There are many exciting options for smartening up your home: plasma TVs, "invisible" speakers, security cameras that plug into the Internet and touchscreens that operate everything including the kitchen sink are just a few of the cool products that can easily capture a homeowner's fancy. But the key is to select items that will suit your lifestyle and fit into your family's routines. Remember, as long as the electronics you choose enhance the comfort, convenience and enjoyment of your home, you can't go wrong.

Music and a lighting system can liven up an outdoor space. Outdoor entertaining is more popular than ever. However, it takes more than a well-manicured lawn to get the most relaxation (or entertainment) value out of your yard, patio and deck. Outdoor speakers can deliver music to the area and alert you to guests at the front door. Even your computer can join you outside. With a wireless network, you can surf the web alfresco. There are systems that can help you control the landscape lights, the front gate, the sprinklers, the spa and the pool – all with a simple press of a button.

Entertaining
It just isn't a party without music. But before you blow up your amplifier, consider connecting your CD player, AM/FM tuner and other components to a whole-house music system.

This type of system can spread music throughout the exterior of your home just as easily as it can throughout the interior. All it takes is some careful planning and the right kind of equipment. Naturally, you'll need speakers for the exterior. Just about every speaker manufacturer offers outdoor models made to withstand the elements. Think about where your guests will probably gather, and position one or two speakers there. Popular hangouts include the swimming pool, the barbeque area and the deck.

Outdoor speakers come in a variety of designs, including those that are meant to be mounted to the exterior of the house and others that can be stationed in the ground. Your installer should bury the speaker wiring in the ground before top soil or grass is laid.

Finally, you'll need a way to control the music from outside. The control can be as simple as a knob that adjusts the volume or a keypad that allows you to select a song from your music library. Whatever type of controller you choose, be sure it's protected from the weather.

For evening gatherings, you'll need more than just the standard motion-triggered lights for your backyard. Fixtures planted around the perimeter of patios, decks and other social spots can help define the area and create a festive atmosphere. Plus, it'll make it easier for your guests to find their way around. By putting the lights on a control system, you won't even have to worry about turning them on and off. As the sun sets, the system can trigger the lights. Then at a pre-selected time it can shut them off.

Relaxing
The same music system that can liven up a party is also there to help you relax. Think about what sorts of activities you like to do outside to unwind. Be sure to consider these pastimes when your installer lays out a plan for the outdoor speakers and controls. For instance, you may want to have a keypad within reach of your lounge so that you can control the music without ever getting up.
Interruptions always seem to occur when you're finally enjoying what little free time you have. Although you'd like to ignore the interruptions, your sensible side sprints into the house to answer the phone, or the door, or perhaps your kids. With a telephone system, you can handle every situation from outside the house. You just need to remember to take the handset with you. By pressing the right buttons, you can use the phone as an intercom to attend to household needs.

Staying in Touch
Even when you can't get outside, there are ways you can feel connected to your outdoor space. Surveillance cameras can show you what's happening in the backyard, around the swimming pool and in the garden. Your installer can set up a system that displays the scenes on the screen of any TV in the house. For the widest view possible, use cameras that have pan, tilt and zoom features. From anywhere in the house, you can check up on the dog or see what kind of job your friends are doing with the barbecue. The cameras can also provide security. For example, if you hear something rustling around in the yard, you can check into it without having to venture outside. Noises sound the most suspicious at night, so be sure your cameras can see in the dark.

The Other Spaces

Remember the kids' rooms, closets, hallways and other areas when selecting electronics for your home.

When you're choosing electronics for your home, don't forget about smaller and lesser-used areas such as closets, pantries, hallways, entrances, guest bedrooms and even—heaven forbid – the kids' rooms. The impact technology can have on these spaces may not be immediately obvious, but imagine the convenience of having the closet lights pop on automatically as you walk into the area with your hands full or the peace of mind you'll get from having motion sensors in the hallway that leads to your bedroom. Even unfinished areas such as the basement and attic are candidates for technology. Should you ever convert the attic into an office, for example, you'll need the appropriate outlets and jacks for your PC, telephone and other equipment. And the best time to put those outlets and jacks in is while your house is being built. Here are a few of our suggestions to ensure that every space gets the technology it needs.

Closets
Closets can be a handy to store your audiovisual equipment. Where possible it's a good idea to build a closet exclusively for technology. Inside it, you can stash the audiovisual sources and switching to feed music to speakers and video to monitors throughout your house. Also consider adding motion-triggered lighting to all of your traditional closets. The lights will snap on automatically as you step inside or open the door.

Kids' Rooms
A good way to keep tabs on TV and stereo usage is by connecting your kids' TVs with the DVD player and other sources in your home's main media area. You'll know exactly what movie or CD they're playing and can stop the show at any time.

A telephone system can help you curb your children's time on the phone. Many systems even let you restrict what calls come in and go out. And include your children's rooms on your in-home computer network. This set-up will enable them to surf the web at high speed (great for homework) and will give them access to a printer, hard drives and other peripherals that are kept in your home office.

Pantry
The kitchen has become a popular spot for a computer. However, few people want the printer, hard drive and the other equipment cluttering up their counter. A great place to stash the gear is inside your pantry. Anything you print is just steps away. Be sure to mention this idea to your builder so they can make the appropriate accommodations.

Hallways
Most people give little thought to how the hallways in their house will function. By tying into a lighting control system, you can brighten and dim automatically. A home systems installer can program your hallway lights to set themselves whenever they detect motion or at a certain time of the day.

Guest Bedrooms
Here, you can go whole hog and outfit the guest room with its own mini theatre and access to a whole-house music system, or, in contrast, keep it simple and give it an Ethernet jack, pay TV outlet and telephone jack in the wall. The room can later be converted into a home office with these jacks in place.

Entrance
The entrance may be one of your home's smallest spaces, but it makes one of the biggest impressions. For this reason, the entrance is an ideal spot for a keypad that controls the lights, music and other components that can give your home a warm and friendly feel. Use it to control the temperature, cue the whole-house music system and provide instant control over lighting.