Curious if anyone’s tried combining both? Like, smart bulbs on a constant power circuit with a smart switch that just controls scenes? Seems like it could work, but maybe overkill...
Tried that setup last year—honestly, it’s not as wild as it sounds. Here’s what I found:
- Smart bulbs + “scene” switch = best of both worlds, in theory.
- Reality: guests still flip the wall switch out of habit, which kills the bulbs’ power and messes up automations.
- Ended up taping a little “don’t touch” note next to the switch. Didn’t help much... kids just ignored it.
- If you’re living solo or with techy folks, it’s slick. Otherwise, sometimes simple is better.
Honestly, I’ve run into the same thing on a few projects—people just can’t resist flipping that switch, no matter how many reminders you put up. One workaround I’ve used is swapping out the standard switch for a smart “scene” controller that doesn’t actually cut power to the bulbs, just sends commands. That way, even if someone presses it, your automations stay intact. Have you looked into those retrofit switch covers that lock out the old toggle? Curious if anyone’s had luck with those in a busy household...
Tried those switch covers in my place—honestly, mixed results. They’re cheap, which is great, but in a busy house people just get annoyed and yank them off or try to force the switch anyway. For me, the best bang for the buck was just putting a little sticky note reminder and training everyone to use the app or voice control. Scene controllers sound cool, but they’re usually pricier than I want to spend for every room. If you’re on a budget, the covers work... until they don’t.
For me, the best bang for the buck was just putting a little sticky note reminder and training everyone to use the app or voice control.
Same here. I tried those switch covers too, but my kids just ended up pulling them off and flipping the switch anyway. Sticky notes and a bit of patience worked better for us, even if it took a few weeks for everyone to get used to it. Scene controllers are nice, but I couldn’t justify the cost for every room either.
Sticky notes are underrated, honestly. I tried the fancy stuff too, but my family just ignored it or broke it. Now it’s a sticky note on the switch and a few “reminders” yelled down the hall. Not perfect, but cheaper than replacing scene controllers every time someone gets curious.
