5 smart home projects that cost less than dinner out

I’m constantly trying to find ways to streamline my day, from using a digital assistant to help keep my projects organized to a robot lawn mower saving me hours of work.

Today, so many different apps and products can make our days a little less stressful and, if we’re lucky, a bit more fun.

The one area other than my phone that really helps me out in many ways is my smart home.

I have five smart home projects that can help you out and are simple, utilize some of the best smart home devices on the market, and won’t break the bank.

5

Put a plug in it

I mean, put it in a plug

Whether you are just getting started with your smart home or have been expanding your technologically advanced domicile for years, one of the most useful, and often underrated, smart home devices you can get is a smart plug.

These handy gadgets can make any regular lamp, fan, or other device you plug into them a smart and remotely controllable one.

I’ve been using Kasa Smart Plugs for years, and aside from being highly reliable, you can pick up the latest model, the Ultra Mini, for $10.

What I like about using a smart plug is that I can keep the lamp that I like, pick any light bulb I want, and still make it smart.

Kasa smart plugs connect using the Kasa app and can interact with other Kasa devices, but the best part is that you can connect the plug with Google Home, Amazon Alexa, SmartThings, and more.

By adding it to your preferred smart home platform, you can manage the plug from its dedicated app, from your smart home app, or by voice.

While not all smart plugs offer the same features, the Kasa Ultra Mini supports up to 15A, allows for scheduling the plug to turn off and on at specific times, set a timer for a set amount of time before powering off, and even have the plug randomly turn on the device connected to it when you are gone to make is seem like you’re home.

So, when you do decide to go out to dinner, it will look like you’re still home.

4

That light bulb moment

Leave the switch alone

Outside of a smart plug, the next most common smart home device to get is a smart light. These things are easy to set up and offer loads of helpful features.

While sometimes I may opt for a standard LED bulb in a lamp I like and connect it to a smart plug, other times I want more flexibility in the lighting. This is when I go for the smart bulb.

Though Philips Hue may be one of the most well-known smart lighting brands, it is also on the pricier side.

In addition to the Hue lighting products I have in my home, I use the GE Cync bulb. I have a few of these scattered around my home since I can pick up a two-pack for around $24. I also pair the lights with the excellent GE Cync Smart Remote.

The downside of using a smart light rather than a smart switch is that you have to leave the light switch on at all times. If the bulb loses power, then you won’t be able to control it.

This is why I pair the light with the Smart Remote, because sometimes you or someone in your home doesn’t want to use their voice to control the light or their phone.

The upside of the smart light is the seemingly endless flexibility in how you can use it. Whether you want a dim light with a bit of color to enhance the ambiance or you need a bright light for homework time, a smart light can handle it.

3

Keep it simple

Get moving

Sometimes we can get too wrapped up in making things smart and over-engineer a solution.

For areas of my home that are dim and get a lot of traffic, but not for long periods of time, like a hallway, I like to use smart, dumb lights.

For my hall, I like to use the WYZE Rechargeable Night Lights, which you can pick up in a three-pack for around $25. While there are many battery-powered motion lights, the WYZE option has a unique feature that I appreciate.

So, aside from providing light from the top and bottom of the device, the light it produces is a nice, soft, and warm glow.

The lights come with a metal plate with some 3M adhesive on it so you can attach it to the wall, and then the light magnetically attaches to it. This makes it super simple when it is time to recharge the light using the USB-C port.

While that is all great, what makes this light stand out for me is that you can link the lights together.

I don’t mean physically. The lights can be set only to work when motion is detected and the room is dim, or you can have them on all the time.

When you flip the switch of multiple WYZE Rechargeable Night Lights to Auto at the same time, the lights detect each other and link up. Now, when one is triggered by motion, the other lights turn on as well.

I like to use a similar light fixture for under cabinets or in closets. But in these cases, I want a little more light than a night light provides, so I like these rechargeable magnetic light bars. These come in at under $20 for a two-pack and are even dimmable.

2

Press the issue

With a simple button

The GE Cync Smart Remote is a great addition to the GE Cync bulbs. What if you want to add a push button to work with your other smart devices?

Well, as long as you have a Zigbee hub, recent Amazon Echo smart speakers and displays, SmartThings, and others, all can help with that.

However, if you have a Zigbee hub, you can pick up a smart button, like the SONOFF Zigbee Switch, for about $20, to control your other devices.

The SONOFF Zigbee Switch uses the eWelink app for setup, but after that, you can add it to the rest of your smart home ecosystem.

After doing this, you can configure the switch to handle three commands based on a single press, a double press, or a long press.

You can have a single press turn on the light, double to turn it off, and a long press to adjust the brightness.

Another option is to have each press type control a different device. This is a great way to add more flexibility and control over your smart home devices.

1

Open and shut case

Only when you want it to be

OK, so you have a smart light, but you are tired of using your voice, phone, or switch to turn it on and off when entering or leaving a room. Well, this is where sensors come into play.

For open spaces, if you want to automate the light, consider using a motion sensor. There are a lot of choices and different technologies to consider, but for the budget-minded, a great option is the GoveeLife Motion Sensor.

Govee makes some of my favorite smart lighting products, and though some are complex and awe-inspiring, like the Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL, the brand also makes some pretty great, budget-friendly light bulbs.

Pairing this motion sensor with Govee’s lights allows you to set the lights to turn on when you enter the room and off after the room is empty for a period of time.

Even better, you can set this up to only be active during certain parts of the day. These sensors can also be set to alert you of motion.

Sometimes, motion isn’t the best option. For places like a closet, pantry, garage door, or a window, these are prime locations for a contact sensor.

Govee makes a great option here as well for around $13. This device comes in two parts: one to attach to the window or door frame and the other to the window or door directly across from the other piece.

When the two pieces are separated, opening the door or window, you can configure the device to trigger an action, like turning on a light.

Impressive doesn’t have to mean expensive

Smart homes, when properly configured, can feel almost magical. When everything works together and is perfectly timed, it can take tasks and stress off your plate.

While this can be an expensive proposition, I hope I’ve shown that you can add a bit of wonder to your home on the cheap.

Smart speakers like the Google Nest Mini or the Amazon Echo Dot can offer a lot of help and fun for under $50, and these can be an integral part of controlling your budget-friendly smart home devices.

Maybe with the money you saved and the stress relieved, you can enjoy a night out to dinner.