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.

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.

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.

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!