After moving into a smart home, these are the devices I recommend
From smart speakers and plugs to doorbells and thermostats, these beginner-friendly devices can help automate daily tasks, save time and make your home feel more connected.
Rachel Cortez
After moving into a new house in 2023 and creating my very own smart home, I quickly realized how much I'd been missing out on. I assumed smart homes were mostly about asking a speaker to turn off the lights, but the biggest benefits turned out to be much more practical.
Smart home devices allow you to check that your garage door is closed when you're away for the weekend, receive instant alerts when packages arrive and automate everyday tasks that used to require multiple apps or constant reminders.
If you're also building your first smart home, don't make the mistake of buying everything at once. After spending the past few years living with connected devices every day, these are the smart-home products I think are actually worth buying—and the ones I'd start with if I were doing it all over again.
If you're building your first smart home—these are the devices I'd buy
- Best smart display: Echo Show 8
- Best smart speaker: Echo Dot
- Best smart lighting: Philips Hue
- Best smart plug: Kasa Smart Plug
- Best video doorbell: Google Nest Doorbell
Jump to exactly what you need to know
- Shop smart home devices by category:
- How to choose the right smart devices for your home
- Setting up routines for daily functions
Smart hub displays
For me, having a master smart display in the kitchen is a must. It’s the easiest spot to grab quick control of everything, but I end up using it for the little things just as much—like setting timers or checking the family calendar. When we aren't using it, it doubles as a digital photo frame. It’s always a conversation starter when people come over and see the photos rotating through. Here are some top choices for smart displays:
Smart speakers
Smart speakers are often the easiest way to start building a smart home, giving you hands-free control of lights, thermostats and other connected devices with simple voice commands. They're also great for music, timers, reminders and everyday questions.
Smart lighting
Smart lighting is one of the most impactful upgrades for beginners, letting you control brightness, colors and schedules from your phone or with your voice. You can even automate lights to turn on when you get home or off when you leave.
Smart plugs
Smart plugs are one of the easiest and most affordable ways to start home automation, turning ordinary lamps, fans and appliances into connected devices. They allow you to create schedules, set routines and control electronics from anywhere.
Smart thermostats
A smart thermostat can help make your home more comfortable while potentially reducing energy costs through automated schedules and remote controls. Many models can learn your routine and adjust temperatures automatically throughout the day.
Smart doorbells
Smart doorbells help you keep an eye on your front door from anywhere with live video, motion alerts and two-way talk. They're especially useful for monitoring packages, visitors and unexpected activity while you're away.
Smart garage door openers
A smart garage door opener lets you check, open and close your garage remotely using your smartphone. It's a simple upgrade that adds convenience and peace of mind, especially when you're traveling or away from home.
Smart entertainment
From streaming devices to smart TVs, these products bring your favorite shows and movies together while adding voice control and smart-home integrations. Many can also serve as a central hub for managing other connected devices.
Choosing your platform
The first thing you need to figure out is whether you want to be an Alexa, Google or Apple household. You can mix and match a little, but trust me—it’s much less of a headache if everything flows through one app. I personally use Google for the heavy lifting around the house, but I still lean on Alexa for entertainment and Amazon Prime stuff. It really just comes down to which ecosystem feels the most natural for you to use every day.
Setting up routines for daily functions
Once your devices are installed, you can dive into what I think is the coolest part of a smart home: Routines. Think of a routine as a single command or "trigger" that kicks off a whole chain reaction of events. Instead of turning everything on one by one, you can set your home to run on your schedule.
For example, you can set a "Good Morning" routine that starts the second your alarm goes off. Your smart display can read you the weather forecast and the morning news while your smart plug starts brewing your first cup of coffee. At the same time, your thermostat can kick on to make the house cozy in the winter or crisp and cool during the summer.
Other popular routines to try:
- "I'm Leaving" Routine: One command that turns off all the lights, locks the front door, sets the thermostat to an energy-saving temp while you're out and double-checks that the garage is shut.
- "Movie Night" Routine: Dims the living room lights, closes the smart blinds and turns on the TV.
- "Goodnight" Routine: Double-checks that the garage is shut, locks the doors and you can even set up to slowly fade the bedroom lights to help you wind down.
How to choose the right smart devices for your home
Once you’ve picked your platform, the next step is figuring out which devices actually make sense for your house. Every home is a little different—for example, if you don't have a garage, you obviously don't need to worry about a smart opener. It’s also worth checking your current wiring because some homes might require calling in a pro or an electrician, so always double-check compatibility first.
Plus, if you plan on using both Google and Alexa, try to look for the "Matter" logo on the box when you're shopping. It’s a newer tech standard that basically ensures the device will work with almost any platform you choose, making it way easier to keep everything flowing together.
To save you some time and hassle, here are my top recommendations for smart devices that are perfect for a beginner setup.
A final thought on getting started with a smart home
The most important thing to remember is that you don't have to automate your entire life in one weekend. Start with one room or one routine that solves a daily task—like fumbling for a light switch or wondering if the garage is open—and go from there.
Once you see how much simpler it makes your day-to-day, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.
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