Smart Lighting Buying Guide

Once the sun goes down, when someone walks into a room, the first thing they look for is usually the light switch. One of the quickest, most enjoyable updates to the look and feel of your home is to swap out the lighting. It could mean an update to the lighting fixtures or just inserting a new bulb. Either way, the lighting in a room can impact when and how the room is used, from cooking and mealtimes to reading a book.  

 Consider upgrading to smart lights with the next lighting refresh to conserve energy, save money, and change the feel of the room. Smart lighting systems allow greater personalization of your spaces, from the color hue of the smart bulbs to the home automation features that allow you to adjust the room’s brightness from an app on a smart home device. There are a variety of different do-it-yourself smart lighting systems and a range of features in every smart bulb and smart light switch, so you’re sure to find the perfect fit for your household.

What Is Smart Home Lighting?

Smart lighting was created with home efficiency and convenience in mind. With the advantage of app controls and the newer technology capabilities of LED light bulbs, smart home lighting uses less energy, which can save money on the yearly energy bills. Used along with a smart home automation system, smart lighting offers a boost in home security by allowing lights to be synched to automation apps, timers, cameras, or motion sensors. Smart lights can last longer and don’t require replacing as often as fluorescent lighting options.

Smart lighting systems are part of the Internet of Things that connect multiple appliances and devices throughout the home. They sync up with a smart home hub or smartphone app via either Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and the user can control the lighting color, intensity, or turn it on or off by voice controls, timers, or an on-screen interface. Some smart lights can be motion-controlled via sensors in the wall controls, while others, especially smart outdoor lighting options, are light-reactive and will only turn on when the environment is dark enough to need the extra light.

What Do Smart Lights Do?

Smart lights are user-friendly bulbs and light switches that are designed to work with other technology in the home to allow for customized light sources in every room. Some smart light bulbs change color with a quick adjustment on a phone or tablet app; others offer dimming or the ability to turn the lights on or off from anywhere. It allows users to set the mood of the room or schedule the lights to turn on and off when there’s no one in the room at all. The kind of special features available depends on the type of smart lights you choose.

Smart bulbs are designed to work and be used like any other traditional light bulb. They fit in any lamp or light fixture and use a minimal amount of energy. Once in place, they can be used manually with a flip of the wall switch. To use them remotely, they must be connected to the network, either via Wi-Fi set up or Bluetooth. A Wi-Fi connection works through the central smart hubs, while a Bluetooth connection is limited to keeping a connection with a Bluetooth-enabled tablet, phone, or computer that is within range of the signal.   

When it comes to smart bulbs vs. smart switches, they achieve the same connectivity to allow similar customization. The primary difference is that while you may need multiple smart lights in a single room, you will often only need one smart light switch, making the smart switch a cost-efficient solution. A smart light switch will allow a room’s occupant to control multiple lights at once, without the use of an app. Some are available as a dimmer light switch, while many smart light bulbs achieve dimmed lighting using the settings on a touch-screen app.

Benefits of Smart Lights

While upgrading your home with the latest smart home technology like smart light bulbs and switches can be pricey when done all at once, over time, smart lights are worth the investment. The more you explore your own smart lighting setup, the more perks and benefits you’ll discover. Here are a few of the most immediate.

Energy Savings

Smart lighting systems offer benefits to the entire household, the most significant and measurable being the energy savings.  

• LED bulbs use 80% less electricity than a traditional incandescent bulb, so simply using smart LED bulbs in conjunction with other smart home automation options, such as occupancy sensors, timers, or customized, low lighting settings, will use far less energy than the alternatives.  
• LED bulbs use energy differently and more effectively, which leads to a longer product lifetime and requires fewer replacement bulbs over time.  
• Some smart bulbs can last between 20 to 40 years with regular use.  
• They light up to their full brightness almost instantly when they’re turned on and turning the lights on, and off quickly doesn’t change their lifespan.   

Smart switches and smart plugs are also energy-efficient options. While they don’t step down the amount of electricity being used, like switching to LEDs would, using the apps or home automation systems through a hub can reduce the amount of time the lights are left on. They make it easier to only keep the lights on when someone’s in the room to enjoy them.

Convenient Light Control

With smart bulbs and smart switches, the lighting in the home can be controlled in whatever way is easier for the household. With the help of a smart hub, turning on the lights is as simple as voicing the command to the hub or the app on the phone. Some lighting programs can be designed to turn on or off based on the GPS location of the user’s smartphone, so if the phone is docked in its charging station for the night, the bedroom lights can be programmed to turn themselves off.

If you prefer the manual wall switch, buttons, or slider bars, those are still an option with smart bulbs. They can also be augmented by on-screen app controls that look like dimmer switches or color spectrum wheels, or any variety of custom, user-friendly interfaces depending on the lighting manufacturer you choose.

Smarter Security

With smart home technology, your home lighting can become an integral and easy to set up part of your home security system. Some examples of custom smart lighting security boosts include:

Motion Sensors 

You can even choose a smart light switch equipped with a motion sensor to turn on when it detects movement, which can be programmed to work with a security camera or even send an alert to the homeowner’s cellphone or smart hub devices.

A lighting program can be easily designed through a smart hub to make sure that different lights throughout the house are turned on or off at certain times of day, even if the occupants are away on vacation.

Schedules and Timers 

A lighting program can be easily designed through a smart hub to make sure that different lights throughout the house are turned on or off at certain times of day, even if the occupants are away on vacation.

Exterior Lighting 

With the right exterior smart lighting, the porch light and walkway lights will turn on when the sun goes down so that the pathways and patio are clearly lit and safe when everyone comes home.

Because smart lighting connects to your home network’s Internet of Things, it is important to take the necessary steps to keep your smart light system safe. All smart bulbs should be connected to a secure hub rather than individually via Wi-Fi. Your Wi-Fi and all apps associated with the smart devices in your home should be password protected, with unique and secure passwords. In today’s highly technological world, using smart lights is a safe option when handled appropriately.

Make Your Home A Smart Home

With the right combination of appliances, entertainment technology, and light fixtures, any home can become a smart home. Voice-controlled television remotes are just the beginning of the possible interactions between the networked Internet of Things your home is capable of.   

Creating a DIY smart home often starts with bringing in smart LED bulbs or other energy-saving smart lights and switches. These smart home technology advances save on energy use, along with options like dimmer light switches and smart plugs, which let users customizing the lighting and the amount of energy used.

Lighting is a very good place to start because the bulbs and control hubs are available in a range of prices and all relatively simple to use. Most control apps, whether for your phone or tablet, or for the home automation hubs, are user-friendly and easy to set up. In a matter of minutes, you can change the look of the room just by changing the color of a light bulb, and you can do so with a slide of a button on a touchscreen.

How Can You Make Your House Lights Smarter? 

The easiest way to get started on your DIY smart home is to buy a smart bulb. A smart bulb will fit into any matching size light bulb fixture, whether it’s a table lamp, a recessed light, or part of a ceiling fan light kit. You will quickly see the difference in lighting quality and energy use after switching to smart LED bulbs. From there, you can start to incorporate the basics, like the smart home automation hubs.

Another smart home update is to install a smart light switch in the wall. A smart switch allows the same customization and energy savings when paired up with LED bulbs, but it installs into the wall to control multiple lights from one single connection point without requiring a smart device hub. These replace the existing wall controls with a regular light switch panel that has sensors and Bluetooth or WiFi connectivity to wirelessly sync up to the network and your smart home devices. 

A smart light switch offers the remote or app-controlled features of the smart bulbs for all the lights controlled by that wall switch, rather than just the individual bulbs. The smart switch is the way to go for a room with ceiling fans, multiple recessed lighting options, or even for track lights, as an inexpensive and all-in-one solution to controlling two or more lights.

Smart plugs offer similar benefits as smart switches, but they plug into an existing wall outlet. A smart plug setup may be useful for adding remote control capability to one or two end-table lamps, for instance.

Complete smart lighting systems can be planned out and installed with all-new, smart home-enabled ceiling fixtures or just smart light bulbs. Some track lighting can be fitted with smart bulbs, depending on the electrical and bulb types the tracks utilize. This can include updating to smart outdoor lighting for porch lights, floodlights, wall sconces, or pathway lights.

Can Any Light Fixture Be Dimmable? 

Dimming lights can be surprisingly complicated and is sometimes impossible with many older fixtures. Some traditional bulbs will not dim at all because of the way the bulbs or the fixtures use electricity. For instance, trying to use a dimmable light fixture with a non-dimmable bulb won’t work because the bulb isn’t built to operate on the limited electrical current used by an older dimmer switch. The different types of components can result in shorts and flickering light that can be dangerous.

With many different smart lighting options, however, it’s possible to get around these complications. The electricity supply stays consistent while the technology within the smart bulb adjusts the color and brightness quality on-demand through the remote. There’s no need for a wall-mounted dimmer switch with the right smart bulb. All you have to do is to plug the smart bulb into the fixture and use the app to set the lighting level.

Smart Lighting Features to Look For

There are many new lighting options unique to smart lighting. These features can be found in smart bulbs, lamps, or wall or ceiling fixtures for indoor lighting or exterior lighting. Some are security-focused, while others are just good fun. It all depends on the lighting you choose for your DIY smart home and what you need it to do. 

Color Changing 

There’s the color hue, and there’s brightness, which are different things in the world of lighting. With some smart light bulbs and lamps, the light cast can be tinted colors across the spectrum. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, white, and even flashing or alternating in between them. It’s all controlled by the app on your phone or smart home device. With the right home lighting setup, you can coordinate the colors to the mood in the room set by a computer or TV screen or even program it to respond to music playlists.  

 Dimmers 

With the right type of dimmer light switch and bulb, your ceiling fixture can lower the light intensity to fit the mood you want in the room. With the right type of smart light bulb, any lamp or light fixture can be a dimmer light with just the control features in the app. 

App Integration 

Different manufacturers will use different apps to set the features and capabilities of their products apart from their competition. The user interface that you see on the screen, and even the devices that it’s available on, will all change slightly from one to the other. But the common feature to look for with all smart home devices and lighting apps is that they are designed to be easy to use and simple to set up.  

Voice Activation 

By now, most everyone is used to asking Alexa to look something up or report on the weather, and with a smart lighting system, the app can even turn on the lights when you ask. This perk is usually set up through the app or smart home device. 

Timers 

Found in everything from smart plugs to outdoor lighting, timers allow you to set the time frame for the light to be turned on. They can be set up and let run on a regular program or interrupted manually, so you aren’t left sitting in the dark outside of the scheduled hours. 

Control from Anywhere 

In addition to voice activation and timers, some lights offer the ability to program your lighting system when you’re away from home. For instance, if you’re at work late and forgot to leave the porch light on, turn it on from your home before you leave the office. With the right system, you can program the light to respond to the GPS location of your phone itself, turning it on or off when the phone reaches a specific spot, such as the charging station in your bedroom. 

How to Use Smart Lighting Systems

Smart lighting systems were designed to make lighting easier to customize and control. They do this by incorporating voice controls and touch-screen apps for easy on-off settings or color or brightness customization. With some smart light switches, sensors are used to detect when there is movement in the room and turn it on automatically, doing away with hitting a light switch or opening a phone app. How to use smart technology varies and depends on the types of lighting you choose when planning out your DIY smart home.

Do You Need A Hub for Smart Lights?

Not all smart lights will require a connection to a smart home device. It adds to the convenience of many types of smart lighting features. For instance, a smart home automation hub will be more likely to allow you to operate a light using voice commands because it is set up with the required technology to interpret an order to turn on the light. Smart plugs and smart light bulbs can often be used entirely independently of a multi-featured smart hub, but they may have access to programming, light color, or dimming features that are only available through a phone app.

Do Smart Bulbs Work Without Wi-Fi?

Many smart bulbs are Bluetooth equipped rather than strictly Wi-Fi enabled. The Bluetooth connection signal transmits to controlling devices within a specific range, rather than broadcasting to the internet over a Wi-Fi signal. This backup option is particularly useful during internet outages, as even if your high-speed cable internet goes down, your smart home setup will still keep the lights on.

Do Smart Bulbs Use Data?  

For those smart bulbs that are Wi-Fi equipped, they will use very small amounts of data to transmit information with the control devices. The bulbs will not slow the Wi-Fi connection and use only around 20 to 30MB of data per month when multiple devices are synced to a smart hub like Alexa or Google Home.

Where to Use Smart Lighting Systems

With the right planning, smart indoor lighting can be used throughout the home to create and utilize all the layers of lighting. Even a ceiling fan can bring smart home technology benefits into any room. From accent lighting to task lighting, a single, smart LED bulb can provide the necessary color and brightness, or you can switch out the entire fixture or add additional layers of light in other ways. 

A DIY smart home lighting setup can power lighting with multiple installation applications, such as: 

• Under-cabinet lighting, which works for night lights, or helpful under the kitchen cabinets. 
• Recessed lighting, which offers direct, bright lighting in any room of the house. 
• Strip lights or rope lights, which can be installed virtually anywhere.  
• Exterior lighting, such as pathway lights, floodlights, or patio lights.

Under-cabinet lighting can be an accent for the design aesthetics of the room or can be functional task lighting, good for kitchens, laundry rooms, or even the den. It often involves LED strips or even battery-operated lighting options. Other design-focused lighting can be crafted around the entertainment center in the den, with some smart systems coordinating the color schemes reflected against the wall with the lighting of the picture on a TV screen or even to music. Frame a bathroom vanity with under-cabinet lights that are activated by motion sensors or use strip lighting along mirror edges for dramatic effect.

Smart lighting options don’t always require all new fixtures. A smart plug can allow specific control with timers and programmable schedules for lamps throughout the home, providing the light fixture is plugged into the outlet via the smart plug.  

Dimmer light switches can be installed even on outlets that control the room’s ceiling fan. They provide the air quality comfort of the ceiling fan while allowing you to customize the brightness of the fan’s light kit. Some dimmer switches are stand-alone installations, while other types may require connection to a smart home automation hub, so check for the specific features you want when making a purchase. 

Always check the rating of the light fixture and the individual bulbs to ensure that it can be safely used in the environment of the room or outdoor area. This is particularly important for smart lighting intended for outdoor use. For instance, keep in mind that a bulb must be damp or wet-rated to be installed on a porch, or in some basements or bathrooms, due to exposure to humidity and direct moisture. Exposure to the elements can ruin the bulbs or the light fixtures themselves if used improperly. Check out our guide for more information on choosing the right lighting by UL or IP rating.

How to Install Smart Lights

If you’re wondering how to set up smart lights, it couldn’t be any easier. Smart light bulbs fit into the same standard light fixtures as any other bulb, so they screw into place with minimal effort. (For ceiling-mounted lights or even wall sconces, you might want to get a ladder to make sure you can safely reach, however.) Smart plugs may be even easier to install: just plug them into an available outlet, and you’re ready to go!  

Many smart bulbs can be used in ceiling lights. Check the manufacturer instructions for additional information, as some bulbs require installation where there is plenty of air flow and a clear signal area, and should not be installed in enclosed, airtight fixture designs. Once the bulb is screwed in place, a smart bulb will work with any normal light switch. They can be controlled manually with the wall switch or controlled through the app interface. 

The most complicated part of the smart light installation process is to connect the smart bulbs to the smart home devices that will control them. The good news is that most apps are user-friendly and quick to set up. Every smart bulb connection type and the app will be different, depending on the manufacturer, so pay attention to the brand and series information when you’re updating to smart lighting and stick to your favorite brands to keep the installation consistent and simple throughout the house.

Is It Time to Flip the Switch?

 Smart lighting is a new and exciting technology that is finally hitting the mainstream. There are so many ways to personalize your home lighting and so many new benefits to doing so. Even if you start small with just a few smart bulbs or an app-synced floor lamp, there are many new and colorful ways to bring your home lighting up to the modern era.