Automations to get started

Automations are born out of necesity. The best ones are the invisible ones, nobody sees but they’re there. But its hard to get there, very hard. Its a reasonable idea to start small and tighten it over time, with experience.

Once you’ve set up your smart home devices, it’s time to make the most out of them by creating automations. Automations are rules that allow your devices to work together to perform tasks automatically, making your home more convenient, secure, and efficient. In this article, we’ll explore 15 simple automations—at least three for each of the core components (smart lights, smart plugs, smart thermostats, smart locks, and smart cameras)—that you can set up in your home.

Smart Lights Automations

1. Motion-Activated Hallway Lighting

Automation Overview: This automation turns on your hallway lights automatically when motion is detected, making it easier to navigate your home at night without fumbling for a light switch. How to Set It Up: Use a motion sensor and connect it to your smart lights (such as Philips Hue). In your Home Assistant or smart home app, create an automation where the motion sensor triggers the hallway lights to turn on at 30% brightness between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM. You can set the lights to turn off after 5 minutes of no motion. Benefits: Saves energy by only using lights when needed and adds convenience during nighttime hours.

2. Sunset Lighting Routine

Automation Overview: This automation gradually turns on your living room lights as the sun sets, creating a cozy atmosphere in the evening. How to Set It Up: Use smart lights like Philips Hue and set them to turn on gradually, starting 30 minutes before sunset. You can adjust the brightness to increase over time, so the lights reach full brightness just as it gets dark outside. Benefits: Mimics natural lighting changes and helps create a comfortable environment in the evening.

3. Movie Time Scene

Automation Overview: Create a special lighting scene for movie nights that dims the lights and sets the perfect ambiance for watching a film. How to Set It Up: Use your smart lights and create a scene in your smart home app called “Movie Time.” When you activate this scene (either through your phone or voice command), the lights in your living room or home theater will dim to 20% brightness, and any colored lights will switch to a warm, soft tone. Benefits: Enhances your movie-watching experience by providing the ideal lighting for a home theater environment. (Insert image: Diagram showing a home with smart lights in different rooms, and how they change automatically based on motion, sunset, and the “Movie Time” scene.)

Smart Plugs Automations

4. Morning Coffee Maker

Automation Overview: This automation ensures your coffee maker starts brewing as soon as you wake up, so you have a fresh pot of coffee ready without any extra effort. How to Set It Up: Plug your coffee maker into a smart plug. Set an automation that turns on the smart plug at a specific time in the morning, such as 6:30 AM, or use a motion sensor in your bedroom to trigger the coffee maker when you get out of bed. Benefits: Saves time in the morning and helps you start your day with a fresh cup of coffee.

5. Smart Power Saving Mode

Automation Overview: Automatically turn off devices like your TV, gaming console, or space heater when they’re not in use, helping you save energy. How to Set It Up: Connect these devices to smart plugs. Create an automation that turns off the smart plugs if no motion is detected in the room for 30 minutes. You can also set them to turn off at a specific time, such as midnight. Benefits: Reduces energy consumption by ensuring that devices aren’t left on when not in use.

6. Vacation Mode Lighting

Automation Overview: When you’re away on vacation, this automation randomly turns on and off different lamps in your home to make it appear as if someone is there, deterring potential intruders. How to Set It Up: Plug your lamps into smart plugs. Set an automation that turns the lamps on and off at random intervals during the evening hours (e.g., between 7:00 PM and 11:00 PM). You can activate this automation whenever you leave for vacation. Benefits: Enhances home security by making your house look occupied, even when it’s not. (Insert image: Diagram showing smart plugs connected to various devices like a coffee maker, TV, and lamps, with arrows indicating how they turn on or off based on specific triggers.)

Smart Thermostats Automations

7. Goodnight Temperature Adjustment

Automation Overview: Automatically lower the thermostat at bedtime to ensure a comfortable sleeping environment while saving energy. How to Set It Up: Use your smart thermostat (such as a Nest Thermostat) and set an automation that lowers the temperature to your preferred nighttime setting (e.g., 65°F) at a specific time, like 10:30 PM. You can also tie this automation to a “Goodnight” voice command if using a voice assistant. Benefits: Saves energy during the night and ensures your bedroom is at a comfortable temperature for sleeping.

8. Morning Warm-Up

Automation Overview: Automatically raise the thermostat in the morning to make sure your home is warm and comfortable when you wake up. How to Set It Up: Set an automation that increases the temperature to your preferred daytime setting (e.g., 70°F) at a specific time, such as 6:00 AM, or when motion is detected in the kitchen or bathroom. Benefits: Ensures your home is warm when you wake up, making mornings more pleasant.

9. Away Mode Temperature Control

Automation Overview: Automatically adjust the thermostat to an energy-saving mode when you leave the house, and return it to your preferred temperature when you come home. How to Set It Up: Use geofencing or a motion sensor to detect when everyone has left the house. Set an automation that lowers the thermostat to an energy-saving temperature (e.g., 60°F in winter or 80°F in summer) when the house is empty, and then return it to your preferred setting when someone arrives home. Benefits: Saves energy by reducing heating or cooling when no one is home, but ensures comfort when you return. (Insert image: Diagram showing the thermostat adjusting automatically based on time of day, motion detection, or presence at home.)

Smart Locks Automations

10. Auto-Lock at Night

Automation Overview: Automatically lock all exterior doors at a specific time each night to ensure your home is secure while you sleep. How to Set It Up: Use your smart locks (such as those from August or Schlage) and create an automation that locks all exterior doors at a specific time, like 11:00 PM. You can also tie this to a “Goodnight” command or motion sensors that detect when everyone has gone to bed. Benefits: Provides peace of mind by ensuring all doors are locked at night without having to remember to do it manually.

11. Unlock When You Arrive Home

Automation Overview: Automatically unlock the front door when you arrive home, so you don’t have to fumble for your keys. How to Set It Up: Use geofencing with your smartphone or a proximity sensor. Create an automation that unlocks the front door when your phone comes within a certain distance of the house. Alternatively, use a motion sensor near the door to trigger the unlock when you approach. Benefits: Makes it easy to enter your home, especially when your hands are full, and adds a touch of convenience to your daily routine.

12. Temporary Guest Access

Automation Overview: Provide temporary access to your home for guests or service providers without giving them a physical key. How to Set It Up: Use the smart lock’s app to create a temporary access code or unlock schedule for your guests. You can set an automation that activates the code only during certain hours or days, and then deactivates it automatically afterward. Benefits: Enhances security by limiting access to specific times and ensures that you don’t need to be home to let guests or service providers in. (Insert image: Diagram showing smart locks being controlled via smartphone for different automations like auto-locking at night, unlocking when arriving home, and temporary guest access.)

Smart Cameras Automations

13. Motion-Activated Recording

Automation Overview: Automatically start recording on your security cameras when motion is detected, ensuring you capture any suspicious activity. How to Set It Up: Use smart cameras like Ring or Arlo, and create an automation that triggers recording when motion is detected. You can also set this automation to send you a notification on your phone when recording starts. Benefits: Enhances security by ensuring that all motion near your home is recorded, providing peace of mind and valuable footage in case of an incident.

14. Camera Live Feed on Doorbell Press

Automation Overview: Automatically display the live feed from your front door camera on your smart display or TV when someone rings the doorbell. How to Set It Up: If you have a smart doorbell and camera, set an automation that displays the camera feed on a connected smart display (like an Amazon Echo Show or Google Nest Hub) or TV whenever the doorbell is pressed. Benefits: Allows you to see who’s at the door without having to get up or even open the door, adding convenience and security.

15. Night Vision Activation

Automation Overview: Automatically switch your outdoor cameras to night vision mode at sunset to ensure clear monitoring after dark. How to Set It Up: Use smart cameras with night vision capabilities. Create an automation that switches on night vision mode at sunset and off at sunrise. You can also tie this automation to your home’s lighting system, so the cameras switch to night vision when outdoor lights turn off. Benefits: Ensures your cameras capture clear footage at night, enhancing security around your home. (Insert image: Diagram showing smart cameras activating recording on motion detection, displaying live feed on doorbell press, and switching to night vision at sunset.)

Final Thoughts

These 15 simple automations are just the beginning of what you can achieve with your smart home setup. By leveraging the power of smart lights, plugs, thermostats, locks, and cameras, you can create a home that is not only convenient but also secure and energy-efficient. Whether you’re automating your morning coffee routine, ensuring your home is safe at night, or setting the perfect ambiance for movie time, these automations will help you make the most of your smart home devices. As you become more comfortable with your setup, you can explore even more complex automations and integrations, taking your home automation to the next level.