Not sure where to begin? Let’s look at three options for fulfilling a common use case: automatically make some lights come on when motion is detected.
Author: SmartyHome

Smart bulbs are dumb…most of the time
One of the quickest and easiest ways to get into home automation is to buy some smart bulbs or smart plug modules. But before you buy, there’s some important limitations to be aware of.

Introduction to Home Assistant
To really understand why Home Assistant exists in the first place, you’re going to need to get familiar with the landscape of smart home tech, specifically the different communication technologies out there…so grab a drink and settle in.

State of my smart home (late 2017)
This post is the start of a series in which I will periodically cover how my home automation system is set up. I’ll talk about what products and technologies am I using, what new automations or tricks are being used, and how much money and time I’ve wasted trying to get that Next Big Thing working just right.

TP-Link HS100 Smart Plug quick review
The TP-Link HS100 is a WiFi-based smart plug. It is a solid and affordable choice if you don’t mind that it blocks both plugs on an outlet.

Using a Hue dimmer remote with Home Assistant
I now have a Hue dimmer remote pulling double-duty by directly controlling some Hue bulbsĀ and triggering events in Home Assistant (including short- and long-presses!). This post covers how I set it up.