sometimes it’s about working with what you’ve got instead of fighting your house’s quirks
That really hits home—old houses definitely have a mind of their own. I’ve spent more hours than I care to admit tracing circuits that go nowhere and trying to fish wires through walls that just… won’t cooperate. The Lutron Pico remotes are a clever workaround. I’ve used them in a couple of rentals and honestly, they’re about as close to “real” as you can get without opening up drywall. I do wish more smart plug makers would consider outlet spacing, though. It’s like they assume everyone only uses one thing per wall plate.
It’s wild how much you have to adapt with older homes. I remember trying to install a smart dimmer in a 1920s place—turns out, no neutral wire anywhere. Ended up going with Caséta and Pico remotes too, and honestly, it felt like cheating in the best way. Outlet spacing is a pet peeve of mine as well... some of those chunky plugs just make it impossible to use both sockets. Wish more brands would think about that.
Title: Smart Home Ecosystems Worth Checking Out
Outlet spacing is a pet peeve of mine as well... some of those chunky plugs just make it impossible to use both sockets. Wish more brands would think about that.
You nailed it with the outlet spacing thing—drives me up the wall. I swear, when we did our walkthrough before closing, I thought, “Hey, this is fine, there are outlets everywhere.” But then you actually try to plug in a smart plug and a lamp or something else, and suddenly you’re playing Tetris with power cords. It’s like nobody in the 70s could’ve imagined a world where everything needed a brick-sized plug.
I’m with you on the Caséta/Pico route. I was a bit skeptical at first—felt like a workaround, not a true “smart” solution—but honestly, it’s been more reliable than the WiFi switches my friends have in their newer places. I guess sometimes “cheating” is just being practical. That said, I do wish more companies would design gear that fits better with older homes. Not everyone’s up for rewiring or cutting into plaster walls just to get a neutral wire in place, and honestly, I’m not convinced the payoff is always worth the hassle.
One thing I’ll say, though: I get why some folks love the all-in-one ecosystems, but I’m not totally sold on locking myself into one brand. I’ve seen too many updates break stuff or random compatibility issues crop up. Maybe I’m just paranoid, but I’d rather piece things together and have a little more control, even if it means a few more apps on my phone.
Anyway, you’re not alone in the struggle. Sometimes it feels like these “smart” products are designed for show homes, not actual lived-in spaces with weird quirks and decades of DIY fixes. But hey, at least we get to laugh about it when the motion sensor turns the lights off while you’re still in the shower...
Outlet spacing is the worst, especially when you’re trying to keep costs down and don’t want to buy a bunch of fancy adapters. I’ve started using those slim profile smart plugs from Kasa—still not perfect, but at least I can use both sockets most of the time. Anyone else found a cheaper workaround that doesn’t involve rewiring? I’m not about to rip up walls just to add a neutral wire either. For me, reliability always beats “flashy” features, especially if it means fewer headaches and less money spent.
Honestly, outlet spacing drives me nuts too. Those Kasa slim plugs are decent, but I’ve had mixed luck with bulkier chargers still blocking the second socket. I actually picked up a pack of those flat “sideways” adapters (the ones that turn both outlets to face sideways) for like $10 on Amazon—super basic, nothing smart about them, but they let me stack two plugs without fighting for space. Not the prettiest solution, but way cheaper than rewiring or buying a bunch of smart gear. Reliability-wise, old-school sometimes wins out over all the “smart” stuff anyway...