30+ Smart Home Projects For a High-Tech Abode

Turning your place into a tricked-out smart home is a wild ride you don’t want to miss out on. It’s a chance to feel like you’re living in the future while making your daily routine much smoother.

Whether you’re a tech newbie or a seasoned gadget guru, smart home upgrades exist for every skill level. Imagine being able to manage your whole damn house from wherever you are. With many DIY home automation ideas, you can find budget-friendly and beginner-friendly ways to automate different aspects of your home, such as lighting, garage doors, vacuum cleaning, and security systems.

Hop on the smart home projects train, and you’ll never have to worry about leaving the lights on or the temperature too high again. Upgrade your entertainment game by streaming movies and music all over the house. Oh, and feel like a total badass by making your crib as secure as Fort Knox with smart cameras and sensors.

Smart Home Project Ideas For Daily Routine Improvement

Control Blinds Based On Illumination

Achieve perfect natural lighting by automatically adjusting your blinds and curtains based on the sun’s intensity. Program them to open and close at set times or in response to sunrise/sunset for ideal brightness without any effort.

Smart blinds can even sync with your smart lighting to maintain consistent lighting throughout the day as outdoor conditions change.

Help with Cleaning through Automated Vacuums and Mops

Picture this: you come home after a long day, kick off your shoes, and instead of being greeted by a carpet of crumbs and dust, you’re met with a floor so spotless you could eat off it (not that I recommend that, of course)—all thanks to your robot vacuum that cleans around the schedule.

With their advanced sensors and mapping capabilities, they navigate your home with the precision of a seasoned explorer, ensuring no dust or stain is left behind.

Automatically Switch Off Appliances When Not In Use

Smart outlets allow you to automatically cut power to idle appliances when not in use, reducing energy waste. You can program schedules, set timers, or integrate with smart home systems for automated control based on occupancy or different conditions. This is an easy way to conserve energy and lower utility bills without compromising convenience. Additionally, consider exploring DIY home automation ideas such as automated lighting, garage doors, and security systems to enhance your home’s security, convenience, and cleanliness.

Morning Brew Scheduled to Perfection

Set the schedule on your smart coffee maker’s app the night before. Like clockwork, it springs to life at the appointed hour, precisely measuring out the beans, heating the water to the perfect temperature, and crafting a piping-hot cup of caffeinated perfection.

If your coffee machine is not smart or lacks the scheduling, you can use a smart switch to switch it on in the morning and achieve a similar effect.

Play Multi-Room Music with Smart Speakers

You dance to your favorite playlist when you need a quick break to tidy up the living room. There is no need to press pause – tell your smart speaker to play the music in the living room setup seamlessly.

With multi-room audio, every family member can satisfy their unique musical cravings, whether you have a smart assistant like Alexa, a smart speaker like Sonoff, or any other smart home device—no more fighting over the stereo or disturbing the neighbors with dueling music tastes.

Enable Voice Control With Smart Voice Assistant

With smart home assistants like Alexa or Google Home, you’re the master of your domain, commanding smart devices in your home with the power of your voice.

Settled onto the couch with a bowl of popcorn when suddenly you realize the lights are still on. Instead of switching it off manually, say, “Alexa, turn off the living room lights.” And just like that, your living room is bathed in the perfect dim glow for cinematic bliss.

Want to crank up the smart thermostat without leaving your bed? “Hey, Google, make it 21 degrees.”

Possibilities are endless and greatly depend on what kind of smart devices you already have.

Centralize Control With Smart Home Devices and a Smart Hub

A smart hub is the centralized brain for all your smart home devices.

It lets you control and automate everything from lights and thermostats to security systems and appliances through one unified platform. The smart hub seamlessly integrates and schedules your connected smart devices based on your routines and preferences, bringing true convenience to home automation. With a smart hub running the show, managing your smart home system becomes effortless, allowing for advanced integrations.

Automate Smart Speaker Volume Adjustment

Automatically reset your smart speaker’s volume to a comfortable level after each use and prevent sudden blasts of sound at uncomfortable volumes the next time you use the smart speaker.

With this convenient setting, you can enjoy peace of mind and eardrums.

Regulate Your Home’s Temperature With Smart Thermostats

A smart thermostat learns your temperature preferences and schedules to provide optimized heating/cooling comfort while reducing energy waste. It develops a customized schedule based on your routines and can anticipate temperature changes for your arrivals.

Smart thermostats offer app/voice control, eco-friendly suggestions, and geofencing to revert to energy-saving temps when away. They monitor humidity, air quality, and filter changes for comprehensive climate control. An intelligent thermostat dynamically adjusts to maximize personalized comfort and efficiency.

Zone Heating Made Easy With STRVs or Temperature Sensors

Install smart radiator thermostats or temperature sensors in different rooms to control heating levels independently per zone. Smart radiator valves allow adjusting heat for just that room. Temperature sensors feed room data to your smart thermostat to modulate airflow and heat by zone.

Create personalized heating “zones” tailored to each room’s needs without wasting energy on empty rooms. Smart zoned control integrates with smart thermostats and home automation for customized heating schedules, occupancy routines, and efficiency.

Smart Bathroom Project Ideas

Smart Mirrors for Daily Updates

Smart Mirrors are more than just a fancy reflective surface—they’re almost like having a personal assistant built into your bathroom or bedroom mirror. Wake up and stream your favorite tunes through the mirror’s speakers. Perhaps get a quick rundown of the day’s weather forecast and even check real-time traffic conditions before you head out the door.

Some models may even integrate a smart assistant so you can control other smart home technology devices.

Enhanced Bathroom Experience

Smart toilets provide an elevated bathroom experience through advanced features like automatic self-cleaning, integrated bidets, heated seats, and customizable settings.

They offer improved hygiene, comfort, and convenience compared to traditional toilets.

The self-cleaning capabilities reduce the need for manual scrubbing, while bidets promote better personal cleanliness. Smart toilets can also save water with dual-flush options, and some models have remote controls for hands-free operation. Investing in a smart toilet is worth considering if you prioritize a luxurious, hygienic, low-maintenance bathroom.

Heath and Stats Tracking With a Smart Scale

Monitor your health journey with a smart scale that measures weight, BMI, body fat, muscle mass, and bone density. These high-tech scales sync data to your fitness apps, allowing you to track progress over time without manually entering the data.

Upgrade to a smart scale and turn weighing in from a dreaded chore into an empowering, data-driven experience.

Smart Lightning Project Ideas

Automated Lighting

Automate your lighting with smart bulbs or switches that turn on/off based on motion sensors or pre-configured schedules. The motion sensor integration allows lights to turn on when you enter a room and off when vacant, saving energy in high-traffic areas.

Pre-programmed schedules provide illumination when needed, such as in the mornings, evenings, or while away. Integrate with smart home devices for automated lighting control based on your arrivals, voice commands, etc.

Add door sensors for more flexibility based on whether the door is open or closed, e.g., if someone is taking a bath and doesn’t move too much.

Illuminate The Room With Colorful, Smart Lighting

Smart RGB lighting allows you to change the color of your bulbs to set the perfect mood and ambiance for any occasion or activity. Cycle through millions of shades at the tap of a button – energizing colors for workouts, warm romantic hues, and soothing blues for better sleep.

Many RGB bulbs can sync with music, transition through color schedules, and integrate with other smart home systems to adapt lighting alongside temperature, voice commands, and media inputs.

You can create versatile, vibrant environments tailored to every setting with color-changing smart lights.

Command Lights with Your Voice

Consider voice-activated smart lights for hands-free lighting control. Compatible with virtual assistants, they allow you to speak commands to turn lights on/off, dim levels, change colors, and set schedules. Voice bulbs integrate with smart home systems, allowing you to control lights by room or zone groupings with just your voice.

Voice activation adds accessibility and convenience while retaining standard smart lighting features like app control. Enjoy effortless, vocal lighting management.

Illuminate Furniture With Light Strips

Elevate your home’s atmosphere and aesthetics with strategically placed LED light strips that provide gorgeous lighting. Mount them along shelving, furniture, stairs, or walls to highlight architectural details with warm, inviting accent lighting.

Smart Cameras & Home Security

Stay Alert With Smart Smoke Detectors

Your smart smoke detector can send an instant alert to your phone, giving you a heads-up before the situation escalates.

These smart little devices are great for home safety. They’re like having an extra set of eyes (and ears) watching your home, even when you’re not there. Whether at work, running errands, or just chilling out in another room, your smart smoke detector has your back.

With smart smoke detectors, you can monitor their status and battery life from your smartphone.

Internet Security with Dojo

In today’s connected world, securing your home’s internet is just as crucial as locking your front door. After all, you wouldn’t leave that wide open for any random stranger to wander in, would you?

The same principle applies to your digital domain – and that’s where the mighty Dojo swoops in to save the day.

It’s constantly scanning for potential threats, vulnerabilities, and any suspicious activity that could compromise your internet security. And if it detects something fishy, you’ll get an instant alert to take action before any real damage is done.

Setting up the Dojo is easy—plug it in and let it work magic.

Water Leak Protection

A smart water leak sensor is a device that can detect the presence of water leaks or moisture in your home and send alerts to your smartphone or other connected devices.

They can be placed near water heaters, washing machines, sinks, toilets, and other plumbing fixtures. When a leak is detected during continuous monitoring, the sensor will alert your smartphone app or trigger an alarm, allowing you to respond quickly before major water damage occurs.

It can be connected wirelessly to your home Wi-Fi, monitored, and controlled remotely through a mobile app. Some models integrate with smart home systems to automatically shut off the main water supply when a major leak is detected.

Transform Your Tablet Or Mobile Into Security Cameras

Manything is a free app that transforms an old tablet or smartphone into a versatile home security camera. It offers useful features like motion detection and the ability to set up specific zones to monitor for movement. You’ll receive an alert when activity is detected in these designated areas.

The basic app is free, with optional paid plans available for cloud storage if needed.

Manything also sells affordable phone stands, allowing you to position the repurposed device securely as a dedicated surveillance security camera. Leveraging hardware you already own, this app provides a cost-effective solution for monitoring your home without investing in an expensive security system.

Arm Your Alarm Automatically When You Leave The House

Set your smart alarm system to arm itself automatically when you leave home, and integrate it with your garage door for enhanced security. Using geofencing technology or integrating with other smart devices, the system will engage once you leave the set perimeter around your house.

You can also schedule automatic arming/disarming, remotely control the system, and sync it with smart locks, lights, and thermostats for a comprehensive security routine. Never worry about forgetting to arm your home’s defenses again with this automated convenience.

Deter Unwanted Visitors

Configure your smart lights to turn on and off irregularly when you’re away from home. This will create the illusion of an occupied house by mimicking typical lighting patterns and deterring potential intruders. Many smart lighting systems allow you to randomize such routines and integrate them with geofencing for automated activation when you leave.

During extended trips, your lights can also respond to outdoor motion for an added lived-in effect. Smart lighting automation prevents your empty home from looking like an obvious target.

View Video Camera Feed On Demand

When your smart doorbell or camera rings, the security camera’s live video feed automatically displays on your TV or a smart assistant like Echo Show. This lets you visually identify visitors before answering the door, enhancing security and convenience.

The integrated doorbell and camera system can trigger other smart home automation, like turning on lights or unlocking doors when expecting someone. With this automatic audio-visual syncing, you will never miss a visitor or scramble to view the camera feed again.

Forget About Your Keys With Keyless Entry

Smart door locks allow keyless entry into your home using your smartphone, unique entry codes, or sometimes geofencing. Thus, you can ditch physical keys and the hassles of hiding spares.

You can assign temporary access codes for guests, receive activity alerts on your phone, and integrate with other smart home automation systems. Upgrade to a smart lock for enhanced security and unmatched convenience.

Monitor Home Environment and Safety

Place air quality sensors around your home to monitor for particulates, VOCs, carbon monoxide, and mold. Complement them with security sensors for motion, doors/windows, glass breaks, etc.

Integrate the sensors with your smart home automation system, providing detailed data and alerts about environmental conditions and potential threats. Gain visibility into unseen hazards to secure your home better and protect your family’s health.

Smart Projects Ideas For Garden

Smart Lawn Care With Smart Sprinkler System

A smart sprinkler system automatically adjusts watering based on real-time weather data, such as temperature, humidity, rainfall, and wind. The controller uses algorithms to calculate the optimal irrigation schedule and duration for current conditions. It skips unnecessary cycles during rain/humidity but increases watering in hot, dry periods, delivering just the hydration needed.

Control the system remotely via an app for effortless, data-driven smart lawn care without overwatering waste.

Turn On Sprinkle System At Night If Motion Detected

Integrate motion sensors with your sprinkler system to create an intruder deterrent at night. The sensors trigger the sprinklers to turn on in protected areas at night. Customize active monitoring times and zones based on your schedule.

The sudden splash of water should scare away any potential intruders or animals.

Monitor Garden Soil Moisture With Soil Moisture Meter

Smart soil moisture meters consist of probes that measure the volumetric water content in the soil around your plants. The data syncs to an app showing real-time hydration levels. This allows for avoiding overwatering or underwatering that can damage plants or help let you know when to water the lawn after a hot day.

Smart sprinkler systems can integrate automatic data-driven watering schedules. Some meters may also measure soil nutrient levels, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, to detect deficiencies early.

Smart Home Project For Pets

Cheap Pet Camera For Interactive Pet Care

Interactive pet cameras allow you to play with and monitor your pets remotely through your smartphone. They can feature:

Two-way video to live stream and check on your pet
Built-in laser pointer you control to enable interactive play/exercise
Sound/motion detection with recording and alerts
Broadcast pre-recorded voice messages

The laser toy mimics the mental/physical stimulation you’d provide in person, reducing boredom and anxiety when left alone. Interactive pet cams allow you to stay engaged with your pets, reward good behavior, redirect energy, and monitor for any issues during your absence.

Consider Pet-Friendly Motion Sensors

Install pet-friendly motion sensors to differentiate between human intruders and your pets roaming freely. These sensors use infrared/microwave pulse detection to identify heat signatures and movement patterns typical of pets vs people.

You are preventing frequent false alarms from pets, triggering traditional motion detectors. Your security system stays reliably armed and ready to alert you only about genuine human motion events, not your pets. This allows pets to move freely without accidentally tripping the alarm or needing complex programming exceptions.

Automated Feeding Or Threats For Your Pets

An automated smart pet feeder allows you to schedule precise meal portions and times remotely via an app or voice commands. Key features include:

Hopper to store dry/semi-moist food supply
Automated dispensing mechanism controlled by scheduled meal times/portions
Integrate with smart home devices for voice commands, camera monitoring
Advanced models offer sealed hoppers, cooling, and stirring for freshness

Smart pet feeders enable you to stick to an ideal, vet-approved feeding routine and prevent overfeeding or pets from going hungry when you’re away from home.