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Nothing feels smoother than asking Alexa or Siri to turn off the lights… except for the part where you have to silence all your guests before you do. Not a good look.
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When setting up your smart home, it’s easy to focus solely on voice assistants. But Voice technology still lags behind when it comes to the detailed requests you want to make to create the perfect mood. “Turn the living room lights to warm white at 50%” is still too many steps for a voice assistant to handle in one go. It’s 2024; why is this still a problem?
A better option is to learn your way around automations and routines that you can pre-program to live a well-lit life. After setting up these schedules for myself, I found that they required little to no additional maintenance, and in recent years there have been several new adapters and products that make connecting all of your devices easier than ever.
It’s not just for looks; lighting can have a significant impact on your mood, which in turn can affect your health. Smart bulbs offer more customization options, are easy to program, and let you change the mood of your living space from energetic to cozy with the touch of a button. Perhaps that’s why the global smart lighting market was valued at $15.05 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 22.1% through 2030, according to a report from Grand View Research, a market research firm.
As a full-time creator focusing on wellness tech reporting, I think a lot about how I can make my home and work environments more nourishing. Here’s some of the gear I’ve used to integrate various smart lighting accessories and automations throughout my home.
Program your smart lighting to work on a schedule
Every morning my smart lighting automations go to work before I open my eyes. I have the Nanoleaf lines on my bedroom wall to start a gentle sunrise effect at 8:50am, gradually increasing brightness over the next 30 minutes until they reach 50% daylight. It’s an ideal way to start the day on the schedule that works best for me.
The author’s Nanoleaf lines are designed to glow softly each morning and they also act as a light for his webcam when he’s at his desk.
Throughout the day, my lighting changes to different shades of white, from cool daylight in the morning to a cozy, warm light in the evening. This approach syncs with my circadian rhythm, the body’s internal clock that dictates when it’s time to sleep, wake up, get energized, or relax.
The Philips Hue system excels in this regard. In the Hue app, I have downloaded the pre-configured natural light cycle, which automatically adjusts the color temperature depending on the time of day. Most of my lighting is Philips Hue, and my switches and accessories are programmed to switch to this natural light when activated.
The Hue app includes several scenes, including a natural light scene, which you can download and save for future use.
Provide a smart switch to make overrides easy
Despite all the advanced technology, sometimes you just need a physical switch to turn your lights on and off. Whether you’re on the phone, entertaining, or just in a hurry, tapping a button can be a lot easier than using a voice command. I’ve found a few switches that work brilliantly with my Philips Hue, Nanoleaf, and other smart lights.
One of my favorites is the Flic button. This little button works with Apple Home, Alexa, and a host of other smart home systems. I use Flic to control light scenes that span products from multiple brands, like Philips Hue, Govee, and Nanoleaf, all at once. Each Flic button allows for three different actions: a single press, a double press, and a press-and-hold. Plus, it comes with an adhesive backing, so you can stick it anywhere—on a wall, under a desk, or anywhere else you find convenient.
The Flic Button integrates with your smart home hub and lets you control products from different brands simultaneously.
The Flic starter kit includes a hub and three buttons for $99, a good deal. There’s also the Flic twistwhich adds a dial for dimming, brightening, and even controlling audio. I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m seriously considering it.
Another striking element is the Philips Hue Tap switch. It’s incredibly versatile, with four programmable buttons, each of which can be customized to control a different scene. The outer dial lets you dim or brighten the lights in a specific room or zone. You can even hold down either button to turn the lights off.
Philips Hue remotes can be configured via apps like Apple Home or Amazon Alexa, allowing them to control devices from other brands. I’m not exaggerating when I say this accessory changed the game for me.
The Philips Hue Tap Switch has four programmable buttons and a rotary knob.
One thing I love about Philips Hue is the sheer variety of available light fixtures and switches. From buttons to remotes, dials to motion sensors, there’s a switch for every need. For more details on my favorite Philips Hue accessories and some installation tips, check out Justin-Techniquemy technology channel on YouTube.
Let motion sensors light the way
No smart lighting setup is complete without motion sensors. I’ve strategically placed them throughout my home to ensure my lights are on when I need them. For example, my bedroom closet doesn’t have built-in lights, so I added a Philips Hue light strip along the top and combined it with a motion sensor. The strip automatically turns on when I open the cupboard door and turns off again after 5 minutes. It even adjusts to the time of day: warm and dark in the evening, bright and energetic in the morning.
Use a Philips Hue motion sensor for rooms where lighting is not always needed.
I also have a sensor in the hallway for those late night snack runs or bathroom breaks. It triggers the hallway lights to 5% brightness — just enough to guide me without completely waking me up.
Use smart plugs for your dumb fixtures
I was lucky enough to get an apartment with a terrace in New York City, so of course I had to light it up. I already had outdoor lights, but they weren’t smart, so to fix that I wired them to a Lutron Caseta Smart Outdoor Plug. Using the Lutron app, I set the lights to come on 30 minutes after sunset, exactly when I need them. I also placed a Lutron Caseta smart switch by the patio door for easy on/off control.
Use an adapter to add smart functionality to existing lamps or fixtures.
Smart lighting should be seamless — it should work behind the scenes so you can focus on your day without having to constantly micromanage your lighting. Take the time to learn about your options so you can create a work or living space you love.
