High-Tech Bulbs Give You More Control Over Your Lights
Check out some smart lighting options on the market, and see how they could brighten your home
Smart home technology is the future, but that doesn’t mean you have to outfit every appliance, fixture or gadget with an automated system. Instead, consider making just an element or two of your house a little more high-tech.
One element to think about is your home’s lighting. In fact, you’ve probably already tried some basic smart lighting. Have you ever had your lights on a timer while you were on vacation to give passers-by the impression that someone was home? Or maybe you’ve used a timer for your holiday lights?
What if you could add those features and conveniences to your everyday home lighting? You can, with a combination of smart lights or bulbs and your smartphone.
One element to think about is your home’s lighting. In fact, you’ve probably already tried some basic smart lighting. Have you ever had your lights on a timer while you were on vacation to give passers-by the impression that someone was home? Or maybe you’ve used a timer for your holiday lights?
What if you could add those features and conveniences to your everyday home lighting? You can, with a combination of smart lights or bulbs and your smartphone.
Philips Hue
Cost: From $50 for one bulb
With the Philips Hue app and installed bulbs, you can control everything remotely by room. For instance, you could turn all the lights on or off in your living room, but leave them on in the bedroom. You can also schedule lights to perform routines, even if you’re not home. A wireless connector, above, lets you control multiple bulbs.
And you can change the color or “hue,” hence its name, of the bulb to just about anything you want using a simple user interface on your phone. This allows you to create “scenes” or “themes” that coincide with events happening in your home. Turn your living room a deep blue to match an ocean-themed movie. Cycle colors to match the explosions, sounds and activities of a video game.
You can also set the bulbs to wake you up, as a sort of light-based alarm system.
Cost: From $50 for one bulb
With the Philips Hue app and installed bulbs, you can control everything remotely by room. For instance, you could turn all the lights on or off in your living room, but leave them on in the bedroom. You can also schedule lights to perform routines, even if you’re not home. A wireless connector, above, lets you control multiple bulbs.
And you can change the color or “hue,” hence its name, of the bulb to just about anything you want using a simple user interface on your phone. This allows you to create “scenes” or “themes” that coincide with events happening in your home. Turn your living room a deep blue to match an ocean-themed movie. Cycle colors to match the explosions, sounds and activities of a video game.
You can also set the bulbs to wake you up, as a sort of light-based alarm system.
Flux
Cost: From $32
With FluxSmart Lighting’s smart bulbs, you can personalize the color palette by choosing from over 16 million colors, allowing you to customize the look and feel of any room in your home.
You can control all the connected lights remotely from the mobile app using a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection. You can also set the lights to operate on a schedule, whether you are at home or not.
The bulbs are simple to install and require no additional equipment. Just plug one into a regular light socket, lamp or fixture.
Cost: From $32
With FluxSmart Lighting’s smart bulbs, you can personalize the color palette by choosing from over 16 million colors, allowing you to customize the look and feel of any room in your home.
You can control all the connected lights remotely from the mobile app using a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection. You can also set the lights to operate on a schedule, whether you are at home or not.
The bulbs are simple to install and require no additional equipment. Just plug one into a regular light socket, lamp or fixture.
Ilumi
Cost: From $35
Ilumi offers several smart bulbs, all of which are sold individually. They don’t require additional hardware or hubs to use in your light fixtures.
With the mobile app, you can choose the color of the bulbs and set them on a schedule.
What sets Ilumi apart is that the bulbs can be made to “burst” or illuminate to the sound of music, can display visual effects and can auto-detect your presence. With the latter setting enabled, the light will automatically turn on when you enter a room.
Cost: From $35
Ilumi offers several smart bulbs, all of which are sold individually. They don’t require additional hardware or hubs to use in your light fixtures.
With the mobile app, you can choose the color of the bulbs and set them on a schedule.
What sets Ilumi apart is that the bulbs can be made to “burst” or illuminate to the sound of music, can display visual effects and can auto-detect your presence. With the latter setting enabled, the light will automatically turn on when you enter a room.
You may not need smart technology for every aspect of your home, but smart lighting can be a good option to try.
Your turn: Where would smart lighting be most useful in your home? Tell us in the Comments.
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Your turn: Where would smart lighting be most useful in your home? Tell us in the Comments.
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The Most Stylish Home Assistants to Make Any House High-Tech
Wi-Fi: What It Is and How to Make It Work Better in Your House
The smart lights in this list include a mobile companion app, which you can download and install on your devices for free. The app allows you to control your lights from your phone using a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection and is an essential part of getting the most from your smart bulbs.