05. May 2025
Turning your house into a smart home doesn’t have to involve tearing down walls, rewiring the entire property, or months of construction work. Thanks to advances in wireless technology and home automation systems like KNX, homeowners can enjoy the benefits of a smart home without renovating. Whether you live in a rental, an apartment building, or just want to avoid the mess and cost of major renovations, there are now simple and elegant solutions available for every household.
Not everyone has the time, budget, or freedom to dive into a full home renovation, in order to install cables that will function as the foundation of your smart home. Some of the most common reasons people look for non-invasive home automation solutions include:
Living in an apartment, a rental or a property with historical value that can't be modified, or requires a lot of permits to even start the renovations.
Wanting quick results without committing to long projects. We’d only recommend this if you’re experimenting with smart technology for the first time, such as smart speakers or smart light bulbs.
Avoiding construction hassle like dust, noise, and temporary disruption of certain areas in their home.
Fortunately, you can have a fully connected smart home experience without having to renovate at all.
As much as there are reasons to avoid renovating, in some cases you’ll prefer a hard-wired smart home.
If you’re planning a newly built home, be sure to discuss smart technology with your contractor. The sooner you add the infrastructure for a smart home, the more you’ll be able to avoid extra costs. If you imagine your lighting, heating, air conditioning, blinds security system, motion sensors, smart speaker (and even more), all communicating with each other seamlessly in your complete home, we’d also suggest wiring. The wires will ensure that all your smart devices are connected from the start, creating a fully integrated smart home.
Retrofitting refers to adding something new to an existing structure. In terms of home automation, retrofitting means introducing smart devices and systems into a house, apartment or rental that was not initially designed to be smart.
It's a way to upgrade your current living space and tailor it to your needs, with the help of the newest technology. Whether your household’s seeking energy efficiency, enhanced security, or the ultimate comfort - with smart technology you are sure to achieve it.
This can range from simply controlling your lights and thermostat to more advanced tasks like setting up complete scenes that are completely remotely controllable.
Just because you’re not renovating doesn’t mean you’re limited in what you can automate. On the contrary. Thanks to the KNX RF product line, you’ll be able to control the same appliances as with our iconic KNX cable:
Lighting (automated scenes, motion sensors, remote control)
Heating and cooling (smart thermostats and temperature zones)
Security systems (cameras, door locks, motion alerts)
Blinds and shutters (scheduled or weather-responsive control)
Energy usage (real-time monitoring and optimization)
And all of it can be done without pulling a single cable through the wall.
KNX RF (Radio Frequency) is the wireless extension of the KNX standard, enabling seamless communication between smart home devices without the need for additional wiring. This makes it an ideal solution for homeowners looking to upgrade to a smart home system without undertaking extensive renovations.
By utilizing KNX RF, devices such as lighting controls, heating systems, and security components can be integrated wirelessly, preserving the integrity of existing structures and décor.
Several KNX members offer a range of KNX RF products designed for easy integration into existing homes and as always compatible with the KNX standard.
You don’t have to renovate to enjoy the benefits of a modern, connected home. Whether you want better security, greater energy efficiency, or just the convenience of automating daily routines, KNX makes it possible to build a smart home without renovating. Its wireless and hybrid capabilities let you upgrade your living experience on your terms—cleanly, quickly, and future-proof.
Thinking about making your home smarter? Contact a certified KNX installer in your neighborhood. No worries, a sledgehammer is not a port of his or her toolkit.