Building Your Smart House: How to Set Up Smart Lights In (And On) Your Home

Are you on a mission to build out your very own smart house? If so, you’re not alone!

Nearly one-third of homeowners are embracing smart home technology and two-thirds of that segment say these intelligent devices are “indispensable.”

And one of the very best smart home features to get you started? Smart lighting.

Smart lights come with plenty of perks.

They can help set the mood, whether you’re hosting a movie screening or working to wake up more easily each morning. They can provide greater peace of mind when it comes to home safety and security. And they’re often more energy-efficient without sacrificing ease of use and convenience.

So, does adding smart lights around your home sound like a bright idea? Here’s how to get started.

Determine Your Needs

First things first, you’ll want to figure out your smart lighting goals.

Start by asking yourself a few questions:

• What do you want to achieve in your smart house? A cozy atmosphere? Better energy efficiency? Enhanced security? Ultimate convenience?
• What does each specific room need? For example, could your living room TV use some backlighting? Does the kitchen need brighter light for cooking? Would a few more exterior lights make the garage safer and more secure?
• How do you plan to control your smart lights? Do you already have an app or voice assistant your lights could connect to? Would motion-sense technology make more sense?
• What do you want the light to look and feel like? Do you have any preferences around color, temperature, and brightness?
• Do you plan to automate any lights? For example, should the coffee bar lighting come on automatically every morning? Maybe the porch lighting turns off at the same time?
• What is your budget for smart lighting? How much can you realistically spend on this project?

Take a few days to sort out your thoughts. And be honest!

Decide on a System

Once your goals are all clear, it’s time to pick out a system.

There are tons of impressive smart lighting products on the market these days. Whether you go with Phillips Hue or Govee bulbs, make sure the system you choose takes into account:

• Bulb type (standard, candle, tube, etc.).
• Brightness (measured in lumens in lightbulbs).
• Temperature (measured in kelvins in lightbulbs, ranges from “daylight” to “warm white” or “blue sky” to “candle”).
• Existing smart home system (ensure your smart lights are compatible).
• Connectivity (Bluetooth versus Wi-Fi).
• Features (dimming, color-changing bulbs, motion sensors, voice control, scheduling, etc.)
• Ease of use (mobile apps, live support, etc.).

Tackle Installation (Or Hire a Guy)

Once you’ve decided on a system and received your lights, it’s time for set-up!

The specific directions will depend on the smart lights you’ve purchased, and it’s always a good idea to read through the user manual. But, in general, our top tips include:

• Ensure your network of choice is stable and strong enough to support smart lighting.
• Check the power sources you plan to use.
• Map out each light so you know where everything goes.
• Install lights, whether mounting them or simply screwing in bulbs.
• Download the corresponding mobile app.
• Give each light a clear name to minimize confusion.
• Adjust lighting and color to your preferences.
• Group lights that can work in concert (living room lighting, bedside table lamps, etc.).
• If possible, create saved “scenes” (like “Movie Lighting”) to minimize work after set-up.
• Take some time to set up motion or voice controls.
• If possible, schedule lighting changes.
• Check for any updates on a regular basis, to ensure your lights stay in tip-top shape.

Of course, if that all sounds like a bit much, you can always hire this project out. And if you don’t have a regular handyman just yet, don’t worry. The smart light provider might have recommended installers, or you can check out one of the many online marketplaces now offering home services. Think: TaskRabbit, Thumbtack, Angi, etc.

Get Creative

Once your smart lights are up and running, and you’re one step closer to the ultimate smart house, it’s time to experiment.

Double-check that your scheduled lights are turning on and off as instructed.

Play around with color, brightness, and temperature.

Add or subtract lights until you’ve created the very best vibe.

And maybe think about any ways you could tweak or improve your set-up moving forward. 

Remember: The goal of smart-home technology is to make your environment work for you. If you can dream it, there’s probably some smart home gadget that can achieve it!

Wrapping Up: Smart Lights for Your Smart House

So, have you seen the light?

Whether you’re investing in smart lighting to wind down after work or beef up your home security, these nifty devices could serve as one step toward your ultimate smart house.

All you need to do is clarify your goals, pick a system, nail the installation, and flex your creative muscles. Then, bask in the glow of a job well done!