Top 15 'Landlord-Approved' Smart Home Devices to install on a budget for Upgrading Your Apartment This Weekend
Living in a rental can sometimes feel like you're living in someone else's space, with rules that limit your ability to truly make it your own. You dream of a futuristic smart home, but the fear of drilling holes, messing with wiring, and—worst of all—losing that precious security deposit holds you back. It’s a common dilemma for modern renters who want convenience and tech without the commitment.
But what if I told you that you could transform your apartment into a connected, intelligent space without ever picking up a drill or calling an electrician? The world of smart home technology has evolved, and there’s now a fantastic array of devices designed specifically for people like you. These gadgets are non-invasive, budget-friendly, and so easy to set up that you can give your home a major IQ boost in a single weekend.
This guide is your roadmap to creating a renter-friendly smart home. We've compiled the top 15 landlord-approved devices that offer maximum impact with minimal installation. From lighting that matches your mood to security that gives you peace of mind, get ready to upgrade your apartment and make your rental finally feel like your smart home.
1. Smart Plugs
The Gateway to Your Smart Home
If you’re just starting, smart plugs are the perfect first step. Think of them as adapters that sit between your wall outlet and any device with a plug. They connect to your Wi-Fi, allowing you to turn anything—a lamp, a fan, a coffee maker, your holiday lights—into a smart device you can control from your phone or with your voice.
Installation is as simple as it gets: plug it in, connect it to the app, and you're done. There's no wiring, no fuss, and when you move, you just unplug it and take it with you. This is the ultimate "no-trace" upgrade, making it an essential for any renter's smart home toolkit.
Pro Tip: Use a smart plug with your "dumb" coffee maker. Plug the machine in, make sure its physical power switch is left in the 'on' position, and set a schedule in the app. You can wake up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee every morning without buying a whole new appliance. Look at brands like Kasa by TP-Link or Wyze for affordable and reliable options.
2. Smart Light Bulbs
Set the Mood, Instantly
Forget about dealing with complex light switches and wiring. Smart light bulbs are a brilliant (pun intended) way to overhaul your apartment's lighting. Simply unscrew your old, boring bulb and screw in a new smart one. That's it. You can now control the brightness, color, and schedule of your lights directly from your smartphone.
These bulbs are perfect for creating different ambiances. Want a warm, cozy glow for movie night? Done. Need bright, cool light for a productive work-from-home session? Easy. You can even sync them to music or have them gradually brighten in the morning to simulate a sunrise, making your wake-up call a little more pleasant.
Pro Tip: You don't have to replace every bulb. Start with a key area like the living room lamp or your bedside table. Philips Hue is the market leader, but brands like Wyze, Sengled, and Govee offer fantastic, budget-friendly color and white-tuning bulbs that work just as well for a fraction of the price.
3. Smart Speakers & Hubs
The Conductor of Your Smart Orchestra
A smart speaker is the brain and voice of your new smart home. Devices like the Amazon Echo Dot or Google Nest Mini act as central hubs, allowing you to control all your other connected gadgets with simple voice commands. "Alexa, turn on the living room lights" is far more satisfying than fumbling for a switch in the dark.
Beyond controlling your devices, these speakers are incredibly useful on their own. They can play music, set timers and alarms, give you weather updates, and answer random questions. Since they just need to be plugged into an outlet and placed on a counter or shelf, they are 100% landlord-approved and incredibly versatile.
Pro Tip: Choose an ecosystem (Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant) and try to stick with it. This ensures all your devices can "talk" to each other seamlessly. For an even better experience, consider a smart display like the Echo Show 5, which adds a screen for viewing recipes, security camera feeds, or making video calls.
4. Stick-On Motion Sensors
Automation That Follows You
Motion sensors are the key to unlocking true hands-free automation, and modern versions are perfect for renters. These small, battery-powered devices can be placed anywhere using a simple adhesive strip. Put one near your front door, in a hallway, or even in a closet. When it detects motion, it can trigger a routine.
Imagine walking into your apartment at night, and the entryway lights automatically turn on. Or picture a sensor in your walk-in closet that illuminates the space as soon as you open the door. These sensors are small, discreet, and the adhesive is typically gentle enough to be removed without damaging paint.
Pro Tip: Link a motion sensor in your hallway to a smart bulb set at 10% brightness. This creates an automatic, dim nightlight for those late-night trips to the kitchen, so you don't have to blind yourself by turning on the main overhead light. Aqara and Wyze Sense offer affordable and reliable sensor kits.
5. Indoor Security Cameras
Peace of Mind on a Shelf
Feeling secure in your own home is a top priority. While you can't install a complex, wired security system, you can absolutely place a few indoor cameras on shelves, bookcases, or mantels. These Wi-Fi-enabled cameras allow you to check in on your apartment from anywhere using your phone, providing a live feed and sending you alerts if motion is detected.
This is invaluable for keeping an eye on pets, monitoring for unexpected maintenance visits, or just ensuring everything is okay while you're away. When it's time to move out, you just unplug them and pack them up. It's security without strings attached.
Pro Tip: Look for cameras with two-way audio, so you can talk to your pets (or an intruder). Many cameras also have privacy settings or physical shutters you can close when you're home. The Wyze Cam and Ring Indoor Cam are excellent, budget-friendly choices.
6. Smart LED Light Strips
Paint with Light
For a serious dose of personality and modern flair, nothing beats smart LED light strips. These flexible strips have an adhesive backing, making them incredibly easy to install without any tools. They are perfect for adding accent lighting behind your TV (which can reduce eye strain), under kitchen cabinets for better task lighting, or along a headboard for a dramatic effect.
Like smart bulbs, you can control the color, brightness, and effects from an app. Create a vibrant, pulsating light show for a party or a soft, static glow for a relaxing evening. Here at the Goh Ling Yong blog, we love how light strips can completely change the feel of a room without a single drop of paint.
Pro Tip: Measure the area you want to light before you buy. For behind the TV, get a kit specifically designed for it, which often includes pre-cut corner pieces. Govee is a fan favorite for its vibrant colors and cool app features, while Philips Hue offers premium quality.
7. Smart Blinds & Curtain Openers
A Touch of Automated Luxury
Waking up to natural sunlight is a game-changer, but who wants to get out of bed to open the blinds? With a retrofit smart curtain or blind opener, you don't have to. These clever devices clip onto your existing curtain rod or attach to the cord/chain of your blinds. A small motor then physically opens and closes them on a schedule or with a voice command.
This is a perfect example of a high-impact, non-permanent upgrade. It feels incredibly luxurious and futuristic, yet the installation takes just a few minutes and leaves no trace behind. It’s a small detail that makes a huge difference in your daily routine.
Pro Tip: Check the compatibility of the device with your specific type of curtains (rod, track) or blinds (cord loop, beaded chain). SwitchBot is the most popular and versatile brand in this category, offering solutions for almost any window treatment.
8. Water Leak Sensors
Your Security Deposit's Best Friend
This might be the most practical—and potentially money-saving—device on the list. A water leak sensor is a small, puck-like device that you place in leak-prone areas: under the kitchen sink, next to the washing machine, or near the water heater. If it detects even a small amount of moisture, it will send an immediate alert to your phone.
For a renter, an undetected leak can be catastrophic, leading to property damage and a nasty dispute with your landlord. This simple, affordable device can save you from a massive headache and help protect your security deposit. It’s a tiny investment for enormous peace of mind.
Pro Tip: These sensors are battery-powered and connect via Wi-Fi or a hub. Place them in a flat position where water would first pool. Brands like Govee, Aqara, and YoLink offer highly-rated, affordable options.
9. Smart Air Purifier
Breathe Easier, Live Smarter
Apartment air quality can be surprisingly poor, especially in older buildings or urban environments. A smart air purifier not only filters out dust, pollen, pet dander, and other allergens but also allows you to monitor and control your air quality from anywhere.
You can set schedules, adjust fan speeds, and view real-time air quality reports on your phone. Many models have an "auto" mode that will ramp up the fan speed when it detects pollutants, then quiet down when the air is clean. It's a fantastic "set it and forget it" device that works in the background to make your home healthier and more comfortable.
Pro Tip: Consider the size of your room (CADR rating) when choosing a model. Place the purifier in the room where you spend the most time, like your bedroom or living room. Levoit and Coway are two of the most popular and effective brands.
10. Stick-On Smart Buttons
One Press to Rule Them All
Sometimes you don't want to pull out your phone or talk to a speaker. A smart button is a simple, tactile solution. These small, battery-powered buttons can be programmed to trigger a specific action or scene with a single press, double press, or long press.
Stick one by your front door to act as a "goodbye" button that turns off all the lights and smart plugs when you leave. Place one on your nightstand to trigger a "good night" scene that dims the lights, turns on a fan, and starts a relaxing playlist. They provide the convenience of a light switch, but for your entire smart home.
Pro Tip: The possibilities are endless. Use one in the kitchen to instantly start a timer for cooking. Flic and Aqara Mini Switch are excellent options that integrate with most smart home ecosystems.
11. Smart Thermostat (With a Big Caveat)
The Ultimate Efficiency Upgrade—If Allowed
A smart thermostat can significantly improve your comfort and lower your energy bills by learning your schedule and adjusting the temperature automatically. Now, this is the one item on the list that requires caution. Replacing a thermostat involves touching wires, but it's often a very simple, reversible process.
Crucial Steps for Renters:
- GET PERMISSION: Always get written permission from your landlord before touching the existing thermostat.
- CHECK COMPATIBILITY: Use the compatibility checker on the manufacturer's website (like Google Nest or Ecobee) to ensure it will work with your apartment's HVAC system.
- SAVE THE OLD ONE: Carefully label the wires, take a picture before you disconnect anything, and safely store the original thermostat. When you move out, you must reinstall it exactly as you found it.
If your landlord approves, this is a fantastic upgrade. If not, don't risk it!
12. Smart Smoke & CO Alarm "Listener"
A Critical Safety Notification System
You absolutely should not replace the smoke alarms your landlord provides. However, you can make them smarter. A "listener" is a device you place near your existing smoke or carbon monoxide detector. It is acoustically designed to recognize the specific sound frequency of the alarm.
If your "dumb" alarm goes off, the listener hears it and immediately sends a notification to your phone. This is a potential lifesaver, alerting you to a fire or CO leak in your apartment even when you're not home, giving you precious time to call for help.
Pro Tip: This is a simple, plug-and-play or battery-powered device that offers a huge safety upgrade with zero modification to your apartment. The Ring Alarm Smoke & CO Listener and similar features in the Wyze Cam v3 are great examples.
13. Universal Remote Hub
Declutter Your Coffee Table
If your coffee table is a graveyard of remote controls for your TV, soundbar, streaming box, and air conditioner, a universal remote hub is your answer. This small device sits in your entertainment center and blasts out IR signals, just like your physical remotes.
You can then control all of these devices from a single app on your phone or, even better, with your voice through a smart speaker. "Alexa, turn on movie night" can now turn on the TV, switch to the right input, dim the lights, and power on your sound system. It's a simple way to streamline your tech and reduce clutter.
Pro Tip: Make sure the hub is placed with a clear line of sight to the devices you want to control. BroadLink and SwitchBot Hub Mini are powerful, affordable options that can learn commands from almost any IR remote.
14. Smart Diffuser or Humidifier
Craft Your Perfect Atmosphere
Your home's environment is about more than just temperature. A smart diffuser can fill your space with your favorite essential oil scents on a schedule, while a smart humidifier can combat dry winter air to help with your skin and sinuses.
Controlling these from an app means you can have the humidifier turn on an hour before you go to bed or have the diffuser start up just before you get home from work, so you're always greeted by a perfect, welcoming atmosphere. It's an easy, plug-in upgrade that adds a layer of wellness and comfort to your daily life.
Pro Tip: Look for models that integrate with your chosen smart home ecosystem (Alexa or Google Assistant) for easy voice control. Brands like Levoit and Govee make excellent smart humidifiers and diffusers.
15. Portable Smart Projector
Movie Night, Anywhere
Why limit your movie nights to the TV? A portable smart projector can turn any blank wall in your apartment into a massive screen. Modern projectors are compact, have built-in streaming apps (like Netflix and YouTube), and decent speakers, making them an all-in-one entertainment solution.
This is the ultimate flexible, non-permanent "big screen." You can have a movie night in the living room one day and project a cooking show onto your kitchen wall the next. As Goh Ling Yong often advises, finding versatile solutions that adapt to your space is key to happy renting. When you're done, just pack it away. No mounting, no cables, no problem.
Pro Tip: Look for projectors with auto-keystone correction, which automatically straightens the image even if the projector is at an angle. Brands like Anker Nebula offer a range of fantastic portable options for different budgets.
Your Smart Apartment Awaits
Creating a smart home is no longer a privilege reserved for homeowners. With these 15 devices, you can build a responsive, convenient, and personalized living space without violating your lease or breaking the bank. The best part? When it's time to move, you can pack up your entire smart home ecosystem and take it with you to your next place.
Start small with a few smart plugs or a smart speaker, and build from there. You'll be amazed at how a few simple, landlord-approved tweaks can completely transform your rental experience.
What's the first smart device you're adding to your apartment this weekend? Share your plans and questions in the comments below
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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