There are a number of Smart Lights systems out there. To choose the best one for you, consider the following:
- Easy to set up
- Easy to utilize day-to-day- remember this has to be more convenient than a regular switch
- Flexible – you have to have a lot of options for how you are able to set up your dwelling
In my opinion, the one that comes closest to hitting all three of these features is Philips Hue. Set up is really easy – basically plug everything in and you’re good to go. The app is a big part of that ease of use as well. It can control entire rooms or individual lamps without digging through tons of menus. That includes turning lights on and off and even dimming them by dragging around on a slider the app. You can also set up prompts that your lights can respond – so they can turn on when you come home or off when you’re leaving. If you want to get really technical about it you can even hook up the lights to IFTT and then have them respond to all kinds of odd occasions – you could have your lights change colors when it’s about to rain, you can have them flash if you get a new text, Facebook like, or Instagram heart. It works with Siri and Alexa so you can power your entire home’s lighting organization simply by talking to your iPhone or your Amazon Echo.
If you’re looking to connect your smart lighting to a complete system, Samsung Smartthings is your answer – this is not just a lighting option, it is a full-fledged smart home system that let’s you hook up thermostats, sensors, cameras, and all kinds of different lighting, including thePhilips Hue. Samsung Smartthings is a bit more challenging, but it also gives you many more alternatives – you have a ton of different bulbs to choose from and there are many different sensors that you can hook up to set up your lighting to respond to different things. However, if you want to start small, Philips Hue is the way to go and you can always add more down the road.
There are a lot of other smart lighting alternatives out there, so I’m just going to quickly run through them.
- Lifx is a delightful color-changing bulb that’s really great because it doesn’t require a hub. Just know that if your Wi-Fi is a little patchy they might be a problem.
- Lutron is an interesting alternative because you can programme your home by remote or voice control. However, it’s not quite as stylish because you have to install adapters all around your house.
- Belkin and GE are good smart blulb options as well, but if you are going to want organization that doesn’t just stop at your lamps, then these may not be for you.
- TP Link – These bulbs don’t require a hub. They have wifi capabilities, dimming, and are compatible with Amazon Alexa.
- Flux – Also compatible with Alexa, these bulbs are great choices for color changing options.
