Top 18 'Everyday-Magic' Smart Home Devices to implement to Make Your Home Run Itself this weekend - Goh Ling Yong
Ever feel like your home has a to-do list that's longer than yours? The constant cycle of flicking switches, adjusting the thermostat, and double-checking if you locked the door can feel like a part-time job. What if your home could anticipate your needs, take care of the mundane tasks, and add a little spark of magic to your daily routine? It's not science fiction; it's the reality of a well-designed smart home.
The idea of "home automation" can sound intimidating, expensive, and reserved for tech wizards. But the truth is, creating a home that works for you is more accessible than ever. It's about implementing small, clever changes—what I call 'everyday magic'—that streamline your life, save you time, and create a truly responsive living environment. These aren't just gadgets; they're upgrades to your quality of life.
This weekend, you can transform your house from a collection of rooms into a cohesive, intelligent home. We’ve curated a list of 18 foundational smart home devices that are easy to install and deliver an immediate impact. Let's dive in and discover how you can make your home run itself.
1. Smart Light Bulbs
The absolute best place to start your smart home journey is with lighting. Smart bulbs, like those from Philips Hue or Wyze, replace your standard bulbs but connect to your Wi-Fi. This simple swap unlocks a world of possibilities, allowing you to control your lights from your phone, your voice, or on a schedule.
The magic isn't just about turning lights on and off remotely. It's about setting the perfect mood for any occasion. Create a "Movie Night" scene that dims the lights to 30% and changes the color to a warm orange. Schedule a "Wake-Up" routine that slowly brightens your bedroom lights to mimic a natural sunrise, easing you into your day far more gently than a jarring alarm clock.
Pro Tip: Use geofencing to have your lights automatically turn on when you pull into the driveway and turn off when you leave. You'll never have to walk into a dark house or wonder if you left the kitchen light on again.
2. Smart Plugs
What about all the "dumb" devices you already own and love? Your favorite lamp, the trusty coffee maker, or that powerful fan? Smart plugs are the answer. These small, unassuming adapters plug into any standard outlet, effectively making anything you plug into them "smart."
Think of a smart plug as a remote-controlled power switch. You can now turn that floor lamp on with a voice command or schedule your espresso machine to pre-heat five minutes before your alarm goes off. During the holidays, they are a lifesaver for scheduling Christmas trees and decorative lights without having to crawl behind furniture to reach the outlet.
Pro Tip: Plug a power strip into a heavy-duty smart plug to create an "entertainment off" switch. With one tap or command, you can completely cut power to your TV, sound system, and gaming consoles, eliminating phantom power drain overnight.
3. Smart Hub / Voice Assistant
If the smart devices are the orchestra, the smart hub is the conductor. Devices like the Amazon Echo (Alexa) or Google Nest Hub (Google Assistant) are the central brain of your smart home. They allow you to control all your different devices from one place using simple voice commands.
Instead of opening three different apps to adjust your lights, thermostat, and music, you can just say, "Hey Google, I'm home." This single command can trigger a sequence: the lights turn on, the thermostat adjusts to your preferred temperature, and your favorite 'welcome home' playlist begins to play. This is where individual gadgets transform into a truly integrated, automated home.
Pro Tip: Use your smart hub to set up "Routines." A "Goodnight" routine could lock the doors, turn off all the lights, lower the thermostat, and play calming sleep sounds, all with a single phrase.
4. Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat, like the Google Nest Thermostat or Ecobee SmartThermostat, is one of the most practical and impactful upgrades you can make. It learns your schedule and temperature preferences over time, automatically adjusting to keep you comfortable while saving a significant amount on your energy bills.
The magic is in its predictive power. It knows to warm the house up just before you wake up and to enter an energy-saving "Away" mode when it detects no one is home. On a sweltering day, you can use your phone to start cooling the house down on your way home from work, ensuring you walk into a perfectly chilled oasis.
Pro Tip: Many smart thermostats can connect with sensors you place in different rooms. This allows the system to heat or cool based on the temperature of the room you're actually in (like the bedroom at night), rather than a hallway where the thermostat is located.
5. Robot Vacuum and Mop
Of all the smart home devices, the robot vacuum delivers the most tangible return on your time. Modern models from brands like Roborock and iRobot are incredibly intelligent, using laser navigation to map your home, avoid obstacles, and clean in efficient, methodical patterns.
Imagine waking up every morning to perfectly clean floors. You can schedule your robot to run overnight or while you're at work, so it never gets in your way. Many models now come with a self-emptying base and mopping capabilities, meaning your floors stay spotless for weeks with almost zero effort on your part. It's the closest thing to having a live-in cleaner.
Pro Tip: Use your vacuum's app to create "no-go zones" for areas with pet bowls or delicate rugs, and "clean zones" for high-traffic areas like the kitchen, which you can target for a quick clean-up after dinner with a simple voice command.
6. Video Doorbell
A video doorbell from a brand like Ring or Google Nest is a fundamental upgrade for home security and convenience. It replaces your existing doorbell and sends a notification to your phone whenever someone approaches your door or rings the bell, showing you a live video feed.
This device is a game-changer for package deliveries. You can speak to the delivery person through the built-in two-way audio to give instructions, like leaving a package behind a pillar. It also provides immense peace of mind, allowing you to see who's at the door whether you're in the upstairs office or on vacation halfway around the world.
Pro Tip: Integrate your video doorbell with a smart speaker that has a screen (like an Echo Show or Nest Hub). When someone rings the bell, the video feed will automatically pop up on the screen, so you don't even have to reach for your phone.
7. Smart Lock
Are you constantly fumbling for your keys with an armful of groceries? A smart lock, such as the August Smart Lock or Schlage Encode, eliminates that struggle entirely. These locks can automatically unlock as you approach the door (via your phone's Bluetooth) and lock behind you after a set amount of time.
The real convenience lies in keyless access management. Instead of making copies of keys, you can grant temporary digital "keys" to family, friends, or a dog walker. These keys can be set to work only on specific days and times, and you get a notification on your phone every time the door is locked or unlocked, so you always know who is coming and going.
Pro Tip: Pair your smart lock with your video doorbell. When a trusted friend arrives, you can verify it's them on the camera and unlock the door for them right from the same app, no matter where you are.
8. Smart Blinds or Curtains
Waking up to natural light is a proven way to improve your mood and regulate your sleep cycle. Smart blinds or curtain openers (like those from IKEA or SwitchBot) automate this process, allowing you to schedule your window coverings to open and close at specific times.
Imagine your blinds slowly opening at 7 AM to gently wake you with the morning sun. In the afternoon, you can have them automatically close on west-facing windows to block the harsh sun and keep your home cool, reducing your reliance on air conditioning. It's an elegant touch that adds both luxury and efficiency.
Pro Tip: Create a "Privacy" scene that closes all your smart blinds and dims the lights with a single command when you're settling in for the evening.
9. Smart Light Switches
While smart bulbs are great for lamps, they aren't practical for light fixtures with multiple small bulbs, like a chandelier or an overhead kitchen light. This is where smart light switches and dimmers from brands like Lutron or TP-Link come in. They replace your existing wall switch, giving you smart control over any light fixture it's connected to.
This is a more permanent and seamless solution that feels built-in rather than added on. You get all the benefits of smart lighting—scheduling, voice control, and dimming—without having to replace a dozen individual bulbs. They're also great for controlling ceiling fans.
Pro Tip: Install a smart dimmer switch in your dining room or living room. It allows you to dial in the perfect level of brightness for any activity, from a brightly lit family game night to a softly illuminated dinner party.
10. Smart Air Purifier
Indoor air quality is something we often overlook, but it has a huge impact on our health and well-being. A smart air purifier, like those from Levoit or Coway, constantly monitors the air in your home for pollutants like dust, pollen, and smoke.
The "smart" part is its "Auto Mode." It will run silently in the background on a low setting, but if it detects a spike in pollutants (like when you start cooking or pollen blows in through an open window), it will automatically ramp up the fan speed to clear the air quickly, then return to its quiet mode once the air is clean. You get clean air without having to think about it.
Pro Tip: Schedule your air purifier to run on its highest setting for an hour before you go to bed to ensure the air in your bedroom is pristine for a restful night's sleep.
11. Smart LED Light Strips
For adding a dramatic flair and customizable ambiance, nothing beats smart LED light strips. These flexible strips can be placed under kitchen cabinets, behind a TV or headboard, or along a hallway to provide beautiful, indirect accent lighting.
With a smart light strip, you can change the color and brightness to match your decor, your mood, or the movie you're watching. Set them to a vibrant color for a party, a soft white for task lighting in the kitchen, or sync them with your TV for an immersive viewing experience where the lights match the colors on the screen.
Pro Tip: Install an LED light strip under your bed frame and connect it to a motion sensor. If you get up in the middle of the night, the strip will automatically turn on to a very dim, warm glow—just enough light to see your way without blinding you or disturbing your partner.
12. Smart Garage Door Opener
The nagging question, "Did I remember to close the garage door?" can be a thing of the past. A smart garage door controller, like the popular MyQ by Chamberlain, connects to your existing opener and lets you check the status of your garage door, open it, or close it from anywhere using your smartphone.
This is incredibly useful for letting in a neighbor or family member when you're not home, or for receiving package deliveries securely inside your garage. You can also set it to close automatically after a certain amount of time or at a specific time each night for added security.
Pro Tip: Set up geofencing so your garage door automatically opens when you turn onto your street and closes once your car is inside. It's a small touch that feels incredibly futuristic and convenient.
13. Smart Leak Detector
This device doesn't offer daily convenience, but it provides invaluable peace of mind. Smart water leak detectors are small sensors you place in leak-prone areas like under the sink, behind the toilet, or near a water heater. The moment they detect moisture, they send an immediate alert to your phone.
A small, slow leak can go undetected for weeks, causing thousands of dollars in water damage and mold growth. A smart leak detector can alert you to a problem within seconds, allowing you to shut off the water and prevent a catastrophe. It's a tiny investment that can save you a massive headache. Here on the Goh Ling Yong blog, we're big fans of tech that prevents problems before they start.
Pro Tip: Some systems, like the Moen Flo, can be installed on your main water line and will automatically shut off the water to your entire house if a major leak is detected, providing the ultimate protection.
14. Smart Coffee Maker
For many of us, the day doesn't truly begin until we've had our first cup of coffee. A smart coffee maker takes this ritual to the next level. You can use an app to schedule your brew time, adjust the brew strength, and receive a notification when it's ready.
Imagine your coffee starting to brew automatically the moment your first alarm goes off. By the time you get out of bed and make it to the kitchen, a fresh, hot pot is waiting for you. It's a simple luxury that makes mornings significantly more pleasant.
Pro Tip: Use a simple smart plug on your existing "dumb" coffee maker. Just fill it with water and grounds the night before and leave the power switch on. Then, you can use your app or voice assistant to turn the plug on in the morning to start the brew.
15. Smart Sprinkler Controller
Keeping your lawn and garden healthy without wasting water can be a tricky balancing act. A smart sprinkler controller, like the Rachio 3, replaces your old "set it and forget it" timer with an intelligent, weather-aware system.
It connects to the internet and pulls local weather data, automatically skipping a watering session if it's raining or has recently rained. It can also adjust watering times based on the season, temperature, and humidity, ensuring your plants get exactly the water they need while cutting your water bill by up to 30-50%.
Pro Tip: Take a few minutes to configure the specific zones in the app, telling the controller what you're growing in each area (e.g., grass, shrubs, flowerbeds) and the type of soil. This will allow for even more precise and efficient watering.
16. Smart Air Fryer / Oven
Smart technology is making its way into every part of the kitchen, and air fryers and ovens are no exception. A smart cooker allows you to preheat, monitor cooking time and temperature, and even change settings right from your phone.
The real magic is in the guided cooking programs. Brands like Cosori and Breville have apps filled with recipes. You simply choose one, and the app sends the exact time and temperature settings directly to the appliance. You get a notification on your phone when it's time to shake the basket or when your food is perfectly cooked. It's like having a sous chef in your pocket.
Pro Tip: Scan the barcode of a frozen food item with the app, and the smart oven will automatically download the recommended cooking instructions, taking all the guesswork out of a quick meal.
17. Smart Power Strip
Just like a smart plug, a smart power strip makes multiple devices smart at once, but with an important difference: you can control each outlet individually. This is perfect for your home office or entertainment center.
You can label each outlet in the app (e.g., "Monitor," "Printer," "Lamp," "Speakers") and control them independently. With a single "Work Day Start" routine, you can have your monitor, lamp, and speakers turn on, while keeping the printer off until you actually need it. It's a fantastic way to manage energy consumption and reduce cable clutter.
Pro Tip: Use a smart power strip to manage your various device chargers. Schedule the outlets to turn off a few hours after you go to bed to prevent overcharging your electronics and save a little energy.
18. Smart Motion Sensors
Motion sensors are the secret ingredient that elevates a smart home from "remote-controlled" to "truly automated." These small, battery-powered sensors can be placed anywhere and used as a trigger for countless actions. They are the "eyes" of your smart home, reacting to your presence.
Place one in a hallway, and the lights can automatically turn on to a dim level when you walk by at night. Put one in the laundry room, and the light turns on the moment you enter with a full basket and off a few minutes after you leave. This simple device makes your home feel incredibly responsive and intelligent.
Pro Tip: Link a motion sensor in your walk-in closet to your smart speaker. When you walk in, the light can turn on, and the speaker can start reading you your day's calendar appointments and the weather forecast.
Your Weekend Project Awaits
Building a smart home isn't a massive, all-or-nothing project. As Goh Ling Yong often advises, the best approach is to start small and focus on solving your biggest daily annoyances. Pick one or two devices from this list that resonate with you—perhaps a few smart plugs to automate your morning routine or a robot vacuum to finally win the war against dust bunnies.
The goal isn't to live in a sterile, futuristic house. It's to create a home that is more comfortable, secure, and efficient—a home that takes care of the little things so you can focus on what truly matters. This weekend, you can add a little 'everyday magic' to your life.
Which device are you most excited to try first? Share your weekend smart home project ideas 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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