Coming to a decision that the whole family agrees on can be a difficult process. When your family can’t even agree on what’s for dinner, finding a phone that everyone likes is nearly impossible. We know that there are a lot of families that include both Android™ and Apple^® users. In fact, more than a quarter of U.S. households own at least one device on each platform.

What happens when you want to get a smart lock?

Some smart locks only support one smartphone platform, so how do you choose? Does only half of the family get to have smartphone access? Who decides which family members get to use their phone and who can only use access codes?

 

With Schlage, you don’t have to choose. All of our smart locks, including the Schlage Sense™ Smart Deadbolt, is compatible with both iOS and Android smartphones so everyone receives full access. The Schlage^® Home app, which works with the Schlage Sense lock as well as the Schlage Encode™ Smart WiFi Deadbolt, is now available on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. That means your entire family can lock and unlock the door from their phones, no matter its platform.   

WiFi Adapter

The Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt provides multiple ways to access your home. It comes with a physical key, stores up to 30 access codes and uses Bluetooth to communicate with your smartphone when you’re within 40 feet of the lock. But what if you’re away from home? With the Schlage Sense™ WiFi Adapter*, Android and iOS smartphones can control the smart lock and receive notifications of all smart lock activity. No matter where you are, you can be notified when anyone, from your children to the dog walker, accesses your home.

 

To start, you’ll need the Schlage Home app to install the Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt. Then simply plug the Schlage Sense WiFi Adapter into an outlet and use the app to pair the adapter to your smart lock and connect to your WiFi network.

 

Along with receiving notifications, the adapter allows you to lock and unlock your Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt from anywhere. You can check to see if you remembered to lock your door or let someone in without having to send them an access code regardless of whether you’re at home, in the office across town or hundreds of miles away on the beach.

Discover all the features available with the free Schlage Home app by downloading it now from the App Store or Google Play Store. To learn more about the Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt, or to make sure it’s the right Schlage smart lock for, try our Get Help Deciding Tool.

 

*The WiFi Adapter is not compatible with Apple HomeKit™.

 

When it comes to choosing the right smart home technology for your home, the amount of information available can be overwhleming but thorough research is key. Whether you're looking for ways smart locks can simplify your life, want to stay up-to-date on the latest Schlage product developments or are interested in future tech trends, our experts have you covered.

 

Here's a look back at our top ten smart home articles of 2017 to help you in your search for more information.

1. How to get started using Amazon Alexa with your Schlage Connect™ deadbolt

Here’s a step-by-step guide for syncing your Schlage Connect compatible smart home hub with Amazon Alexa and controlling your lock with Alexa.

2. The future of the smart home is accessible

Learn how advancements in technology –from smart home to everyday living– have become easier to adopt, making daily life more convenient for consumers.

3. How secure are electronic deadbolts and smart locks?

Take a look at the security behind Schlage electronic locks. Here’s what you need to know about smart lock hackers, and why you should ditch the spare key.

4. 11 things to know about the Schlage Sense™ Smart Deadbolt and Android compatibility

Learn how to set up your Schlage Sense lock with the Android app, how to send virtual keys, edit access codes, and update the smart lock’s firmware.

5. 3 reasons smart locks are your best move when moving

See how a smart lock can make your home more attractive to potential buyers and add convenience to the home selling and moving process.

6. 6 things you must know before purchasing a smart lock

It's never been easier or more affordable to build your own smart home. Consider these 6 qualities before purchasing a smart lock.

7. How to choose the best smart lock to protect your home

When buying a smart lock, look for these 7 features to ensure you choose a keyless lock with the most advanced and secure technology.

8. Smart and safe home sharing

Eliminate worrying how your guests will make it through the front door when you home share. See how keyless locks make your Airbnb safe and smart.

9. Lifehacks for smart locks

Smart locks are meant to make life easier and more connected. Here are convenient lifehacks to help you use your smart lock to its full potential.

10. How to build a high tech smart home without sacrificing style

Adopting smart home tech shouldn’t mean sacrificing personal style. Here are 4 smart home assistants that are high tech and look good doing it.

What smart home topics would you like to learn more about in 2018? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter. In the mean time, be sure to visit Smart Locks on schlage.com for even more details about our full smart lock line-up.

Curb appeal, door hardware installation tips and style trends were hot topics in 2017. Take a look at our top 10 DIY and design blog posts of the year.

1. How to properly install door knobs and levers

Installing door hardware is a simple project you can easily complete with a few minutes and minimal tools. Here are all the steps you need to follow to properly install a Schlage door knob or door lever in just a few minutes.

2. How to understand lever and door handing

Installed your door lever and it doesn't look quite right? Here’s a quick guide that will show you how to determine the handing of your door to ensure you choose the right door hardware and lock for your home.

3. Get a jump-start on spring cleaning with a bathroom refresh

Refresh your bathroom the easy way and get a jump-start on spring cleaning with these five bathroom projects you can complete quickly and affordably.

4. How to understand BHMA lock security grades

Learn how to tell which lock is best for you by understanding its BHMA grade based on security, durability and finish testing.

5. 9 most popular home styles and door hardware to match

Take a look at popular home styles from farmhouse to mid-century modern, Victorian and even Craftsman and view our recommendations for door hardware.

6. What type of door hardware is best for each room in your home?

This quick guide to door hardware functions will help you navigate the lock aisle and find just the right knob or lever for each room in your home.

7. The best hardware pairing for your front door color

A front door makeover is a quick way to give your curb appeal an affordable upgrade. Check out which finish you should pair with your front door color.

8. How to choose replacement hinges

Installing door hinges is an easy project for any skill level to take on as long as you choose the correct hinges first. Here’s what you need to know.

9. The best door hardware for transitional style homes

From finish to knob and lever style, take a look at the perfect door hardware pairings you should consider for your transitional home.

10. 7 reasons to consider dutch doors for your home

Dating back to the 17th century, dutch doors are certainly not new but homeowners that value casual style are embracing this trend all over again.

What DIY and style content do you enjoy most and want to see more of in 2018? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter!

Smart home products are quickly being adopted by homeowners everywhere as the appeal for greater convenience and peace of mind takes priority. When choosing the best smart home products for your home, quality, security and design all matter. It's important to choose a product you can depend on to work when you need it from a company you can trust. 

 

That's why home remodeling experts like Mike Holmes, trust the Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt. Whether you're purchasing this smart lock for yourself or as a gift for a loved one, you can rest easy knowing that Schlage put the same attention to security and strength as we have for all our products for the past 95 years. See what Mike and his daughter Sherry have to say about their favorite smart lock purchase in the video below.

 

Looking for more smart home advice? Be sure to keep an eye on the Technology section of our blog and follow us on Twitter for the latest news.

Oil-Rubbed Bronze is a finish that can fit in many homes, but what sets it apart from all the other finish options for door hardware? What style of home will it fit in best, and how is it different than Aged Bronze? We had these questions and more, so we talked to Ted Roberts, the Style and Design Chief at Allegion, Schlage’s parent company. As design leader at Schlage, he is uniquely qualified to explain what Oil-Rubbed Bronze is and how to style it.

Q&A with Ted Roberts

What sets Schlage apart as a style leader?

Walter Schlage’s first patent was in 1909, and he founded the company in 1920, so Schlage has more than 95 years of experience and has seen styles come and go first-hand. The industry is changing with the advent of new technologies and that brings new challenges when determining door hardware’s design and usability. Schlage has the background and experience to tackle these challenges that have never been addressed before.

Where does Schlage get style inspiration?

The industrial design team goes to stores, trade shows and furniture shows to see what is currently popular in the market and what is about to come to market. They also look into cultural trends. What’s happening in movies, TV shows, fashion and auto industries to see what styles are developing.

Oil-Rubbed Bronze

What sets Oil-Rubbed Bronze apart?

Oil-Rubbed Bronze is one of the warmer dark finishes. Because of that, it goes well with beige and yellows. It is a living finish, which means that as the product is used, the finish develops a two-tone look over time, so no two pieces are going to be identical.

Because Oil-Rubbed Bronze is a living finish, it adds a personal touch to any home. Aged Bronze comes with the two-toned look that Oil-Rubbed Bronze will eventually get, but the difference is that the Oil-Rubbed Bronze two-toned look comes from being used in your home and is unique to you.

Why do you think it’s popular right now?

It first started to get popular a few years ago with the rise in arts and crafts (Craftsman) style houses. These homes are hand-crafted and are a rebellion against highly ornamented Victorian homes. The natural color of Oil-Rubbed Bronze and the living finish that evolves as it is used fits right in with this style.

What style of home will it fit into?

It works well with Prairie, Victorian, Southwestern and Craftsman style homes.

How should someone style their home with Oil-Rubbed Bronze?

The blackish-brown coloring and highlighted copper edge of the Oil-Rubbed Bronze go well with beige walls and orange tones. It also works well with earth and brown-toned rooms. It fits into the 70s style that is making a resurgence right now with all its natural colors.

If you are looking to change up your home’s hardware and are interested in Oil-Rubbed Bronze, ask yourself if it will coordinate with what is already in your home. Are you looking for a lot of contrast or something that blends? It is up to you, and Oil-Rubbed Bronze could be a great option in either case.

Looking for more style information and inspiration? Check out our Pinterest page!

Creating a well-designed space requires an intentional, and focused plan to achieve the look you want. A great way to stay focused and narrow your choices is by using a mood board. Check out our tips for building one of your own and the tools to help you get started.

What is a mood board?

Mood boards are a collection of ideas that help you organize and plan for the design of a space. When the blank canvas of a room becomes overwhelming, mood boards help you to stay focused by narrowing your options to colors and styles that fit your aesthetic best. Whether you're working with a designer or want to do-it-yourself, this step can help keep your project on track and ensure that your personal style is reflected.

Must-have elements

Mood boards are perfect for making sure you're considering the big picture of your space. You'll want to make sure you have a good variety of color and texture to set the right aesthetic. Creating a cohesive look goes beyond the paint color or large furniture pieces so be sure to include the smallest of details like hardware and accessories. It's often the finishing touch that ties an entire space together.

 

Still not sure where to begin? Start with something you are certain will be used in the space. Do you already have a large furniture piece - like a couch or bedroom suit? Maybe you have a family heirloom that you want to be sure to showcase. Use that as your start and begin adding other elements that catch your eye - paint colors, throw pillows, lighting, etc.

Create your own

You may be thinking - "I'm not a creative. There's no way I could create a mood board." - but with so many tools available today, it's easier than ever to go beyond catalog cut-outs taped to the mirror in your room. Below are the tools we recommend checking out to get started. We wouldn't be surprised if you're already using a few.

Canva

Canva makes it easy to create a fully custom mood board that fits your style by eliminating the need for advanced design software. Simply choose the type of layout you'd like to use with your canvas and upload images of items that inspire. You can even browse through hundreds of free images or choose a premium image for $1 each. Here's a great tutorial to help you get started.

Pinterest

With over 100 billion Pins on Pinterest, there's no shortage of inspiration within the tool. If you aren't familiar with Pinterest, think of it as a catalog of ideas stored from across the web. It's a great place to collect ideas and scroll for something new. Try creating boards for each room in your house and saving ideas that appeal to you. Over time, you'll begin to notice a common theme or pattern for the basis of your mood board.

Instagram

Last year, Instagram launched a new feature that allowed users to bookmark posts they were inspired by. A few months later, they launched Instagram Collections making this feature much more useful by allowing users to organize ideas by folders. Similar to Pinterest, you could use Instagram Collections as the first-step to creating a mood board by saving the images that are inspiring to you to identify the style you'd most prefer.

Olioboard

Olioboard is a mood board tool specifically made for interior design. You can choose between 2D and 3D models and select actual products to get a visual of your room before you purchase furniture, textiles or accessories. It's a great tool for experimenting with the overall mood of your space and features a large community of designers so you can browse for inspiration before you get started.

Photograph

Sometimes, you simply cannot beat a good old fashioned photograph of various textiles, paint swatches and hardware you'd like to use in your space. This practice helps you take a step back and see what the details look like in the real world. Check out a few of our favorites from DreamGreen DIY.

 

Now that you are equipped with the tools that make creating mood boards easy, we want to see your projects as they come to life! Share them with us on Instagram and tag @schlagelocks.
 

The Schlage Sense™ Wi-Fi Adapter lets you lock/unlock your Schlage Sense™ Smart Deadbolt from anywhere with your Android™ smartphone, iPhone^®, iPad^®, or iPod touch^®. Simply plug the small Wi-Fi Adapter into power at home. Use the Schlage Sense app to pair it with your deadbolt and connect it to your home Wi-Fi network for anywhere access.

 

After you have downloaded the Schlage Sense app and paired it with your lock using the Schlage mode setup, you can quickly and easily set up your Wi-Fi Adapter. The Wi-Fi Adapter is not compatible with HomeKit so if you've paired your lock with your phone using the HomeKit setup, you will need to complete a factory reset and re-pair your lock using the Schlage mode setup before completing the steps below.

How to set up your Schlage Sense Wi-Fi Adapter for iOS

How to set up your Schlage Sense Wi-Fi Adapter for Android

Now you have anywhere access to your home through your phone. Check the status of your door, and lock and unlock your door from anywhere with your smartphone. Keep in mind, the Schlage Sense Wi-Fi Adapter must stay plugged into power at home, connected to Wi-Fi and in Bluetooth^® range (about 40 feet) from the lock to enable remote access. For more information, visit schlage.com/sense.
 

The holidays are fast approaching and if you haven't started thinking about gifts, it's probably time to start. According to the National Retail Federation, more than 40% of people start shopping before November. Maybe you have a list full of people that are easy to shop for. If so, we envy you. For the rest of us, there is at least one person that is impossible to buy for - often multiple people. Sure, you could always get them a gift card, but if you’re looking for something a little more fun, we compiled the ultimate list for you.

 

Everyone appreciates a gift that make their lives a little easier. Our suggestions feature a range of smart devices that are sure to be a hit this holiday season.

Apple TV^®

Apple TV is a great, all-in-one piece of technology for any home. It is TV customized to you. Apps like Netflix, HBO Now and Hulu allow you to watch whatever you want, whenever you want. You can listen to music, use Siri, and play games, too. It also connects to Apple HomeKit®, the latest smart home technology from Apple, allowing you to have remote access to HomeKit-enabled devices. If you have a Schlage Sense™ Smart Deadbolt or other smart home devices, you can use HomeKit to get anywhere access to your home’s electronics on your iOS device. You could lock your front door if you forgot when you left the house, or turn up the furnace before you get home so the house is warm when you arrive.

Google Chromecast™

If you want to give a gift that will allow your loved ones to stream TV, video and music, but they don't have an Apple device, Chromecast might be your best bet. It plugs into the TV and is controlled through smartphones, tablets or laptops. It also works with Android™, Apple and Windows, so everyone can use it.

Arlo™

For anyone that is interested in home security, the Arlo Pro is a perfect gift. It is a wire-free, weatherproof camera that records what’s going on in the home and sends mobile or email alerts when it senses motion or sound. It is also perfect for pet owners that don’t like to be away from home and want to be able to check in on their animals. With two-way audio, you can hear what’s going on at home and talk through the camera.

Roomba^®

No one likes to do household chores when there are a million other things that they could be focusing on. Give someone back their free time with Roomba. There are multiple models with different features so that it’s easy to choose what works based on the home it will be cleaning. All of the models are Wi-Fi connected and accessible through the app so you know what has been cleaned.

Smart speaker

Smart speakers are becoming more and more popular, so if you have someone on your list that doesn’t own one yet, they will be grateful to get one as a present. There are multiple smart speaker brands already and more that are in the process of releasing new products, but the two biggest smart speaker names are Google Home™ and Amazon Echo™. Both speakers work with Apple and Android devices and integrate with various smart home products and apps. The Amazon Echo is compatible with the Schlage Connect™ Touchscreen Deadbolt and Schlage Sense™ Smart Deadbolt. You can ask her to lock your door if you’ve already gone to bed and don’t want to get up, or ask the status of the door if you aren’t sure if you locked it. Both speakers come with so many features that choosing between them is more a matter of preference and what type of smart home device you have rather than which one is better.

Smart lock

This is the perfect gift for any homeowner. Whether they are interested in smart home devices or not, everyone could use a touchscreen lock so they never have to deal with house keys again. The Schlage Connect Touchscreen Deadbolt is perfect for people that want to have, or already have, a smart home. It uses Z-Wave technology so it can connect to most home automation hubs. The Schlage Sense™ Smart Deadbolt has its own app that is compatible with both Android and Apple smartphones so that anyone can use it.

Home Automation Hub

For those on your gift list that are interested in smart homes but haven’t yet made the leap, a home automation hub would be a great way to get them started. There are so many options out there to choose from: Apple HomeKit, Wink™ and Samsung SmartThings™ to name a few. Each hub has its own strengths so it’s important to know what someone wants out of a smart home and what devices they have to work it. Some, like Homekit, only work with Apple, but many are compatible with Apple and Android. Some hubs lend themselves to certain tasks, like home security, while others are very customizable and make it easy to set up sequences between smart home objects. When buying a home automation hub, your choice will depend more on who will receive it than name brand recognition.

Schlage Sense™ Wi-Fi Adapter

If someone doesn’t want to plunge into the world of smart homes, but you know that they would still love the convenience of never worrying about their house keys, the Schlage Sense Wi-Fi Adapter is the perfect gift to pair with the Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt. The Wi-Fi Adapter pairs with the deadbolt to allow it to send notifications through the Schlage Sense app. This allows the owner to lock and unlock their door from anywhere, using their smartphone.

 

Wi-Fi Adapter is not compatible with Apple HomeKit.

Do any of these things sound like something someone on your holiday gift list would enjoy? Do you think we missed something that should have been on the list? Let us know on Facebook!

If you’re anything like us, you love checking out the latest styles and trends showcased across interior décor showrooms, magazines, and online. How do they manage to achieve that perfectly stylish yet livable look that makes you want to run out to the story to replicate it at home? The truth is, the secret to a perfectly designed space is attention to detail.

 

So how do you get that polished look at home? The first thing to remember is that the spaces you see in magazines were staged and kept in place for the photoshoot. No room that is actually lived in can stay perfect all the time. Which leads us to our number one tip for adding stylish details to your home:

Design for the function of the room

When choosing and arranging furniture and other large pieces in a space, keep in mind the natural walkways leading into/out of the room as well as the function the space will serve. Is it a play room for the kids? Or a place for adults to relax by the fire? Maybe it’s a little of both – that’s okay. The key is to make sure items are placed in a way that makes the room easy to use for its intended function and easy to tidy up afterward – an important but surprisingly easy detail to forget.

Use fixtures to add stylistic balance to a space

Themes can be fun – when they aren’t overstated. One way to avoid overdoing a particular style and instead add your own fresh take is to choose a few details that differ from the overall theme – door hardware, lighting and plumbing fixtures are perfect for this. If you’re designing a mostly contemporary, modern space, add some ornate Victorian fixtures in a modern finish likes bright chrome. Don’t be afraid to mix styles – variety adds balance!

Look at lighting in a new way

When choosing overhead lighting, pay attention to scale – in other words, the size of the room compared to the size of the light. The key, as always, is to maintain a sense of balance – an overhead light with long, hanging embellishments isn’t best for a wide room with low ceilings.

 

Lamps are great because simply repositioning them can add a fresh feel to a room you’ve become bored with – without spending a dime.

Don’t shy away from unique items

If you want to create a space unlike any other, you’ll need items that are unique to you. It may be your favorite worn old teddy bear from childhood, or a handmade item you bought during a special trip. Keep in mind there are many facets to your personality, so a hodgepodge of eclectic items can work.

 

Meaningful items, like heirlooms, often have a place, even if the style doesn’t immediately seem to mesh – we are often so used to looking at them that we forget their potential. Try asking a friend how they would place the item.

Pull inspiration from your surroundings

Is your home near a lush forest? Try adding some natural elements of wood or shapes that mimic wild, untamed growth, like vines.

 

A beach or lake house is a no-brainer – go straight for that beachy or nautical style if it’s what your heart desires, but use restraint and add details that are specific to you. Maybe the beach house features a vintage fifties surfer style with pastel colors and faded driftwood. Your lake house could invoke your Irish heritage with rich greens and classic novels like Moby Dick lining the shelves. Be creative!

It isn’t the size of the space, it’s what you do with it

Don’t focus only on the large spaces of your home – turn an eye toward all the little nooks and crannies. The brightly lit but empty corner by the window could become a cozy reading nook. A striking new color of paint and a few new shelves can make an old, boring closet fresh and fun.

There are probably thousands of other ideas we haven’t thought of – share your favorite stylish home details by tagging @Schlagelocks on Instagram!

Fall is the perfect time to prepare your home for colder weather ahead and take care of any summer projects that may have gone undone. Take advantage of the cooler temperatures and downtime before the holiday bustle to tackle these must-do fall projects.

Test Alarms and Sensors

Prepping for the holidays can be so much fun, but it can also mean increased safety hazards in the house. Over the next couple months, you'll be decorating for the holidays, cooking large family meals, burning your fireplace, lighting candles, and maybe setting up a Christmas tree. Prepare for the additional hazards these activities bring by testing your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
 

Also, make sure you have a functioning fire extinguisher on each floor of your home. Look for an expiration date on the label and make sure it hasn't passed. In addition, ensure that the pressure dial is in the green, or charged, area.

Check Insulation Points

Doors and windows are the primary sources for wasted energy in most homes. Apply caulk, weather stripping and insulation inside and outside of the home to ensure you don’t waste any energy – or see increased energy bills – by letting heat leak out. So be sure to check on weather stripping around your doors, windows, and garage door. The felt strips seal these openings to prevent drafts, but they can wear down over time. Replace any faded weather stripping and complete any other insulation tasks you've been putting off.

Clean Your Gutters

Your gutters work hard over fall and winter, and they need your help. Clean them out before it gets too cold. This will prevent gutters from overflowing with rain or snow and damaging your roof. Remove the leaves that accumulate on your roof with a roof rake. Simply position the rake behind the leaves and pull forward until they fall off the roof. Once you’ve climbed up to your gutters, put on some waterproof gloves and scoop the leaves out by hand. Just remember to always keep one hand on the ladder for safety.

Prepare Your Fireplace

For wood fireplaces, clean them out thoroughly, check the chimney, and make sure that you have an ample supply of wood. Even if you plan on cleaning and maintaining it yourself, have a professional do an initial inspection. Gas and electric fireplaces can also benefit from an annual inspection before winter begins.

Clean Up Your Lawnmower, Grill and Other Outdoor Yard Tools

Your lawnmower, grill and other yard tools are probably dirty after a spring and summer of use. Don't let that dirt and grime sit around all winter. Instead, take the time to clean, tune up and properly store and/or cover these items so they will be ready to be fired up in the spring.

Clean Carpets

Fall is an excellent time to clean your carpets inside. Carpets and rugs tend to collect dirt and dust and grime all summer long, and you’ll want them clean for indoor winter activities. Be sure to open your windows and air out your house as the carpet dries – another bonus of tackling this project in the fall.

Drain Outside Water Faucets and Irrigation

Not prepping your exterior water outlets could result in an expensive mess on your hands. Water lines exposed to outside temperatures, including underground irrigation lines and exterior faucets, can freeze. When water freezes, it expands, which can crack the pipes or hose bibs.
 

Start by turning off the water lines inside your house. The shutoff valves are usually located near the main plumbing line that brings water into the home. Then open the spigots to drain the water in the lines. (If you have to drain your irrigation lines, you'll need a pro.) Check the faucets on occasion to ensure that water isn't leaking out. If it is, the shutoff values either aren't closed all the way, or they're leaky and need to be replaced.

Trim Problem Bushes and Trees

The last thing you want are branches to freeze, get too heavy and fall on your house during a snowstorm. Now is the time to inspect nearby trees and shrubs, and cut any low-hanging or dying branches before they can do damage. Resist over-trimming though. Trimming promotes new growth, so wait until your bushes and trees are truly dormant (after winter, early spring) to do your annual pruning.

What other projects are you taking on this fall to prepare your home for winter? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

You rarely leave home without it. It's the one thing that's always by your side, whether home or away. If forgotten, a sinking feeling may overcome. How can you navigate without it?

 

Your smartphone plays a bigger role in your life than you may already realize. Here are ten unique ways you can extend the power of your smartphone and start taking advantage of many of its conveniences.
 

Have you ever left the house in a hurry, and later wondered whether you accidentally left the door unlocked behind you? With so many things to juggle in life, it’s happened to us all.

 

That got us thinking – what if you never had to wonder whether your door was unlocked again? What if you could lock it from wherever you are? And wouldn’t you like to receive smartphone notifications whenever the lock is used so you can keep track of who’s going in and out and when?

So we designed the Schlage Sense™ Smart Deadbolt so that users could have this functionality – if they want it. Smart lock beginners who want to benefit from the lock’s basic features can do that out of the box with just a smartphone, no need for a home automation system or other smart accessories.

 

However, if you’re looking for the convenience and peace of mind that comes with being able to access your lock from anywhere, there are multiple options available for doing this – and it’s easy to choose the right one for you.

 

Here are the basics:

Schlage Sense WiFi Adapter option: Android smartphones + iPhone

If you want to use both iPhone and Android smartphones with your lock, you’ll want a Schlage Sense™ WiFi Adapter.

 

The Adapter is a simple wall plug-in that connects your lock to your WiFi network so you can lock and unlock it from anywhere and receive activity notifications. It’s easy to set up – plug it in within Bluetooth range of the lock (usually about 40 feet), and use the Schlage Sense app to connect the Adapter to your home Wi-Fi network. Then pair it with your lock.

 

As long as your Adapter stays plugged into power, connected to WiFi and within Bluetooth range of the lock, you’ll be able to access it using your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Android smartphone from anywhere.

 

Keep in mind that while the Schlage Sense WiFi Adapter will work with your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, it does not work with Apple HomeKit and is not compatible with features like Siri or the Apple Home app.

Apple HomeKit option: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch only

If you have an Apple TV or use iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch in your household, you might prefer the Apple HomeKit setup option. If your lock is up to date with the latest firmware (use the Schlage Home app to check for updates), it will ask you simple questions at setup to determine whether this Apple HomeKit option is best for you.

 

If you set up your lock with the Apple HomeKit option, you can pair your lock with your Apple TV and gain anywhere access using Apple HomeKit technology. You’ll still be able to control your lock and manage settings from anywhere with the Schlage Home app, plus your lock will work in tandem with other HomeKit-enabled devices in your home through the Apple Home app. You’ll also be able to use Siri to lock and unlock your door, and receive notifications when the lock is used (use the Schlage Home app to manage your notification settings.)

 

Keep in mind that this option is intended for Apple HomeKit users and does not work with Android smartphones.

 

Here are the technical details:

 

We recommend an Apple TV 4th generation or an iPad with iOS 10.0 or higher. If you decide to use your iPad as your Apple HomeKit hub (a new functionality offered by Apple with iOS 10.0), the iPad must stay at home powered on and connected to WiFi just as an Apple TV would be.

 

You’ll also want to make sure that the Apple TV/iPad is set up with the same iCloud and iTunes account information as your iPhone.

If I already have a Schlage Sense lock, how do I update it so that I can use it with Android and/or the WiFi Adapter?

First, you’ll need to make sure your lock has the latest firmware. Firmware updates are important because they ensure that your Schlage Sense lock has the latest features and capabilities. The lock will notify you of a firmware update through the Schlage Home app. Firmware updates for the lock must be performed through the app within Bluetooth range of the lock:

When you're within Bluetooth range of the lock, connect your lock with the app.

Tap “Begin Update” or go to Lock Settings > Information and tap the firmware version information to request an update.

The firmware will be updated over the next several minutes.

Once you’re up to date with the latest firmware, you can change the setup option on your lock so it will work with Android devices and the Schlage Sense WiFi Adapter. In the Schlage Home app, you’ll need to delete the lock from your account and pair it again, choosing the new setup option. This will return your lock to factory default settings and erase any new codes you’ve added, so make sure you record those if you want to add them to the lock again.

If the lock is currently set up with an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, first delete the lock from the account by going to Lock Settings and tapping Delete Lock.

Then, use the Schlage Home app to pair the lock again. If adding the lock from an iOS device, select “Explore Other Options” and then “Set up with Schlage system.”

 

A firmware update may be required, after which you will need to restart the “Add a lock” process and select the Schlage system.

 

Once setup is complete, the lock will be compatible with both Android smartphones and iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch and can be paired with the Schlage Sense WiFi Adapter.

Questions about lock setup? You can reach us on Facebook or Twitter or try our FAQs online.

 

Fall is a time of transition that is marked by the changing colors in the leaves. One of the best ways to embrace this change is by updating some of the décor inside and outside your home.
 

Taking the time to clean off your front porch and refreshing it with a few accents like a seasonal wreath, potted plant and a gourd or two, will help you get in the fall spirit. While traditional fall décor often times comes in hues of orange, there are an abundance of color palette options available today. These are some of our favorites.

Purple

While the color purple easily finds its way into spring and summer blooms, it’s also a bold color that can be used to easily transition your front porch from summer to fall. It comes in a variety of shades and its cool and royal feel will leave your porch looking rustic and regal.

Sage

Though sage is a subdued hue, when it’s used in fall décor it can act as a neutral backdrop or an accent pop of color. Incorporating sage into your fall décor will leave your porch light and bright, while still on key with the season.

Brown

Brown may not be the first color you think of when you want to freshen up your front porch for fall. However, when used properly it can be both rustic and charming. Use dried corn stalks, wooden crates, brown leaf garland and wooden chalkboard signs to create a neutral monochromatic look that lets the brightly colored leaves pop.

Yellow

Welcome the fall season with a bright and cheery front porch by incorporating pops of yellow in your décor. From brightly colored mums and painted accents to the leaves falling from the trees in your yard, this golden hue is sure to warm up your porch as the temperatures cool down.

Red

Though Red is a shade found naturally throughout the fall season, it’s not necessarily a commonly used color in fall front porch décor as it typically takes a backseat to its sister shade of orange. Using apples, fabrics, florals and painted pumpkins, red can be the star of your fall front porch.

Black and white

Black and white are decorating classics. And with a season speckled in color, sometimes it’s the absence of color that makes a scene visually interesting. With white pumpkins, buffalo check rugs and iron accents, black and white can be a palette that works on any front porch.

Indigo and orange

Opposites attract. It’s a fact of life. Let your orange pumpkins and copper toned mums pop off a deeply indigo palette.

Are you experimenting with a new color palette for your fall front porch décor this year? If so, what colors are you featuring? Share your pictures with us on Instagram by tagging us @schlagelocks.

If you haven’t already heard, we recently updated our Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt with some exciting new capabilities. Not only does the lock work with both iOS and Android devices, there are also new options that make sharing access easier than ever. Using this smart lock is simple and convenient, from scheduling access codes so the babysitter can have access only when neededand  to making sure the neighbor can get in to water the plants while you’re on vacation. 

 

Best of all, sharing access with your smart lock is much safer and more secure than hiding or copying keys. You may even save money – you’ll never have to head to the hardware store to copy a key again. No more headaches trying to keep track of the keys you’ve handed out or worrying when one is lost or stolen, and no more keys weighing you down when you take your morning run. Adding an electronic lock to your home is definitely a lifestyle change – for the better.

Easy access for everyone

The Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt offers multiple ways to share access with those you trust - even if they don't have a smartphone to get in. The lock holds up to 30 access codes which are entered on the lock’s touchscreen, so you can create a personalized code for each person you’d like to allow into your home. The Schlage Home app makes it easy to add codes in just a few taps, and keeping track of codes is simple because you can name each one according to who it was shared with – so Mom, Dad, and Uncle Jerry can all have their own codes. You can even use the app to send them their code via text or email.

To add new user codes through the Schlage Home app:

 

Tap the “Users” icon in the bottom right of the screen.

Under the “Access Codes” tab tap the “+” in the upper right of the screen.

 

 

Enter a name and digits for the access code. Choose between granting All Day Access or schedule the code for a specific time period.

Tap “Save” in the upper right corner to save the code. You’ll be prompted to share the new access code with your guest through text or email.

Custom schedules

The Schlage Home app gives you even more control over access sharing by allowing you to set schedules for each access code so they only work when you want them to. For example, if you want the babysitter to be able to use her code to enter your home only on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, you can do that. The rest of the week, the code won’t work – so you have greater control over who can access your home and when. It’s also easy to delete codes with the app when you no longer need them – much easier than tracking down a spare key or re-keying your lock because a key has been lost or stolen.

Here's how to schedule access codes for your Schlage Sense lock:
 

Tap the “Users” icon in the bottom right of the screen. Select an access code to manage or create a new one.
 

Under Access Schedule, tap the “All Day Access” slider off to make scheduling options appear.
 

Select one of the two available schedules to edit. Select the days and times that the access schedule will allow or deny access to that code. Tap Save.

Virtual keys

If your guest has a smartphone, you can send them a virtual key through the cloud from wherever you are – even if you don’t have the lock set up for remote access (Learn how to enable remote access for your lock here). Virtual keys are like electronic credentials. Your guest will receive a secure link that expires within 24 hours and leads them to the Schlage Home app where their virtual key is accepted. When they arrive at the door with their Bluetooth® enabled smartphone, the lock will recognize their secure credentials and allow access. Thanks to the Bluetooth connection between the lock and their phone, they’ll be able to unlock the door right then and there using the Schlage Home app.

 

*It's important to note that virtual keys will not work with locks set up using the HomeKit option. If you'd like to take advantage of virtual keys, you will need to reset your lock to factory settings and re-pair it using the Schlage system setup. See our FAQs for Schlage Sense for more information.

Here's how to send virtual keys:
 

Open the app and select the lock the invite will be for. Tap the “Users” icon on the bottom right of the screen.
 

Tap “Virtual Keys.”

Enter name of invited user and indicate whether you’d like to provide Admin access or Guest access (recommended).

Select a method to send the invite – email, text, etc. The invitation will be available for 24 hours before it expires. When the user is near the lock with Bluetooth turned on, they will be able to use the Schlage Home app on their smartphone to lock or unlock the deadbolt.

Lock history

Another very cool feature offered by the Schlage Home app is the lock history, which you can tap to view a log of the last 100 times the lock was used. The history will tell you whether the lock was accessed manually with an access code (and show you which access code it was, so you always know what time the kids got home) or unlocked using the smartphone app.

 

The great thing about all of these features is that they aren’t just convenient – they offer you a lot of peace of mind when it comes to protecting your home, your possessions and, most importantly, your family.

 

Questions or comments about the Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt? Ask away on our Facebook or Twitter page.
 

Creating a beautiful home requires hundreds of decisions. Flooring, paint, furniture, décor, curtains, wall hangings, lighting – the list goes on and on. Door hardware is probably pretty low on your list of priorities. You might be burnt out from making all of the other décor decisions by the time you get to deciding between levers and knobs and trims and finishes. But door hardware is a finishing touch that is instrumental in tying a house together. Like flooring or trim, you want your door hardware to match throughout your house and fit well with your overall décor theme. So how do you know what will be right for your home?
 

Matte Black is one of the most popular hardware finishes right now. It’s sleek, modern and can fit into almost any home. But how do you know if it’s right for you and your house? We talked to Ted Roberts, the Style and Design Chief at Allegion, Schlage’s parent company. Who better to talk to about what finish will fit into your home than the design leader in charge of keeping up with new trends and styles? Ted told us how Schlage gets inspiration for products, why Matte Black is so popular and how he would style with Matte Black.

Q&A with Ted Roberts

What sets Schlage apart as a style leader?

Walter Schlage’s first patent was in 1909, and he founded the company in 1920, so Schlage has more that 95 years of experience and has seen styles come and go first-hand. The industry is changing with the advent of new technologies and that brings new challenges when determining door hardware’s design and usability. Schlage has the background and experience to tackle these challenges that have never been addressed before.

Where does Schlage get style inspiration?

The industrial design team goes to stores, trade shows and furniture shows to see what is currently popular in the market and what is about to come to market. They also look into cultural trends. What’s happening in movies, TV shows, fashion and auto industries to see what styles are developing.

Matte Black

Why do you think Matte Black is so popular right now?

Matte Black is a highly versatile finish. There are a number of styles, both architectural and home décor, that it works well with. The finish also has a direct tie to technology, which is becoming more integrated with traditional products. For years, technology was black and furniture was not. Matte Black can help blend the two worlds.

How should someone style around Matte Black hardware?

Matte Black works with a variety of colors. If you are planning on using Matte Black hardware, keep in mind that if you have dark paint or furniture, a room can get very dark, very quickly, and you’ll find yourself living in a cave.

 

But if that’s what you’re looking for. Go for it!

What should you avoid with Matte Black?

Avoid making a room too dark. Dark walls, floors, or cabinets paired with Matte Black can start to make things feel a little cramped.

 

Bigger rooms and rooms with a lot of windows can sometimes get away with this.

 

Also watch out when combining blacks. Sometimes black paints have tints or undertones that make it a little more red or blue. It is a very subtle difference that you might not normally notice, but if you put a Matte Black doorknob on a black door with red undertones, you will probably notice.

Next time you are in the market for new door hardware, and don’t already have black doors or dark rooms, keep your eyes out for Matte Black. It will bring a sleek, modern look to your whole house. If you’re convinced you need Matte Black hardware or you want to learn more, check out all of your options.

 

Looking for more style information and inspiration? Check out our Pinterest page!

Electronic locks have been around for a long time, but there are still many homeowners who haven’t given them a try yet. After all, there are a lot of questions to be answered – how difficult is installation? What happens if the power goes out? Will the lock work with other technology you have in the home, or maybe even your smartphone?

Easy installation

The good news is that the answers to these questions are simpler than you think! Take our latest smart lock, for example: the Schlage Sense™ Smart Deadbolt. Because the lock runs on batteries, it’s easy to install yourself in just a few minutes with no hardwiring – all you need is a screwdriver. We’ve even included a special patented feature called Snap ‘n Stay that holds the deadbolt to the door while you reach for your screwdriver, so it’s truly a one-person job.

 

Instructions for installation are included in packaging, as always, but we’ve also put together an instructional video so you can see exactly how it’s done. As you’ll see in the video, with no hardwiring into your home’s electrical system, if the power goes out at home it’s no problem – you can still enter your access code on the touchscreen to gain access to your home. 

A smart lock for the whole family

The Schlage Sense lock was also designed to make life easier by working with both Android smartphones and iOS devices, pairing with them over Bluetooth just like you’d pair your phone with your car. Getting your lock paired with your phone is easy – just download the Schlage Sense app from the App Store or the Google Play Store. The app will walk you through the pairing process, so there’s no guesswork.

Remote access

What if you were able to access your front door lock through an app when you’re away from home? This is actually very simple to do, and can make life so much easier – imagine no more worrying about whether the kids have lost the house key, or hiding a spare under a rock and hoping the right person gets to it before anyone else can. Just grab our new Schlage Sense™ Wi-Fi Adapter (sold separately so existing Schlage Sense lock users can pick one up without buying a new lock!) and plug it into a power outlet near your lock. Connect the Adapter to your home Wi-Fi network, and ta-da! Anywhere access directly from your smartphone to your lock – without an existing smart home or alarm system or any subscription fees. Plus, the Schlage Sense app will walk you through the entire process step by step, so you don’t have to worry about a frustrating or complicated setup process.

Home automation integrations

How about using the lock with other technologies? We’ve all heard about the rising popularity of smart home gadgets, but figuring out which ones work together can be a headache. The Schlage Sense lock makes it easy by guiding you to the right choice for your home during initial setup, depending on whether or not you are an Apple HomeKit user.

 

If you love Apple products and have opted primarily for HomeKit-enabled smart devices in your home, you’ll be guided to use the HomeKit setup option. The HomeKit setup option allows you to set up anywhere access through your Apple TV, similar to the Wi-Fi Adapter, and allows you to control your lock alongside your other HomeKit-enabled devices within the Apple Home app. However, this setup option really is ideal for HomeKit users because it will only work with iOS devices and will not pair with Android smartphones or with the Schlage Sense Wi-Fi Adapter. If you prefer to be able to use Android smartphones with your lock, or you aren’t interested in an Apple HomeKit-centered experience, the app will guide you to the setup option which works with both iOS and Android smartphones, and allows you to pair the lock with the Wi-Fi Adapter.

Since we are always working to add new features to our electronic locks, you’ll want to be able to gain access to new functionality without having to buy a new lock each time. That’s why the Schlage Sense app is so important – it allows you to receive firmware updates so you can update your lock easily with no hassle. Check Schlage.com/SensePlatforms to see the latest technologies supported by the Schlage Sense lock, and check back here on the blog often to learn about new features and capabilities being added.

Smart locks are the perfect way to add a little more convenience and security to your home. With a smart lock from Schlage, you can choose to enter your home with a custom code you define, a mechanical key or your phone (depending on the lock you choose).

 

Installing a new smart lock is a project that any skill-level can take on with just a screwdriver and a few minutes out of your day. Before you get started, it's important to note these five things to ensure the installation goes as smoothly as possible.

Download the app

If you are installing the Schlage Sense^TM Smart Deadbolt, be sure to download the free, Schlage Sense^TM app before you begin installing your lock. The app has great step-by-step instructions so you can quickly install the lock and pair your smartphone seamlessly. You can also access other valuable information and helpful resources that allow you to take advantage of all the lock's capabilities and future updates.

 

Before you download, make sure your smartphone is up-to-date with the latest software version. You can check this by accessing your phone's settings and looking under "General" or "About".

Make sure your door is properly aligned

Because the bolt on your smart lock is extended automatically, it's important that the door and jamb are properly aligned. You can check this by testing your current lock. You'll want to answer yes to each of these questions:

Can you lock your door without pushing, pulling or lifting the door?

Does your door alignment stay the same no matter how hot or cold the weather may get?

When the door is closed, is there space for the deadbolt to extend 1" into the frame when locked?

Check your door measurements

All of Schlage's smart locks are designed to fit any standard, pre-drilled door. To double-check that your door will be compatible, you can find a quick look at standard door dimensions for deadbolt installation here. If your door is thicker than the standard 1-3/4", you may need to purchase a thick door kit which will extend the lock's capabilities to 2-1/4". You can contact our customer support team at 888.805.9837 for assistance.

Wait to install the batteries

To make sure your lock is properly paired to any smart hubs or phones, it's best to wait to install the batteries when instructed to do so. This ensures that nothing interferes with the auto-handing process of the lock and properly initiates the setup sequence that is needed after the lock is installed. If you do make a mistake or miss a step, you can simply perform a factory reset to start over.

Choose a coordinating handleset

Don't forget to complete the look by pairing a coordinating handleset, knob or lever. You'll need to consider which function will work best with your lifestyle. Do you want to make sure you can easily come and go without a mechanical key? Choose a Hall & Closet (Passage) function so you're never accidentally locked out. Keep in mind that if you keep a keyed knob or lever, you'll still have to manage mutliple mechanical keys for household members and guests. For handlesets, we offer a lower half, front entry handle that easily suites with the style of your smart lock.

You can find complete video tutorials for installing each of our smart locks by visiting our How-to-Center.

Within several hours, it’s possible to renovate your house or apartment into a smart home - one that pulls from the latest technology to make your space more efficient, secure, convenient or just more entertaining to hang out in.

 

Smart home technology is quickly becoming the next renovation project homeowners are adding to their to-do lists. With many of the devices ranging from $75 to $200 and falling into the Easy DIY-category, apartment dwellers also are starting to embrace smart home technology as a way to quickly update their living spaces. An added bonus? Many smart home products can be uninstalled and packed up with the next move.
 

Advantages cited by smart home residents

Drop the need for keys

With keyless entry systems, you no longer have to worry about misplacing keys. Assign each person a unique access code for entry; it’s easy to know when someone has made it home because the data is sent to your smartphone. And if an unexpected visitor arrives, you can remotely let them in with your smartphone while you’re stuck in traffic.

Cut the energy bills

Smart home thermostats automatically cut down the heat when outdoor temperatures rise, while irrigation systems water your lawn only when Mother Nature decides to take a break.

Light the way

Based on your preferences, smart lighting systems can be installed to turn on as you enter a room and turn off when you leave. You can also use your smartphone to control all the lights throughout your home, whether you’re in the bedroom or hundreds of miles away.

While these are among the most common smart home applications, innovations also have led the way to refrigerators that text you with selfies of their contents, beds that make themselves, and smart toilets that give you a warm seat on cold days.

 

You may not be quite ready to take a leap toward warm toilet seats, but you can take on several projects to get a head start on transforming your home into a smarter home.
 

3 steps to building a smart home

1. Understand the basics.

As with any new innovation, there typically is a slow rate of adoption until people become more familiar with the product. That was the case with the smartphone which first came on the market in 1994 as the IBM Simon Personal Communicator. Priced at about $900 with a two-year contract and weighing in at slightly over a pound, it’s no wonder only about 50,000 were sold in that first wave. About 77 percent of Americans now own a smartphone -- up from only 35 percent in 2011, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center. For many of those owners, the survey revealed, it’s now “something they can’t live without.”

 

Today, the smartphone has been paving the way toward the significantly quicker adoption of smart home technology, especially since it is considered a key component of how a smart home operates. By 2019, about two-thirds of Americans say they expect to have at least one smart home product in their homes, according to a recent survey by the Acquity Group. So, how does the smartphone (and tablets, laptops and computers) figure into the operation of a smart home? Good question.

 

Here’s one example. The latest smart locks are Bluetooth®-enabled so you can control and program the lock through a simple app on your smartphone. With the click of a button, you can unlock the door or create a new personalized code to share witha trusted friend or service professional, allowing them to access the home without interrupting your day.

 

In addition to smart locks, your smart home can have lighting systems that automatically turn on and off, surveillance cameras that keep an eye on things, and thermostats that adjust temperatures depending upon how hot and cold it is outside. All these functions, including many others, also can be controlled remotely through your smartphone, tablet or laptop.

2. Do your research

While many smart home products can be installed within minutes (yes, minutes), it’s best to research the products available to customize a smart home designed with your priorities in mind. It’s also important to determine if there are products you may want to purchase in the future. By doing so, you can come up with an integrated plan that meets your needs and desires.

 

Determine what you and the other people in your household want. More security? Lower electric bills? Safety measures for young children or elderly relatives? More conveniences? Or a more dynamic space for entertaining friends? Maybe it’s as simple as not dealing with your teenager losing the keys to the house. Again. As it turns out, there’s a smart home plan to meet all of those objectives, while staying within your budget. Here are a few examples of what you can accomplish:

 

• Energy-efficient smart home: With a smart thermostat and smart irrigation systems, you can lower bills by using power and water only when you need it. These products automatically adjust to weather patterns or your preferences.

 

• Convenient smart home: Install smart keyless door systems, blinds, lighting systems and motion sensors that will make daily routines simpler. With a click of a button, you can get the coffee going in the morning or the blinds shut, the doors locked, the alarm activated and the lights turned off at night. All from the comfort of your bed.

 

• Safe smart home: Your home can be set up with smart cameras, motion sensors and keyless door systems so that you can keep an eye out for the safety of family members. You can also install smart carbon dioxide and smoke detectors that send messages to your smartphone when something is awry.

 

• Entertaining smart home: If you like the idea of staying at home for movie night, install a smart entertainment system along with smart lighting that pulsates and lights up the room with color along with the action scenes. Your smartphone doubles as the remote control. Your home also can be set up to play your favorite tunes in different parts of the home as you enter a room.

 

As part of your transition to a smart home, gauge your level of comfort with the technology. For example, if you have an automated garage with a keypad, it may not be a huge transition to install a keyless lock that allows you to enter with a code. A smart thermostat that automatically adjusts temperatures may be equally appealing for a first try. You may decide that you’re ready to take the plunge into all the main components a smart home can offer, including technology that gradually determines your living pattern and adjusts accordingly.

 

With either approach, it’s important to select products that can effortlessly interact with each other through one central Wi-Fi controlled hub that acts as the brain of it all. You can purchase a hub that works with all your smart home devices. Some companies like AT&T, Xfinity and Vivint offer home automation packages that include a monthly maintenance fee to ensure the products work together. 

3. Installing and connecting it all

With many of the latest smart home products, DIY installation ranges from ridiculously simple to moderately simple. And installation time can be quick. That new smart lock? Under 15 minutes to install. Smarter thermostat? Home surveillance? Automated lights? Energy-efficient outlets? All about the same – 15 to 30 minutes each with common tools like screwdrivers.

 

Of course, some smart home products are more complex, and may take longer to install or require the assistance of a professional with experience in the industry. Even with DIY-products, you may feel more secure hiring an expert to help with installation as well as the operation of the system.

 

According to a poll conducted by Harris Poll and Lowe’s, 50 percent of Americans would prefer to install smart home products themselves with no monthly fees. About 21 percent said they would opt for a professional to install their smart home systems and pay a monthly maintenance fee.
 

Smart homes in 2022

With innovations for the smarter home moving at a record pace, futurists and other industry experts are predicting that a significant number of Americans will transform their homes at a record pace. According to the research firm Gartner, the average American household will own 500 smart home or connected devices by 2022.

 

If you’re already using your smartphone as an integral part of your day-to-day routines, a smart home could become another component of your lifestyle you can’t live without.

The Schlage Sense™ Smart Deadbolt makes daily life easier and more convenient. Enter an access code on the touchscreen to unlock the door instead of searching your pockets for keys. Pairing the lock with your smartphone over Bluetooth^® is as easy as pairing your phone with your car, and the free Schlage Sense app makes setting up and using the lock as simple as checking email. Share access with trusted friends and family with just a few taps – no more keeping track of spare keys.

 

Now that this smart lock is compatible with Android smartphones and iOS devices, there are a few things you need to know. Check out a few frequently asked questions below.

1. Do I need to create an account to use my Schlage Sense app?

Both new and existing Schlage Sense lock users will be asked to create an account to use with their Schlage Sense app. Creating an account allows you to take advantage of all the latest features that the lock has to offer. If you’ve already been using the Schlage Sense lock with your smartphone, creating an account will not affect your lock’s settings.

2. How do you add an access code?

With the Schlage Sense app, adding and deleting access codes is easy. Simply set up a new code by going to "Add new access code." You can also give the code a name so you always know who should be using that code and even apply an access schedule so the code is only valid during certain days.

3. How do I receive notifications for my lock's activity?

If your lock is set up with HomeKit, you’ll need to add a HomeKit-enabled Apple TV 3rd or 4th generation or an iPad with iOS 10.0 or higher to your home Wi-Fi network. Make sure that the Apple TV/iPad is set up with the same iCloud and iTunes account information as your iPhone. Push notifications may need to be enabled from your iPhone as well. You can customize the types of notifications you receive by going to the Lock Settings > Push Notifications menu.

 

If the lock is set up with the Schlage system option (ideal for Android users or households using both Android and iOS), you’ll need to add a Schlage Sense Wi-Fi Adapter to your home Wi-Fi network. Notifications will be enabled by default from the Schlage Sense app but can always be updated to your preference in lock settings.

4. Will my current Schlage Sense lock work with the Android app?

The current Schlage Sense lock can be updated to the latest firmware to support Android smartphones as well as other new features. If you are currently using the iOS app with the lock, open the Schlage Sense app and accept the firmware upgrade, or go to Lock Settings and tap on the firmware version to request an update.

5. If my lock is already connected to the iOS app, how do I connect it to the Android app as well?

 

To connect your existing Schlage Sense lock that has already been paired with an iOS device, you will need to complete the firmware update then follow the steps to remove your lock and repair it with the app. You can do this by going to lock settings and tapping "Delete Lock." This will return your lock to factory settings which means you will have to reset your access codes.

 

After you've removed the lock from your app, use the app to pair the lock again. This time you will be presented with two options for set up - "Setup with HomeKit" or "Set up with Schlage System." For your lock to compatible with both the iOS and Android smartphone app, you will need to select "Set up with the Schlage System."

6. I'm using an Android smartphone. How do I share access to my lock?

 

Virtual keys are electronic credentials that allow smartphone users to lock or unlock the Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt when in Bluetooth range using the Schlage Sense app. Locks that are paired to your smartphone using the Schlage system setup option support the sharing of virtual keys with other smartphone users – both iOS and Android.

 

To send a virtual key, open the app and select the lock you want to provide access to. Tap the users icon on the bottom right of the screen then select "Virtual keys." Enter the name of the invited user and indicate whether you'd like to provide admin access or guest access (recommended). You can send the invite via email or text. Note that it will only be valid for 24 hours before it expires.

7. How do virtual keys work?

 

When an invited user is within Bluetooth range with Bluetooth on their phone turned on, they will be able to use the Schlage Sense app to lock or unlock the deadbolt.

 

It's important to note that virtual keys will not work with locks set up using the HomeKit option. If you'd like to take advantage of virtual keys, you will need to reset your lock to factory settings and re-pair it using the Schlage system setup noted in number 5.

8. How can I share access with someone who doesn't have a smartphone?

 

The Schlage Sense lock makes it easy to share access to your home with the people who need it. Even if a guest does not have a smartphone or access to the Schlage Sense app, you can provide a unique access code to allow them to unlock the door via the lock's touchscreen.

9. How do I update my lock's firmware?

 

Firmware updates are important because they ensure that your lock has the latest features. The lock will notify the user of a lock firmware update through the Schlage Sense app. Firmware updates for the lock must be performed within Bluetooth range of the lock.

10. How do I update my Schlage Sense lock firmware from Version 3.42 or 3.49?

 

Some homeowners may have experienced trouble updating from lock firmware version 3.42 or 3.49. There is now a way to work around this issue and update to the latest lock firmware. First, make sure you’ve downloaded the latest Schlage Sense app from the App Store or the Google Play store.

 

You will need to re-set your lock to factory settings by deleting it from your account in the app. Pair the lock again by tapping the "Add a lock" icon located at the top left of the main screen. Choose "Setup with the Schlage system" then you'll be prompted to update your lock's firmware. After that, complete the Add a lock process again, this time selecting HomeKit if this is the setup you prefer for your iOS device.

11. I lost my phone. How do I secure my Schlage Sense account?

 

If your smartphone is lost, you can access your Schlage Sense account on another mobile device to change your password and secure your account.

We want to know your Schlage Sense questions! Leave us a note on Facebook to let us know.

It’s almost fall, the days are getting shorter, and it’s time to start swapping out your summer decorations for a look that is more fit for cooler Autumn weather and the season of pumpkin flavored everything. In other words, it’s time to think of fall curb appeal ideas. Redecorating for fall and improving the look of your house doesn’t have to break the bank. There are plenty of budget-friendly ways to make your home stand out.

 

Whether you’re selling your house and want to impress prospective buyers or just want to spark a healthy amount of jealousy from guests and neighbors, your home’s curb appeal is the place to start this fall.

Landscaping

Landscaping is the first step in improving your curb appeal. Summer is over and you don’t need to mow as often as you did at the beginning of the year, but the lawn still needs care. Keep up on the mowing and weeding so that your home looks cared for and welcoming to guests.

 

Fall is also a great time to plant certain year-round plants and trees. Visit your local nurseries to make the most of their year-end sales and spruce up your yard.

 

Landscaping Inspiration: See HouseBeautiful’s post about fall landscaping to learn more.

Front door

You’re probably familiar with the idea of painting your front door to improve your curb appeal as a lot of curb appeal tips revolve around it. And we absolutely agree, in fact, we have a whole Pinterest board dedicated to our love of pretty doors.

 

But paint isn’t the only thing that can improve the look of your front door. Changing your door hardware can really improve your whole entryway. If you’re unsure what would work best with your house, it’s important to think about the style of your home as well as the color of your front door. Schlage has a wide range of front door products that include touchscreen and “smart” locks, so you can find the door hardware that’s perfect for your home.

 

Perfect Door Hardware: Check out all of Schlage’s handlesets to see what’s right for your front door.

Painting

If you’re interested in painting something to give your home a splash of color, don’t limit yourself to the front door. Check out Country Living’s ideas about how to use paint to update your outdoor living space. Painting your porch can really add some brightness to an otherwise unnoticeable space. Whether you are working with wood or concrete, paint can improve the appearance of your porch or patio. If you’re feeling adventurous, you could do what Bella Tucker did and add a fun pattern to your front porch.

 

Front Porch Makeover: See what a difference painting can make.

 

Seasonal plants

Fall doesn’t have to mean the end of colorful plants. There are plenty of options to keep your house looking bright. Mums and pansies last much longer than most flowers and can keep your porch colorful in the fall. Whitney Curtis over at The Home Depot combined flowers with pumpkins and hay to really make her porch feel welcoming.

Fall decorating: Combine pumpkins and flowers like Paula Coldiron of Two Ellie did and make planters out of Styrofoam pumpkins.

 

Check out our Pinterest for more ideas about curb appeal and how to accessorize your front door.

If you're a homeowner with an active lifestyle, or a busy parent with kids who are always coming and going, then Schlage Touch can help simplify your day by eliminating the hassle of keys entirely. If you're on the fence about which electronic lock is best for you, here's everything you need to know about the Schlage Touch™ Keyless Touchscreen Deadbolt.

1. Fingerprint-proof touchscreen

The Schlage Touch lock is equipped with a fingerprint-resistant touchscreen that helps protect privacy of access codes. No matter the weather, you can still use this touchscreen in the rain and while wearing gloves.

2. 100% pick-proof

With no key and no cylinder, there's nothing for you to lose and for would-be intruders, nothing to pick. You no longer need to worry about re-keying your lock or cutting new keys. Simply change the code on your lock whenever you need to give or take away access.

3. 9V battery backup

You may be wondering, if there's no cylinder, how can you get in your home if the battery dies? The Schlage Touch is powered by a 9V battery and because it is a standard electronic lock, the battery life will last two years with a low-battery warning that will alert you long before the battery is completely drained. In the unlikely event that the battery does die, this lock features a 9V battery backup on the front of the lock that allows you to perform a battery jump. Once the battery jump is complete and a valid credential is entered, you'll then be able to rotate the bolt throw and unlock the deadbolt.

4. Security grade

The Schlage Touch deadbolt has the highest industry ratings for residential security, durability and finish (AAA). The Schlage Touch lever Meets residential industry standards for B security rating (C = good, B = better, A = best) and A durability and finish rating (BAA).

5. Can store up to 19 user codes

Codes are easy to set up and easy to change through the Schlage Touch touchscreen. You'll need the original programming code which can be found on the product manual or inside the interior housing as a solid backup. Be sure to checkout our tips for creating a secure user code.

6. Security with options

The Schlage Touch deadbolt provides a little more security on an exterior door. The Schlage Touch with lever is perfect for interior doors that need a little extra protection but a key would be far too inconvenient, like an office or the door leading to a connected garage.

7. Warranty

The Schlage Touch is backed by a 3-year limited electronics warranty and limited lifetime mechanical and finish warranty.

8. Easy installation

The Schlage Touch installs easily in just a few minutes with no wiring needed. The only tool you'll need is a screwdriver. Its slim profile fits easily between the front door and screen door and is guaranteed to fit on standard doors.

The Schlage Touch is perfect for those who want convenient access and a little peace of mind not worrying about lost or stolen keys but aren't interested in the connectivity that smart locks provide. If you decide Schlage Touch is perfect for you, we want to see your makeover photos! Share them with us on Facebook.

Smart locks are meant to make life easier and more connected. If you have a smart lock, have you been using it to its full potential? If you’ve been considering buying one, have you thought about all the ways it could simplify your life? Here are a few examples of how a smart lock could help your day-to-day life.

Keyless Convenience

One of the appeals of smart locks is not having to carry around your house keys. But maybe you’re not sure when that would actually be useful to you. After all, you have to have your car keys, so house keys don’t seem like that much of an inconvenience. From experience, we know having a keyring that is too big to fit in your pocket isn’t particularly enjoyable.

 

But what about going running or biking from your house? Maybe you make use of the little built in pocket in work-out pants, or tie a house key to your shoes. But with a smart lock, you never have to worry about taking the key off your ring to go exercise, or losing it if do. You also don’t have to worry about hiding a lock under the mat or in your mailbox for visitors. The Schlage Sense™ Smart Deadbolt can hold up to 30 access codes so anyone visiting your house can have their own code.

 

Maybe you have a dog walker that comes to your house regularly. Or a lot of maintenance people coming in and out. You either have to give them a key to your house, or leave one hidden for them if you aren’t able to let them in every time. With a smart lock you’ll never have to worry about that again. Give the dog sitter their own access code so they can get in when they need to, and you can know when their code is used. See when your pets are being taken care of instead of worrying while you’re away.

Home sharing

Maybe you have been thinking about listing your home on a site like Airbnb, Home Away, VRBO or something similar. Did you know how useful smart locks can be for home sharing? Because you can set up multiple codes, you can just text your guests their code for their stay. You’ll get extra host points for ease and convenience if you make their access code the last 4 digits of their phone number. That way they know it’s just for them.

 

You can also set time frames for all of the lock’s access codes. That means you can make sure a guest’s access code only works for the time they have rented your house, and you don’t have any strangers with 24/7 access to your home.

Smart home living

Smart locks don’t have to be the extent of your smart home world. The Schlage Connect™ Touchscreen Deadbolt can connect to multiple home automation hubs such as Samsung SmartThings and the Wink Hub. When paired to your home automation hub, the Connect can work with Amazon Alexa devices. Ask Alexa if your front door is locked when you’re getting into bed instead of double checking. Do you live with a child or spouse that leaves the house and never remembers to lock the door behind them? Or maybe you’re the forgetful one. Now you can just ask Alexa to lock the front door.

 

*Update May 9, 2018: Schlage announces new Amazon Alexa voice unlocking capabilities. Get the details here.

 

You can start adding smart products to your home with a home automation hub. Philips Hue lights are an option for smart home lighting that allow you to control color and brightness of your lights through your phone. The Honeywell Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat is a programmable thermostat that can help you save money on your energy bills and keep your home the perfect temperature. Both of these systems work with the same home automation hubs that the Schlage Connect Touchscreen Deadbolt works with. This means that you could set up your home so that the lights and A/C turn on when you unlock your door in the afternoons. Your house will be ready and waiting for you.

 

Do you have other lifehack ideas? Share them on our Facebook page.

It’s that time of year again. The kids are headed back to school, and whether you’re excited or sad about the prospect, Schlage wants to make sure that you’re also prepared. The school year brings all kinds of new situations for families, and a smart lock can help you navigate them.

Keyless convenience

No parent wants their kids to be locked out of the house, but maybe you aren’t ready to give them a key yet. They might be too young for a set of keys, or maybe just forgetful. The keys might fall out of their backpack or just never make in into it. With a lock like the Schlage Connect™ Touchscreen Deadbolt, you won’t have to hide keys under doormats or worry that your kids will have to wait outside until you get home from work.

Scheduling

Scheduling can become difficult once school starts back up. Once after school activities start, no one gets home at the same time, especially if you have more than one child. When you have people coming in and out of your house at all hours of the day, a smart lock is your best friend. The Schlage Sense™ Smart Deadbolt can hold up to 30 access codes, so everyone in the family can have their own code to the front door. If you have an Apple TV or iPad in the home, you can use it to connect your Schlage Sense deadbolt to your iPhone through Apple HomeKit, and use the Schlage Sense app to unlock or lock the door even when you're not at home. Then, if there is ever a time that someone is picking your child up, or gets home before you do, you can let them in with your smartphone.

Curfew enforcer

If your kids are old enough to be going out with friends, you’re probably familiar with staying up and worrying about them until they get home. Or maybe you remember how many things you got away with when you were a teenager and are determined to catch your own children in the act. This can lead to many nights sitting on the couch in the dark waiting to surprise your child as they come in late.

 

When you have the Schlage Sense app installed on your phone, you get notifications when the door is unlocked and which code was used. No more late nights waiting up on the couch worrying about your child, or hoping for that “gotcha” moment. Your deadbolt and smartphone can do all of that for you, and you can get some sleep.

 

Peace of mind

Most importantly, a smart lock can offer you peace of mind. Every parent is going to worry about their kids, and Schlage can’t stop that, but we can help make it better. With the Schlage Sense app, your Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt lets you know when your kids get home from school or practice. You’ll never have to worry about whether or not they’re safe at home again.

 

If you have babysitters or grandparents that come over to watch your kids when you can’t be home immediately after school, Schlage smart locks are perfect for them as well. You can create codes on a schedule that matches when the babysitter is going to be at your house. You also don’t have to worry about making multiple copies of your keys for anyone that might need access. Rest easy knowing your home is safe and easily accessible for your family with Schlage.

 

Check out our Pinterest for more ideas on how our products can fit in to your home.

In my work, I’m frequently surrounded by experts and people heavily immersed in the latest and greatest technology tools and sciences. That makes talking with people who are not as exposed to the Internet of Things (IoT) a special opportunity. I always tell them, the fact is that the success or failure of IoT oriented solutions is all about being flexible.

In my experience, these conversations and interactions quickly become a discussion about operating systems. When the term operating system is used, many of us think about our personal computing devices: phones, tablets, perhaps a laptop. But today’s operating systems aren’t necessarily tied to a single piece of hardware or a traditional “technology tool.” They can be ubiquitous, completely cloud-based and interact with devices based on circumstance.

 

That said, in the more traditional vein we have operating systems for our watches, cars, and I would certainly now argue for our homes. All of these operating systems appear to be on very different paths to maturity, but in reality, they are following a similar map, largely based on the core foundations of their construction.

To understand these paths, start with the basics. For IoT-oriented solutions, the three core contributors to growth/maturity are:

• The cost and availability of sensors
• The decreasing cost of data transport
• The decreasing cost and increasing efficiency of data cleansing/optimization tools

   

Sensors are affordable, and becoming more so daily. These sensors are also delivering more data than ever before. The cost of the pipes and transport of this data continue to decrease and become more accessible. All of this unstructured or “dirty” data is now more easily cleansed, sorted and made available through optimization tools. These are foundational, core trends that feed the ability for IoT operating systems to exist. These core components allow for these maturing operating systems to form, evolve and expand at the rapid pace we are witnessing.

 

I work for a company that makes security and safety products focused on where people work, live and play. My job is challenging and immensely interesting to me, because we are in the process of bridging a divide. On one side are the typically hardened, tough metal objects meant to keep out the people you don’t want coming in, and on the other are newer digital components that are meant to protect but can also enable a higher level of convenience, interoperability and function than ever before.

So let’s focus on the evolving home or building operating system for a moment. Some call them Smart Homes or Smart Buildings. Here we are finding the fusion of energy management, security and most recently, convenience. Historically, energy management and security are well understood. We manage the costs of lighting, HVAC, etc. We understand why it is important to have locks on our doors and to keep our buildings secure. The seed change of the IoT in this operating system is now appearing. By installing connected, smart or sensor-driven devices, we are effectively bringing the element of convenience to more people. As we witness the fusion of these historically disparate elements of energy management, security and convenience together, we can provide a more tailored and personalized experience to the user. In other words, we can provide flexibility.

 

Will my watch, car and home be able to support multiple operating systems? What if I want just one? Or will these operating systems themselves demonstrate the type of flexibility that consumers crave and demand as the technology matures? How will these operating systems evolve? If I choose one, am I stuck? 

Great questions, and early on, operating systems have been very proprietary. History shows us that less proprietary systems are typically faster to evolve and change, allowing them to adopt newer technology to positively impact function, availability and costs. Again, in a word, flexibility.

 

In addition to the influence of traditional market demand-based innovative design and crave-worthy marketing efforts will be the critical elements of security, privacy and the management of data. These elements are potential game changers if not suitably and continuously addressed. There is no flexibility here.

 

Operating systems will become broader and more transparent as IoT-oriented devices and tools enter our lives in masse. The growth curve is undeniable, and the opportunities are becoming much more obvious to even the least exposed observers. The measure of adoption and perhaps most importantly, satisfaction that they deliver will be largely dependent on how flexible they are for the user. To learn more, visit Schlage.com/thoughtleadership.

When choosing and installing keyless locks, ditching the key doesn't mean ditching style, too. Our customers have some of the most beautiful homes so we gathered up real world photos on Instagram to help inspire your next makeover and give you the courage to add a little tech to your front door! Tell us: Which look is your favorite? Be sure to follow us on Instagram for plenty of inspiration!
 

With recent advancements in smart home technology and many brands entering the industry, it's never been easier or more affordable to outfit your home with smart technology. By focusing on a few aspects of your home that could benefit from a little more convenience and security, you'll be living like the Jetsons in no time. But with so many available options, the features can become a little overwhelming. Here are six things you need to know about smart locks before you decide to make the investment.

Ease of installation

Will you need to hire a locksmith to install your new lock or is it a quick and easy DIY project? Be sure to consider available installation manuals and videos before you choose a lock.

 

With the Schlage Sense^TM Smart Deadbolt, installation is easy. Just follow along through the Schlage Sense app for step-by-step instructions. A screwdriver is the only tool you'll need to complete the installation in just a few minutes.

Ease of use

A smart lock that becomes confusing to use is going to add more frustration than convenience to your day-to-day. Make sure you understand all modes of access a smart lock allows and how to share access with a family member or service personnel. It may be too confusing for a friend to download an app to take advantage of keyless entry so you'll want a lock that gives you options.

 

Both the Schlage Sense lock and Schlage Connect^TM Touchscreen Deadbolt allow multiple modes of entry whether it's through an app on your phone, a 4-8 digit PIN or a manual key. Simply create a custom PIN for any guests that need access to your home. No confusing app instructions necessary!

Proven track record for strength and security

At the end of the day, it's important that your smart lock stand the test of time when it comes to keeping your home safe and secure. While there are many smart locks on the market that have plenty of cool features to keep you connected, they fall short when it comes to strength and durability. Choosing a smart lock from a company that has a long history of producing quality deadbolts and locks will give you the peace of mind knowing that even if the wi-fi is out or your batteries fail, you'll still have a durable lock built to protect your home.

 

If you're unsure whether or not a lock passes the strength and durability test, look for locks that are backed by the BHMA certified secure home residential door hardware grade. At Schlage, we put our locks against rigorous testing, such as sledgehammer attacks, attempts to manually pull the lock from the door, and measures of durability that ensure smooth functionality after a lifetime of use. Both the Schlage Sense lock and Schlage Connect lock with built-in alarm received a grade of AAA from the BHMA - the highest rating you can receive in the categories of strength, durability and finish.

Available features

Take the time to learn all the available features for your smart lock. A great lock can do more than lock and unlock! With a Schlage smart lock, you can take advantage of extra features like built-in alarm technology that senses the slightest vibrations against the door and responds with an audible alarm and optional auto-lock technology that automatically locks the deadbolt behind you so you never have to worry about someone forgetting to lock the door again.

Battery life

Make sure you understand the type of batteries used to power your lock and the expected battery life. You don't want to end up with a lock that uses an obscure battery or needs to be changed every month. Schlage smart locks are powered by 4 double A batteries that only need to be changed once a year.

Smart device compatibility

Do you already have other smart devices installed in your home? You'll want to be sure you choose a smart lock that is compatible. Do you have a smart home hub powered by z-wave technology? Then you'll want to choose a z-wave lock, like the Schlage Connect lock. Are you interested in building a smart home within the Apple HomeKit Ecosystem? Then Schlage Sense is right for you.

 

Have specific questions about your smart lock's features or capabilities? Reach out to us on Twitter or Facebook for help!

Have you considered replacing the door hardware in your home, but were overwhelmed with options? We get it. Once you decide whether you want a knob or lever, you have to choose what style of trim you want and the finish. But how do you know what to choose, or what will look best with the rest of your house?

 

This guide goes over the 9 most popular home styles and the best door hardware for those styles, making your life a little easier.

1. Craftsman

Craftsman homes are recognizable by their intricate woodwork or stonework, arched doorways and an emphasis on natural materials. They often have a wide front porch, big fireplaces and exposed beams.

 

Suggested door hardware: Addison trim in Matte Black.

2. Country/Farmhouse

Country and Farmhouse styles of home are updates on the classic colonial. These homes have wide front porches, evenly spaced windows with shutters and wood accents and siding.

 

Suggested door hardware: Camelot trim in Matte Black.

3. Tudor

Tudor homes can be recognized by their steep, multi-gabled rooflines. They have large chimneys, decorative entryways and exteriors often made of brick, stone or stucco.

 

Suggested door hardware: Wakefield trim in Aged Bronze.

4. Victorian

Victorian style homes tend to be very narrow but tall, often three stories or more. With their towers and turrets, which lead to their asymmetrical design, and steep rooflines, they are very recognizable.

 

Suggested door hardware: Brookshire trim in Antique Brass.

5. Ranch

Ranch homes are probably the most common home style. They are single floor homes, often in an L or U shape with an attached garage.

 

Suggested door hardware: Greenwich trim in Satin Nickel.

6. Bauhaus/International/Modern

These homes feature flat or low sloped roofs, geometric lines, large windows and a lot of steel and concrete. They are very sharp, sleek and minimalist.

 

Suggested door hardware: Collins trim in Satin Nickel.

7. Mid-Century Modern

Mid-Century Modern homes are characterized by use of glass and open floor plans. They use a lot of flat lines throughout the architecture and emphasize nature through the placement of big, wide windows.

 

Suggested door hardware: Century trim in Chrome or Polished Nickel.

8. Contemporary

Contemporary architecture puts a lot of focus on nature. Most of the building materials are natural/sustainable like bamboo flooring or granite counters. There is also a lot of natural light brought into the homes using plenty of windows.

 

Suggested door hardware: Upland trim in Satin Nickel.

9. Industrial Modern

This style of home is named for the industrial style they model themselves after. They have exposed components that most homes hide, such as A/C ducts and indoor brick. They also feature big windows and high ceilings.

 

Suggested door hardware: Greyson trim in Matte Black.

Let us help you narrow down the perfect product combination even further. Try our Style Selector tool for help!

 

Smart homes are quickly becoming the new normal. With countless companies making smart products and home automation systems, it can be hard to know where to start. When you’re starting your smart home, Schlage believes that safety should be your first priority. There are plenty of smart devices that can help, like cameras, motions sensors and smoke detectors, but none more simple and familiar than your front door deadbolt.

A background in safety

Schlage has been making locks for more than a century, and we put all that knowledge into our electronic deadbolts. The Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) sets the industry standard for secure home products. All our door hardware, including our electronic deadbolts, has been tested against their guidelines and many have the highest residential BHMA security rating on the market. You can have peace of mind knowing that your home is well protected.

Understanding BHMA security grades

The BHMA has three categories - Security, Durability and Finish - that it grades residential locks on. The three grades they give, “C” for good, “B” for better, “A” for best, are given in each category. The Schlage Connect^TM Touchscreen Deadbolt with Built-In Alarm, Schlage Sense^TM Smart Deadbolt, and the Schlage Touch^TM Keyless Touchscreen Deadbolt and Lever received a rating of AAA from the BHMA.

Security

Security measures the lock’s strength by how well the hardware withstands impact and remains secure.

Durability

Durability tests how long-lasting and functional the door hardware is. The tests to measure durability include ease of opening the door and long-term use of door hardware.

Finish

The finish rating is based on the door hardware not corroding, peeling, etc. over time. Various weather conditions are tested to make sure the product will withstand different climates.

Ditch your keys

When you go keyless, not only do you never have to worry about losing your house keys, you also never have to worry about someone stealing them. No more hiding keys under the mat for guests or making a copy and never getting it back. Just give your guests their own access code. The Schlage Connect™ Touchscreen Deadbolt can hold up to 30 codes for anyone that might need to enter your home.

Never forget to lock up

With the Schlage Sense™ Smart Deadbolt, you’ll never again have to go back home and make sure you remembered to lock your door. Using the Schlage Sense app and Apple HomeKit*, you can lock and unlock your door from anywhere. This is also a great capability to have if you have guests coming over. You can let them into your house from the app whether you’re home or not.

Extra Features

Both the Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt and the Schlage Connect Touchscreen Deadbolt come with extra security features including auto-lock and a built-in alarm. By taking advantage of the built-in alarm feature, your deadbolt will activate an alarm when the lock is tampered with or a significant amount of force is applied to the door. Auto-lock allows you to set your deadbolt to automatically lock after a given amount of time. This way, if you forget to lock the door behind you when you get home, you don’t have to worry about locking up before you go to bed. It will already be done.

Find other home security tips and more on our Pinterest page.

 

*iPad/Apple TV must stay plugged into power at home, connected to Wi-Fi and in Bluetooth range (about 40 feet) of the lock to enable remote access.

It's no secret that we believe you can make a big impact to the curb appeal of your home by focusing on a few key details. But how do those details play out in real life? We've collected a few of our favorite bloggers and asked them to give their take on easy curb appeal updates. See all their before and afters and project tips for perfect curb appeal below!

Designer Trapped

What happens when you already have the perfect front door? Embrace its potential by covering up years of wear and tear with a fresh coat of paint. We love these tips for a dramatic front door update!

The design confidential

Sometimes, adding your own personal touch can be difficult when you have to play within strict neighborhood and HOA rules. By putting together an organized plan, Rayan of the Design Confidential was able to give her curb appeal an update that reflected the interior of her home.

Brooklyn Limestone

When budget is a limiting factor to your curb appeal makeover, you'll want to focus on getting the biggest bang for your buck. When you can't install new lighting or buy a new front door, a few tricks will still help you fall in love with your home's curb appeal. We love these three curb appeal ideas from Brooklyn Limestone!

Our fifth house

Even if you don't love the exterior color of your home, choosing the right paint color and hardware combo could make you fall in love after all! That's exactly what happened when Carmel of Our Fifth House decided to update her curb appeal in a day. We have to admit, this shade of pink is the perfect complement to the green of her home!

Dream green DIY

There's nothing wrong with making your curb appeal updates one step at a time. When Carrie of Dream Green DIY set out to up her curb appeal, she knew she'd be making a more permanent update later on. With a home as architecturally interesting as hers, it pays to really know what look you want. Get inspired by her mid-century curb appeal mood board and see which details are worth focusing on.

Yellow brick home

Sometimes the greatest curb appeal impact is left in black and white. When Kim and Scott of Yellow Brick Home decided to leave their garden apartment doors white, they created a crisp and clean look that offers the perfect reflection of the space beyond the doors. Get their tips for upgrading entry doors and hardware.

Honeybear Lane

Curb appeal isn't always about the style and design of your home. Sometimes a curb appeal upgrade is an added perk when greater convenience and security are the main goals. Get the details on this smart home curb appeal update and see why Heidi of Honeybear Lane can't live without her Schlage Connect!

Making it in the mountains

What if your front door is already perfect but you're craving a quick and easy update? Sometimes a few accessories can make all the difference in your curb appeal style. We love these 5 easy tips for getting a farmhouse front porch look this summer.

Proper curb appeal is one of the number one ways to improve resale value on your home and elevate the overall design. By prioritizing a few key details, you can make an impact that is easy to accomplish on your own and requires minimal investment. Here are 5 steps you should take for quick and affordable DIY curb appeal projects.
 

Spruce up existing landscaping

Take some time this weekend to pull weeds, trim any overgrown plants and low-hanging trees and prune any shrubs and bushes into a more appealing shape. Adding new plants and seasonal color help to create dimension and depth. Keep in mind your house, shutter and door colors when selecting new plants.

Front door makeover

Your front door is often the first thing guests and potential buyers will notice about your home so it pays to make a good impression here first. If a complete door replacement is out of budget, consider adding a fresh coat of paint to spiff things up in no time. Give the look a polishing touch by choosing a new door hardware style and finish. You can choose to match existing hardware or opt for a unique touch by mixing finishes.

Add a few planters

Add a couple of planters with flowers and greenery to really bring your home back to life. If you’re planning on doing this early in the spring and you live in a climate where temperatures are not done fluctuating, be sure to research which types of plants are best when you’re at risk for another overnight freeze.

Unique house numbers

Make it easier for guests to find your home by placing a unique house number that will catch their eye. With so many DIY projects across the Web, it’s easy to create something that goes beyond boring numbers and reflects your personal style.

Spring clean

Give your home a facelift with a fresh pressure wash and keep your gutters free and clear of weeds and debris. Failing to take care of the smallest details can tip off to potential buyers that the home was not well cared for. Also take the time to clean your windows inside and out, taking note of any screens that need repaired or replaced

For even more curb appeal inspiration, be sure to follow Schlage on Pinterest.

There are few curb appeal projects that are easier and more affordable than simply updating your front door. With just an hour or two of your time and minimal tools, adding a fresh coat of paint and complementing hardware could make the perfect impact to your home's curb appeal. Here are our recommended finish pairings based on the color of your front door. Explore your perfect match and maybe try a combo you wouldn't expect.

Blue hues

Cool blue doors work perfectly with the edgy, cold metal look of Bright Chrome and Satin Chrome. Warmer blue doors take on a formal style in Satin Brass, making for a very rich pairing with high contrast. Satin Nickel, a highly versatile finish, adds a more subtle touch of silver.

Green hues

If you're looking for a little more drama, add a dark finish like Matte Black to lighter green doors for striking contrast. Darker green doors pair well with warm finishes like Satin Brass for a modernized version of a classic style.

Aqua hues

Pair a glamorous finish like Polished Nickel with darker aqua doors for a sophisticated yet fun look while the neutral tone of Matte Black works perfectly on a variety of lighter aqua hues.

Yellow hues

Reflective finishes like Polished Nickel and Bright Chrome punch up the drama on bold yellow doors. Aged Bronze features elegant, coppery tones that work well with dark yellows that have a hint of orange.

Red hues

A rich Matte Black lends interest to bold red doors by adding a high contrast element. Fiery red and orange doors work well with Aged Bronze, pulling out subtle coppery accents that peek through the dark finish.

Grey hues

Polished Nickel is the perfect choice to add a touch of sophistication to warmer greys. The mirror-like Bright Chrome adds a touch of character to cool greys.

Black hues

Combine a matte or satin-coated black door with gleaming Satin Brass to add a touch of classic elegance and warmth. Matte Black hardware on shiny, black-lacquered doors makes for a subtle yet chic combination.

We want to see what's on your front doors! Share your photos with us on Facebook and Instagram!

It’s the middle of the summer and the perfect time for a vacation. What you might not know is that is also the perfect time for intruders to break into your home. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, household crime rates are higher in the summer than any other time of year, so it’s important to keep your home secure when you go on vacation. Here are some tips to help keep your house safe and your mind at ease so you can enjoy your time away.

Put your lights on a timer

One way that intruders can find out you’re not home is if your lights stay off for days at a time. Light timers are a great way to fix that. You can set different lights in your house to go on and off at scheduled times to make it look like someone is home.

Hold mail and newspaper delivery

Another easy way to tell that someone isn’t home is a pile of mail and newspapers on the front porch. You could ask someone to pick it up for you daily, or you could contact the post office and ask them to hold your mail for the duration of your vacation. This way, your mailbox doesn’t start overflowing while you are away.

Hire someone to take care of your yard

Depending on how long you plan to be on vacation, your yard might start to look neglected. This may not seem like a big problem, but an overgrown lawn could be a sign to potential intruders that you aren’t home. Ask someone to come mow your lawn while you’re gone or hire a service to avoid any problems.

Be careful what you post on social media

We know you want to post pictures of your vacation online, but it may be safer to wait until you’re home before you share. If an intruder sees your pictures online, they will know that your home is empty and may use the opportunity to break in.

Get a keyless lock for your home

It’s possible that you are going to need people to stop by your home while you are away. Whether it’s to feed your pets, water your plants, or drop off the mail that you asked them to pick up, they will need a way inside your home. Instead of leaving a key under a mat or in one of your planters where an intruder could find it, get a keyless lock like the Schlage Sense™ Smart Deadbolt. You can program codes into the lock for anyone that needs access to your home. You won’t have to worry about hiding a key, and they can simply type their code into the touchscreen. As an added bonus, you can track who has used their codes from the Sense app on your smartphone.

Do you have any other tips and tricks to keep your home safe while on vacation? Share them on our Facebook page!

When it comes to first impressions, your home's curb appeal counts. It's one of the first things people notice and offers a glimpse into your personal style. The good news is, superb curb appeal doesn't always require a major investment. By focusing on these four tips, you can make a first impression that counts.

1. Update your front door

 

Great curb appeal starts with the front door. With a fresh coat of paint and new door hardware that matches the style of your home, you're sure to make an impact that will catch everyone's eye.

2. Highlight your home

 

Adequate exterior lighting not only lets your home shine, but adds an added layer of security as well. For a polished look, coordinate your lighting finish with your front door handleset.

3. Refresh your landscape

 

Adding a few new seasonal blooms to your home's landscaping is a great way to make your home pop. Try swapping your planters with something that coordinates with the color palette of your home or choose a festive look that embraces an upcoming holiday.

4. Make your home spotless

 

A fresh and clean exterior is a great way to show how much you care for your home. With little to no monetary investment required, it's a project that is sure to be worth your time.

Want a home that looks superb from the curb? Follow us on Pinterest for inspiration!

Now that summer is officially in full swing, it's time to give your curb appeal a cheerful boost. Try one of these five ideas for front door decor and start enjoying your summer!

1. Succulent wreath

There's no shortage of DIY summer wreaths across the web but one of our favorite trends recently is the succulent wreath. It's both adorable and chic with just the right amount of personality. Get the look with this DIY wreath from Thistlewood Farms.

2. Address planter

Create a unique way to display your house number and make it simple to switch up your door decor with the seasons. With this DIY address planter, you can simply swap out the flowers with each changing season and holiday. Try a red, white and blue theme for 4th of July to start!

3. Citrus wreath and bright accessories

We can't decide what we love most about this front porch design from HGTV - the lemon wreath? The most cheerful shade of blue? The bright pops of summery colors? Each detail is perfect.

4. Front door greeting

Add a little summer hospitality to your door. We're loving seeing little "hello" decals pop up on front doors or this wreath from Little Vintage Nest is sure to be noticed!

5. fresh and bold paint

Some doors are simply best left to shine on their own as the focal point of your entry. With just a few accessories surrounding to give a cozy touch, the right paint color and handleset combo can be the perfect welcoming touch. We can't get enough of this summery coral front door from Lolly Jane featuring a Schlage Camelot handleset in Matte Black for just the right amount of contrast.

Looking for more door decor inspiration? Follow us on Pinterest for plenty of DIY ideas!

With the rise of farmhouse design, we're seeing dutch doors pop up more and more in both modern and country decor settings. Dating back to the 17th century, dutch doors are certainly not new but homeowners that value casual style are embracing this trend all over again.

 

Dutch doors are essentially a single door that is split in the middle to allow the top half to open while the bottom half remains shut. They are secured together with a latch that allows homeowners to keep the door as one when needed. They typically feature a standard door knob or lever on the bottom half and can house a deadbolt on the top half when used as an exterior door when more security is needed. We recommend taking a look at our traditional or transitional styles for the perfect finishing touch.

Take a look at the seven reasons we think this design trend is worth considering.

1. Add character to your entry

There is certainly something delightful about seeing a dutch door on a home that adds instant personality. Immediately, your guests will see your home as a place that is friendly and welcoming with a touch of relaxed country charm.

2. Let in more fresh air.

There are few things more relaxing than letting the sunshine and fresh breeze flow through your home. Dutch doors provide an opportunity to let your home breathe when the weather is just right. It's even better when you have a breathtaking view like the home below.

3. Keeps pets and children in and unwanted creatures out.

And while you're letting the fresh air in, you don't have to worry about anyone sneaking out - or in - when they're not supposed to. It's a little peace of mind that allows you to enjoy the atmosphere to the fullest.

4. Allows you to easily interact with delivery personnel.

Dutch doors provide the perfect way to greet your delivery person without awkwardly holding a door open and trying to prevent a curious child or pet from escaping.

5. Can be used as an alternative interior door.

Consider adding a dutch door to a bedroom or office as a way to keep children or pets out while letting extra light in. This also lets you keep tabs on what's going on in the rest of your home. If you're the DIY type, check out this tutorial from HGTV that shows you how to turn an interior door into a dutch door.

6. Attractive replacement for baby gates.

Much like in number 5, you can use dutch doors as a stylish replacement (albeit not cheap) for ugly baby gates. You can even consider installing a dutch door at the top of your stairs for extra safety.

7. Options for more privacy when needed.

Dutch doors are available in a variety of styles. You can choose window panes or a solid top half to give you the option for more privacy when the door is not open.

If you live in a climate where bugs are an issue, then exterior dutch doors may not be for you, but if you're looking for an affordable way to add a little more charm to your home, they're definitely worth considering. Do you have dutch doors in your home? We want to see your photos! Share with us on Facebook and Instagram.

Not too old, not too new. Not too ornate, not too restrained. The middle ground doesn’t have to be boring — quite the opposite. By elevating nearly any look, these styles show that flexibility isn’t just functional; it’s beautiful.

 

Transitional style is adaptable yet ever-evolving, borrowing trends and fashions from design movements throughout history. This design style stems from a movement focused on blending design styles and eras, a concept that became popular in American homes around the mid-1940s and has carried through to present day.

 

Here are the perfect door hardware pairings you should consider for your transitional home.

Trim

The subtle details in our trim options establish a profound foundation for your door hardware. Give your home a unique touch by choosing a trim that perfectly reflects your transitional style.

Camelot Trim

Greenwich Trim

Wakefield Trim

Knobs & levers

Take your transitional style up a notch by choosing the perfect knob or lever to accentuate your favorite trim above. These classic looks below never go out of style.

Georgian Knob

Plymouth knob

Accent lever

Merano lever

Sacramento lever

Finishes

Complete your transitional door hardware set with a finish that coordinates perfectly. Here are three we'd recommend below.

Satin nickel

Bright chrome

Matte black

For even more help building the perfect door hardware set for your transitional home, check out our style selector tool.

Home-sharing sites like Airbnb, VRBO (Vacation Rental by Owner) and HomeAway are popular choices for travelers looking for an authentic experience in a new city or something a little more price friendly than a hotel. But as a home-share host, there are a lot of things to take into consideration before opening your home to renters. Most sites provide thorough home-hosting checklists to ensure that you will be comfortable as a host.  A lot of those things revolve around making sure your guests will be comfortable and have all of the amenities they need. When hosting, it is generally smart that you include basics like bed sheets, a wi-fi password and where the extra toilet paper is. But the most important consideration is getting your guests through the front door.

 

Are you planning on being home to let them in? Will they need you every time they want to come in and out? Will you give them a spare key to your house? That could lead to a lot of problems, like them copying your key, guests waiting at your door, or you losing sleep. Thankfully, Schlage’s keyless locks are the perfect solution for these problems.

Don’t worry about being home for check-in

You won’t ever have to be home for your guests to check-in again. With an electronic lock, you no longer have to give your guest the keys in person. For example, with the Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt^TM, you can program a different code for each guest from your smartphone. With their own personal code, your guests can get in and out without you giving them a key or needing a lock box.

 

Pro Hosting Tip: Using the Schlage Sense iPhone App,you can be in total control of your home using the device that’s already in your pocket.

No learning curve

One of the best things about Schlage electronic locks is that there is no learning curve for your guests. You don’t have to ask them to download and familiarize themselves with an app prior to arriving at your house. And you don’t have to teach them any difficult technical skills to interact with your lock. With many of the Schlage locks, like the Schlage Connect^TM, all your guest needs to do to get in the door is enter their code into the illuminated touchscreen.

 

Pro Hosting Tip: To keep codes organized, memorable and personal, program the guest’s code as the final four digits of their phone number.

Know your house is safe

The best part about using an electronic lock when putting your house on Airbnb, or similar house-sharing sites, is the added layer of safety that it brings. Locks like the Schlage Touch^TM take electronic locks one step further by eliminating keys entirely. Not only will your guests feel safer in your home, knowing that you created a lock code specifically for them, but you can also feel safer knowing that with no keyhole, there is no lock for intruders to pick. Schlage electronic locks make hosting home-share guests an easy experience.

 

Pro Hosting Tip: With Schlage locks like the Sense and Connect, you can set time frames for each code so that as guests leave, their code will expire and they cannot get back into your house.

 

Have you used a wireless lock while hosting with Airbnb before? Share your hosting tips with us on Facebook.

Making a good first impression is important. Whether it’s potential buyers or family and friends, your home’s curb appeal is the first thing that people will notice about your home. But just as important ­­­is making sure that your home is safe. So, we’ve put together a list of things that you can do to improve both curb appeal and your home’s security.
 

Landscape

Landscaping is probably the first thing on everyone’s list when thinking of ways to improve curb appeal. There are a lot of ways to update your landscape and improve the look of your house ranging from fast and inexpensive to big projects that can take time and possibly require outside help. Some of our favorite, smaller projects to quickly improve your garden area are these Better Homes and Gardens suggestions for re-edging your garden plots and creating a new container garden.

 

While you’re at it, there are also a couple of things that you can do to your landscape to make your home safer. One of those things is trimming your hedges to make sure that they aren’t blocking the sight line to your windows or door. This removes the possibility of an intruder hiding in plain sight of your home. Another thing you can do, especially if you are planning on going out of town, is to make sure that your lawn is maintained. An unkempt lawn can be an invitation to thieves.

Garage

Fixing up your garage may not be the top priority when it comes to updating the exterior of your home, but it is a great way to increase your home’s security. Older garage doors may be easier to break into or open from the outside, and some states have standards for garage doors to make sure that they are able to stand up to the weather. If you haven’t ever replaced your garage door, it may not be up to safety standards. Also consider adding a Schlage Touch to your garage door. The keyless deadbolt adds another layer of security to your home without adding an extra key onto your ring.

 

There are also some easy and affordable projects that you can do for your garage to give it a whole new, more welcoming look. One of our favorites is this faux wood garage door stain from Domestically Speaking. We also love this DIY arbor project that would definitely up your curb appeal.

Door

Having a welcoming entrance may be the most important aspect of your home’s curb appeal. Your front door can make or break someone’s impression of your home, so updating it is a quick way to drastically improve the look of your home. You don’t have to get a new front door to make it feel like new though, a coat of paint can do wonders. We suggest painting the door a contrasting color to your house like Camila Pavone did for her front door. While you’re at it, replacing your house numbers can add some extra personality to your front entrance.

 

Replacing the hardware on your front door is another way to both improve the look of your home and increase security. The Schlage Sense™ Smart Deadbolt is easily installed and not only makes carrying your house keys around unnecessary, it also comes with a built-in alarm to protect your home from any unwanted visitors.

Lights

Once you’ve done all the work to improve your home’s curb appeal, it would be a waste if guests could only see it in the daylight. After all, guests tend to come over in the evening. Outdoor lighting can help to highlight all of the best features of your house and yard. Get some outdoor lighting ideas from the DIY Network.

 

Maybe you don’t have a lot of evening guests or you aren’t all that worried about making sure that people see your landscaping at night. Before dismissing outdoor lighting, consider that a well-lit house is also a deterrent for thieves. Landscape lighting can get rid of the dark areas in your yard that could hide an intruder.

Have you taken your home’s curb appeal to the next level? Share what you’ve done on our Facebook and Instagram pages for a chance to be featured on our Instagram!

We all know that moms deserve so much and more for everything they sacrifice and do for their families. This year, let mom know how much you care by giving her the gift of convenience and peace of mind with a smart, keyless lock. Here are 12 reasons why this could be the perfect gift for Mother's Day.

1. For the working mom

Help mom know exactly when the kids get home from school by setting up alerts that notify her when the door is unlocked. She can even have a custom code for the nanny, dog walker and grandparents so they can easily come and go.

2. For the mom always juggling a million things at once

With a smart lock, mom doesn't need to worry about juggling the kids, groceries, shopping bags, mail and fumbling for her keys. With the touch of a button on her smart phone, she can command her deadbolt to lock and unlock. With the Schlage Sense Smart deadbolt, she can even ask Siri to unlock the door as she approaches.

3. For the mom on the go

Schlage's connected locks are each equipped with a customizable auto-lock feature. Mom can set her deadbolt to automatically lock after being unlocked for a certain period of time which means she can continue her day without worrying whether or not the last kid out the door locked the deadbolt.

4. For the tech loving mom

Help mom get one step closer to a fully automated home. Whether she's a HomeKit^TM fanatic or prefers a voice activated smart home with Amazon Alexa, there's a smart lock that's perfect for her.

5. For the mom with older kids

Remove mom's worry that one of the kids will lose their key at recess or on the bus and get rid of that spare key that's never hidden really well. With a smart lock, each child can have his/her own access code that's easy for them to remember and gives mom peace of mind.

6. For the exhausted mom

There's nothing worse than for an exhausted mom to finally crawl into a warm cozy bed only to worry she may have left the front door unlocked. With a smart lock, she can easily command her door to lock from the comfort of her bed and avoid disturbing any sleeping children at the same time.

7. For the active mom

Give your mom the freedom to go for a run or walk without getting weighed down by keys. With Schlage's keyless locks, there's flexibility to choose how you access your home so she can leave the phone behind and use a keyless code instead.

8. For the mom with a vacation home

Make it easy for your mom to give access to guests via custom keycodes that can easily be added and removed from the app. She can even apply a schedule to the codes so they automatically become inactive upon checkout.

9. For the mom who just moved to a new home

Give mom the peace of mind that comes with a lock graded best in security, durability and finish by the BHMA. Just look for the AAA on the BHMA certified secure home label on packaging.

10. For the mom with curious toddlers

With Schlage's built-in alarm technology, mom can set her lock to activity mode to alert her anytime the door is opened. She also never has to worry about accidentally getting locked out - whether the kids are inside or on the outside of the door with her just waiting for the impending meltdown.

11. For the brand new mom

Make it easy for friends and family to swing by with food and gifts for the new parents by unlocking and locking the door from anywhere. No need for a recovering mom with a sleeping baby to answer the door.

12. For the empty-nester mom

Set up mom's smart home automation so she never walks into a dark home when unlocking her door. She can also assign a custom code for the handyman or other service personnel that may be in and out of her home, freeing her to enjoy the empty-nester life away from the home.

How are you planning to show mom how much you care this year? Share your gift ideas with us on Twitter and Facebook!

We love seeing our door hardware out in the real world and think our customers have some of the best style! We gathered up the most Instagram-worthy front door styles to help inspire your front door makeover this spring. Share your front doors with us by tagging us on Instagram or Twitter for a chance to be featured!
 

There are a lot of things to think about when putting your house up for sale. But have you considered getting a smart lock? Not only can it make your home more attractive to buyers, it can also provide peace of mind during the stressful process.

1. People in and out of your home

When you’re selling a home, people are coming and going constantly. Whether it is the realtor showing prospective buyers around or service providers coming to make repairs or clean, it’s impossible for you to be home every time someone needs to get in. Instead of leaving your door unlocked or leaving a key under a plant, a smart lock can keep your house secure while still allowing access to those you trust. You can use an app to program new access codes into the lock, even setting schedules for when those codes can be used. And because you’re notified when they are used, you can keep a better eye on who is in your house and when.

2. What buyers look for

Smart home devices are becoming more in demand and expected for buyers. In a 2016 report, The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) said that 37% of clients find smart locks very important. Installing a smart lock on your front door is a simple and affordable first step towards making your house “smart.” With 42% of surveyed clients saying they are interested in smart home devices, a smart lock is a great way to spark buyers’ interest in your home.

3. Curb appeal

The first impression is sometimes the only impression when it comes to a potential buyer. While there are plenty of major upgrades that will increase your curb appeal, updating front door hardware is one of the easiest and most noticeable improvements you can make. Use the product selector to find the perfect door hardware for your home and refresh the front of your house in minutes.

Have you already gone keyless or are ready to make the switch? Share with us on Instagram or Facebook why you are going keyless with Schlage or check out our keyless options to see what would work best for your home!

Everyone knows spring is the time to deep clean and organize, but many people overlook their outdoor spaces in favor of organizing closets and dusting the tops of the cabinets. Spring marks the time of year when you can start entertaining outdoors and having barbecues, so we think that making sure that your patio is inviting and ready for guests should be at the top of your spring cleaning list.

1. Furniture

Your patio furniture has been in storage for the winter, and if you’re lucky, there are just a few cobwebs to dust off. More likely, it could use a good deep cleaning. Soon there will be guests sitting on those chairs. They appreciate your attention to detail and remember patio get-togethers as particularly polished when they’re treated to sparkling clean patio furniture. Check out these tips on how to clean your patio furniture and get it ready for entertaining.

2. Patio

Chances are, the winter wasn’t too kind to your patio. You can create a much more welcoming space by power washing your patio and cleaning off all of the dirt and grime that has built up over the past year. There are plenty of stores that allow you to rent power washers.

3. House

While you have the power washer, don’t neglect your house. A clean patio is great, but pairing it with an entire exterior that’s been freshly scrubbed will make your house truly stand out. Use the power washer on the exterior of the home as a quick and easy way to brighten your outdoor space.

4. Windows

Your windows are another easy way to make your space feel cleaner and more put together. The outside of your windows probably don’t get cleaned regularly, especially during the winter. Spend a little bit of time wiping them down to help get the outside and inside of your house ready for warm weather and guests.

5. Door hardware

One of the easiest and quickest ways to add some flair to your outdoor area is to make sure all exterior doors are fitted with fresh, up-to-date hardware. Maybe your current hardware is outdated and doesn’t fit the space, or you want to add an extra layer of security to the back entrance. It’s easy to choose the perfect product for your door. Once you’ve decided on the hardware, you can install it on your existing door, even if it doesn’t have the correct pre-existing holes, like Shavonda Gardner did on her doors.

Do you have a great patio space that’s ready for spring? We want to see it! Share your pictures on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

By Rob Martens, Futurist and VP of Strategy and Partnerships at Allegion, maker of Schlage.

 

Most people have heard of the Internet of Things by now, but few are familiar with the possibilities this platform opens for businesses and consumers alike. This platform, that has long been associated with the smart home, offers real and tangible value beyond the cool factor. Consumers and businesses fail to recognize that the Internet of Things acts as a key component to the daily operations of companies in several industries, such as fitness, agriculture and fashion. 

 

A sensor does not make a product or technology part of the “Internet of Things”, it’s all about creating a holistic experience for the end user. It’s time consumers and businesses drop this notion and realize the positive impacts this technology has or could have. From the clothes we wear to the food we eat, the IoT is creating new conveniences and helping us maximize our resources every day.

 

Beyond Fitness Trackers, IoT Taps into Equipment

Most people are familiar with wearables that track fitness like Fitbit. The IoT is also taking exercise machines a step further into the future by creating realistic and tangible user experiences. The Peloton Cycle Exercise Bike, for example, comes with a screen that allows you to connect to real-life classes hosted by fitness trainers, giving users access to world-class instructors and allowing them to compete with other users from the comfort of home. With the busy schedules many of us keep, it’s easy for self-care to fall to the bottom of the priority list. Connected fitness machines make it easier to prioritize fitness by saving time spent traveling to the gym, and encouraging healthy competition between users all over the world.

 

Hotels are even catching on, providing Peloton bikes within the room so guests can get their exercise without heading down to the gym. This is a smart idea in that it differentiates those hotels and draws guests away from the competition by offering a premium experience. The bike’s ability to import data from your wearables means you have access to the latest health metrics whether you’re using a hotel’s bike or your own. And perhaps best of all, when Peloton added tech, they didn’t sacrifice good design. The bike is one of the most attractive fitness machines on the market, and sturdily made so it can handle intense exercise sessions.

IoT Provides Solutions to Farmers and Harvesters

The IoT is even helping to maximize our agricultural resources. Farmers face immense challenges in creating a steady crop yield year over year – unpredictable weather, water shortages, and limited availability of land can impact the yield significantly. Brilliant IoT innovators have been focusing their expertise in this industry for years to create some pretty amazing resources to help solve those problems, increasing the quality, quantity and sustainability of agricultural production.

 

Large farms can now use remote sensors to monitor the amount of moisture in the soil and even the amount of growth the crop has achieved. Harvesters can now be controlled from anywhere in the world, provided there’s an Internet connection available. Inventors have even begun using artificial intelligence to analyze metrics about the crop and even weather patterns to make predictions about the future, taking some of the guesswork out of a traditionally unpredictable industry. This is not just great news for farmers – it’s great news for everyone because it increases crop yields to make food more widely available.

Fashion Meets Technology

The fashion world is even beginning to catch onto the many benefits of the IoT. Most people today appreciate the ability to customize; we want our clothes, our homes, our cars, everything we own to not only behave in ways that make the day go smoothly and conveniently, but to reflect who we are as people. We live in an increasingly connected world in which we interact with new people more frequently. First impressions are more important than ever, so the ability to express who you are through the clothes you wear has become equally important.

 

Services like NikeID allow you to customize your product (in their case, shoes) from the ground up. You start with a blank canvas, choose the basic structure of the shoe based on the functionality you want, and then you get to customize the fun stuff – materials used, colors and graphic prints. You can even choose how the bottom of the shoe looks. Another service called Trunk Club behaves as a personal fashion assistant, a luxury typically reserved for the rich and famous that’s becoming available to all thanks to the IoT. The service shows you several style combinations and asks for your opinion, building a profile of your tastes that allows it to make suggestions based on what it knows you like. It even seeks out the clothes that are best for your body type, as well as those that fit within your budget, so you aren’t pressed into spending more than you normally would.

The reason these innovations work is that they create a holistic experience for the end user. It’s not about the latest gadget or simply adding sensors to everyday items – it’s about integrating technology into your lifestyle in a way that makes sense and creates convenience and efficiency. It’s about creating a beautiful user interface, in terms of both usability and design. It’s about providing you with the essential knowledge you need in order to be as successful as you can. In its simplest terms, the IoT is about making life better, and the opportunities to do that are boundless. Every industry on the planet, and even the planet itself, stands to benefit from technology used in this way.

To learn more about Schlage’s stance on the tech landscape, please visit schlage.com/thoughtleadership.

Your foyer is the first thing to welcome you home each day and the first introduction to your personal style your guests will see. Make sure it is both welcoming and coordinates with the rest of your home by including these six elements below.

1. Coordinating door hardware

If you're still rocking the same door hardware that was installed when you moved in, it may be time to for an update that coordinates well with other style elements in your home. Take a look at existing lighting and fixtures, consider the style of your home and choose a style and finish that adds the perfect finishing touch. You'll be pleasantly surprised by how well door hardware completes the look. Try our style selector tool to help you get started.

2. Adequate lighting

There's nothing more welcoming than a vibrant, well-lit space. If your entryway has the tendency to look like a dungeon, consider installing new lighting that brings it to life. You can even opt for smart lighting that illuminates as soon as you unlock your front door with one of our connected smart locks.

3. Organization

It's easy to get home and throw your bags, coat, shoes and everything else you're carrying on the floor or nearest table. Tackle the chaos before it starts by adding a little organization right when you walk in. Install hooks for coats and bags, a shoe tray for shoes, and even a decorative crate or bucket to catch miscellaneous accessories.

4. Landing strip

The landing strip is also a key component of the organization you need above but is so important, it deserves its own callout. Add a table or even a slim shelf for small entryways to catch keys, mail, your phone, and other small miscellaneous items you may be carrying.

5. Place to sit

Give yourself and your guests an easy place to remove shoes by adding a chair or bench to your entryway. You can even save a little room by using the space below to organize shoes and accessories.

6. Durable rug

Finally, add the finishing touch with a rug that is both stylish and can stand up against whatever you may track in from outside. Resist the urge to choose something too light that will need replaced after a few weeks of wear and tear but don't be afraid to have a little fun with prints and color.

Ready to get started? Check out these DIY entryway projects to help you complete a space affordably and with your own personal touch.

Contemporary spaces rely on the simplicity of color and shape to provide their aesthetic appeal, rather than elaborate design. With a focus on clean lines and basic shapes, Contemporary style was made popular throughout the design movements of the late 20th century. If that sounds like your personal style, take a look at the perfect door hardware pairings you should consider for your contemporary or modern home.

Trim

The subtle details in our trim options establish a profound foundation for your door hardware. Give your home a unique touch by choosing a trim that perfectly reflects your modern or contemporary style.

Century Trim

Collins Trim

Greenwich Trim

Greyson Trim

Upland Trim

Knobs & levers

Take your contemporary style up a notch by choosing the perfect knob or lever to accentuate your favorite trim above. These classic looks below never go out of style.

Broadway lever

Latitude lever

Manhattan lever

Merano lever

Northbrook lever

Bowery knob

Finishes

Complete your contemporary door hardware set with a finish that coordinates perfectly. Here are four we'd recommend below.

Satin nickel

Bright chrome

Polished nickel

Matte black

For even more help building the perfect door hardware set for your contemporary home, check out our style selector tool.

When installing one of Schlage's levers with a curved design, you may find that you need to switch the handing. This happens when the lever points towards the door edge instead of away from it during installation. The good news is, Schlage makes this process quick and easy with just a few steps below.

1Locate the pin tool that came with your lock.

2Insert the tool into the small hole on the lever base and gently depress the retainer pin while pulling the lever away.

3Remove and exchange both levers.

4As you re-install, make sure the retainer pin lines up with the small hole on the lever base. You will hear the lever snap into place.

5Gently pull on the lever to ensure it's secure.

That's it! Changing the handing is easy as that. 

When it comes to choosing the right door hardware for your home, quality and safety matter just as much as the perfect style. That is why Schlage volunteers our door hardware for testing against the highest standards, like the new Builder's Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) residential grading system. Here's what you need to know about the new BHMA Certified Secure Home^TM label you'll see on all of our packaging.

 

BHMA is a group of industry experts who grade residential door hardware performance in the categories of Security, Durability and Finish. A grade of ‘C’ is good, ‘B’ is better, and ‘A’ is best. A grade of AAA is the best grade possible in all three categories.

The categories.

Durability: 

A measure of functionality.

 

Determined by how well the hardware can withstand repeated, long-term use with thousands of cycles of turning the lock, latching it, unlatching it, and turning it again.

 

Testing requirements measure:
 

Ease of use when the door changes its fit into the frame as seasonal temperatures rise and fall 

Smooth functionality after a lifetime of use (approximate to 100 years of being used 10 times per day) 

Resistance to dents, like banging keys or purses against the lock when entering

Finish: 

A measure of resilience against the elements.

 

Evaluation of the surface coating or texture of the hardware and its ability to resist softening, bubbling, peeling, discoloring or corroding over time.

 

Testing requirements measure resistance to:
 

Scratching 

Wear and tear from exposure to elements like salt, humidity and UV rays 

To know how each product stacks up against these ratings, look for the BHMA certified label above on packaging. How does Schlage rate against this standard? See our guide to lock security grades on schlage.com for more details.

Giving your home a fresh new look for spring doesn't always require a full remodel. By focusing on a few key details that tie a space together, you can give your home a refresh in no time. Here are five details that are easy to complete and will take your style up a notch.

Which room in your home would be the easiest to refresh? Comment below to let us know!

By Rob Martens, Futurist and VP of Strategy and Partnerships for Allegion, maker of Schlage.

 

One of the things I love most about technology is that every device begins its life as an idea. In decades past, inventors, futurists like myself, and even science fiction writers have spent countless hours imagining ways the future can be better through the advancement of technology. But it’s not only about ground breaking ideas, major advancements, or that moment when the idea becomes reality. Technology has its greatest impact when it becomes accessible enough for everyone to benefit from – when the idea becomes practical.

 

 

We may not have reached the age of flying cars, but now you can lock your car (or your front door) from the other side of the planet, so you don’t have to spend your entire vacation wondering if your belongings are safe. The technology used to do this is fairly simple and has existed for quite a while, yet using it in this practical way may seem like a new idea.

That’s because it takes time for a new technology to grow from just an idea into an actual device, and even more time to become accessible enough for everyone to benefit from. When technology becomes more accessible, it evolves even further as we find alternate ways it can become practical in our daily lives. For example, in just the past few decades the smartphone has completely changed the way we live. We still use them to make calls, but as smartphones have become more and more accessible they’ve also made mobile access to the Internet widespread across the country, giving rise to new services and cultural behaviors that weren’t possible before.

The smart home space is an especially exciting example of this evolution because advancements are happening so rapidly that the possibilities for real-world application expand every day. That moment when a new technology becomes affordable and performs well enough to make its way into the mass market is extremely important in opening up those possibilities. However, in order for a technology to become relevant enough to change the cadence of our lives and even our society, it must be truly demystified for the user.

A lot goes into that demystification. Smart home tech is truly successful when it adds convenience to our lives, and it can only do that when it is simple for any user to set up and begin using. The smart home is no longer about investing significant time and resources into hiring a professional to set up a complex, whole-home system with a user manual the size of a novel. These days, it’s easy to start with one device that works with a smartphone right out of the box and is easily integrated into your daily routine. Smart locks are a great example of this.

In other words, smart home technology is evolving from futuristic idea to practical application rapidly, and it’s no longer just for early tech adopters. It’s for your mom, your grandparents, your kids – anyone moving fast through the day who needs technology to make life easier without causing disruption. This level of accessibility takes smart home to the next level: no longer ‘smart’, but simply ideal. A home that is fluid and adaptable based on our daily, changing needs. No longer a luxury for a select few, but completely obtainable and customizable for all, one piece at a time.

Part of the demystification process is also understanding how these devices can actually be useful and make life easier. Why would you want to be able to control your lock with your smartphone? Because I was in a hurry this morning, and it’s incredibly comforting that I can double check from my office whether I locked the front door behind me. Why connect it to another device? Instead of fumbling for the light switch in the dark when I get home late, the lights come on automatically as I unlock the door. I may be biased, but the easiest way to try smart home tech for the first time is with your door lock. It’s the entry point to your home, and where so much of the magic can happen.

What’s most important is that it’s easy for me to set up my smart lock and integrate it with other devices without having to understand every detail of the technology. They work seamlessly, and they add a moment of convenience to my day without interrupting my routine. This convenience is exciting because it’s no longer just an idea for futurists to consider, but available today to everyone. That level of accessibility is the true future of the smart home –and it’s happening now. To learn more, visit Schlage.com/thoughtleadership.

When it comes to interior design, the details matter. It's easy to become focused on the major elements, like paint colors and furniture, and overlook the little things. When it's all said and done, it's the details that really set a room off and tie everything together. Here are five elements that are easy to update and make a major impact on the style of your home.

1. Door hardware

Updating your door hardware is an easy project that puts the finishing touch on your space. Try upping your style game but installing a new style and finish that coordinates well with existing hardware and accessories in your home.

2. Lighting

Whether you want to add style or function to your space, new lighting can freshen up any room. Try a finish that coordinates with your door hardware and opt for a fixture that brings adequate light into the space.

3. Hinges

Don't let the fear of installing new hinges keep you from trying a new finish on your door hardware. Replacing hinges with a coordinating finish is an easy project when you follow a few simple steps. Check out our step-by-step guide to installing new hinges to see for yourself.

4. Plumbing & fixtures

Consider updating your bathroom and kitchen faucets to a style and finish that complements your personal style. Uncoordinated hardware can be the single element keeping your home from feeling put together.

5. Accessories

Once you've completed installation of your new hardware, set it off with a few accessories that either match or complement the finish. Add a few pops of color for a fun twist or stick to a neutral palette for a sophisticated look. Whatever your personal style, bring it to life in the details.

We want to help you complete the details in your home and simplify your next DIY project. Follow along with us on Facebook and Instagram for plenty of inspiration.

When it comes to style and design, the details make all the difference. Replacing your door hinges will not only add beauty to your home, but also improve door function. It's an update that's as much about aesthetics as it is utility. And the good news is that installing new door hinges is a lot easier than you might think.

 

If you haven't seen our tips on choosing the right door hinges, check that out now. Once you're ready to install, simply follow these steps below.

Required tools

Before you get started, you will need a Phillips screwdriver and tape measure. You may use a cordless screwdriver but this tool is optional.

Installation Instructions

The easiest way to install new door hinges is to leave the door in place throughout the process. There's no need to remove the door if you replace hinges one at a time.

 

1 First, you'll need to remove the screws on both leaves of the existing hinge.

 

2 Simply remove and replace the old hinge with the new hinge.

 

3 Screw the new hinge in place.

 

4 Repeat the process for each remaining hinge, one at a time.

 

That's it! Replacing door hinges is an easy project you can complete in no time at all. For a complete step-by-step look, check out our video tutorial for replacing and upgrading new hinges.

Whether you want to revamp your curb appeal or give your interior a quick upgrade, Schlage's door hardware makes it easy to add the finishing touch to your home. Check out this video to see how door hardware can make a major impact.