plug-in hybrid — but you can also pick up some of these goodies for your own home. These are the coolest things we saw.

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Take a Tour

HGTV gave us behind-the-scenes access for its Smart Home for 2018. Here's a tour of all the coolest rooms and a look at our favorite gadgets throughout the house. My favorite: the hidden game room.

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Smart Touch Vanity Mirror (From $900)

Powered by your choice of Android or Windows, the Smart Touch Vanity Mirror (from $900) activates with the push of a button on the included remote. The Android version lets you fire up the browser to surf the web, check Twitter, the forecast and more via its built-in Wi-Fi connection. The whole mirror doubles as a giant touch screen, and you can run all sorts of apps, including YouTube. Take your pick from 20, 25 and 30 inches.

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Petnet Smartfeeder ($109)

We didn't get a chance to test this puppy out, as there were no dogs around at the HGTV home during our visit. But the Petnet Smartfeeder is pretty straightforward. You can feed Fido via your phone and schedule feedings using the app. The device holds up to 70 pounds of kibble, and you can get alerts when it's time to order more. It even integrates with the Nest Cam and Google Alexa.

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Kohler Numi (from $5,625)

There are toilets, and then there are toilet experiences. The Numi delivers the latter, starting with a motion-activated seat cover that opens when you step in front of it. It also includes a remote you can hang on the wall to control everything from the heat (seat and feet) and the color of the LED light on the base (there are eight options). Add in built-in music and the ability to stream your own tunes via Bluetooth, and you have potty nirvana.

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Simplisafe (From $229)

Home security can be intimidating, but SimpliSafe makes DIY security pretty easy. You can set up the system in just a few minutes: The base Foundation package includes a base station, keypad, entry sensor and motion sensor. Because SimpliSafe uses a cellular connection, it will continue to work if the Wi-Fi goes out, and the battery works for 24 hours if the power goes out. At $14.99, the 24/7 monthly service is reasonable, and a  separate $99 SimpliCam helps you keep an eye on your home and family, and alerts you when it picks up motion alerts.

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Murphy Door Hidden Bookshelf Door (From $499)

My favorite feature of the HGTV Smart Home is this very realistic bookshelf door. And that's because the Murphy Door contains a real set of shelves that can hold up to 300 pounds of books and other stuff. Pulling back the sliding door — which took a bit of effort, since the shelves in the demo home were full — revealed a hidden game room, complete with a TV, PS4 and PSVR. It's the ultimate escape — not to mention the best hide-and-seek spot ever.

CabiTV (From $999)

The highlight of the kitchen, the CabiTV lets you watch your favorite shows without taking up any counter space while you cook or entertain. This 1.9-inch deep TV replaces a cabinet door and lifts up so you can get at whatever you have stored behind it. When you're not using it, the CabiTV has a mirrored finish, and it comes with a waterproof remote.

Sleep Number i10 (From $4,499)

If you want the ultimate night's sleep — and a way to prevent your partner from snoring — behold the Sleep Number i10. You can adjust everything from firmness and comfort to the support on both sides of the bed to achieve the ideal resting position, and the bed will automatically adjust itself to help you get the best shut-eye possible. The i10 also lets you raise your partner's head with the push of a button on the remote.

Velux Skylights ($1,450 for skylights, $375 for blinds)

Whether you're looking to take a nap in the middle of the day or you just want to let in more fresh air, the Velux skylights are ready to do your bidding. Using a touch-screen remote, you can raise and lower the shades or open and close the windows in the bathroom and master bedroom in the HGTV Smart Home. There's even a built-in rain sensor, which will automatically close the skylights.

Kohler DTV+ Shower ($1,059 for interface, $5,316 for entire setup)

If you take a shower just to get clean, the Kohler DTV+ is not for you. With one touch-screen panel inside and one outside the Kohler DTV+ shower, you can control the water temperature, decide which heads to activate (there are seven in the HGTV house, including one overhead) and even stream music over Bluetooth. You can also control steam and lighting with the push of a button.

Control4 System (From $1,313)

Control4's easy-to-use home automation system lets you use an iPad or smartphone to play music in different rooms of the house, dim the lights and control the TVs. Think of it as the ultimate universal remote for your media room and beyond. Control4 also lets you create scenes and works with Alexa. The software communicates with a central controller box in your home.

Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm ($229)

Philips Hue can't do this. The Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm is a funky lighting system that can produce millions of colors via its modular triangular panels, which you mount on the wall. The optional Rhythm module can change the colors of the lights in real time based on ambient sounds, whether it's music or games blasting from your TV. You can also create scenes via the app.

Smart Tint (From $1,670)

The supersized bathroom in the HGTV house has a tub right next to a window, which gives you a nice view of the surrounding woods. But if you want to minimize the chances of someone peeking in, you can push a button on a remote to activate Smart Tint, a glass film that gives the windows a frosted look. In addition to privacy, Smart Tint offers 98 percent protection from UV rays. You can choose from seven color options.

Ocea Bathroom TV ($1,399)

Want to catch up on the news or watch the SportsCenter Top 10 Plays while you shower? Now you can. The Ocea bathroom TV from Evervue is waterproof and pumps out a bright picture, so you'll be able to see that monster dunk even if your shower is near a window. There's even a compartment for storing streaming devices like the Apple TV, Google Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV.

Nexus Small Hidden Storage Lift (from $1,652)

If a James Bond villain were to have a coffee maker in his kitchen, it would probably look like this.With the Nexus hidden storage lift, you can press a button and your coffee pot will start to emerge right from the countertop. The same system is used on the outside of the HGTV Smart Home to reveal a TV on the enclosed deck.

Storage Motion ShoeSelect

No, this isn't very high-tech, but it's still an awesome gadget to have in your house. This motorized shoe carousel rotates with the flick of a switch, putting your kicks, heels or whatever else you have within easy reach. The Storage Motion ShoeSelect is especially handy if you don't have a ton of closet space.

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Samsung The Frame 4K UHD TV ($1,999)

Why shouldn't you get use out of your TV when you're not binge-watching Netflix? The Frame from Samsung is a 55-inch set that displays artwork or your own photos when it's in standby mode, and you can choose from everything from still life shots to beautiful landscapes. A simple click on the remote will get you back into entertainment mode.

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