FINALLY UPGRADED MY LIVING ROOM LIGHTS—ANYONE ELSE TRIED SMART BULBS?
That’s exactly why I lean toward smart switches over bulbs, especially in high-traffic rooms. I had the same issue—someone would kill the power at the wall and then suddenly the automation routines just stopped working. Here’s what worked for me:
1. I swapped out the main switches for smart dimmers so you can still use the wall switch like normal, but they also play nice with the app and automations.
2. For fixtures where I really wanted color options (like accent lighting), I kept smart bulbs, but put a little sticker on the switch as a reminder not to turn it off. Not foolproof, but helps.
3. I set up a routine where all the smart switches and bulbs reset themselves every night at 2am—just in case anything glitched out during the day.
There’s still the occasional hiccup—sometimes Alexa gets confused or there’s a lag—but overall, it feels more “set it and forget it” than when I started. Curious if you ever tried using motion sensors or schedules for your lights? Those made a big difference for me, especially in hallways and bathrooms.
Funny you mention motion sensors—I tried them in my hallway and it’s been a total game changer, especially when I’m stumbling around with laundry at night. I did run into a weird issue where the cat kept triggering the lights at 3am, but honestly, it’s still better than leaving them on all night. I’ve also noticed my energy bill dropped a bit since making the switch, which feels like a win. I do wish the tech was just a tad more reliable, though... sometimes the routines just don’t fire and I’m left waving my arms like a maniac.
FINALLY UPGRADED MY LIVING ROOM LIGHTS—ANYONE ELSE TRIED SMART BULBS?
I’ve been on the fence about smart bulbs and motion sensors, honestly. I put a couple in my entryway and, while it’s convenient not fumbling for switches, I’ve had mixed results. Sometimes the automation just... doesn’t work, and I’m left standing there in the dark, arms flailing. My dog also sets them off at odd hours, which is less than ideal. The energy savings are real, but I’m not convinced the tech is quite as seamless as it should be yet. Maybe I’m just expecting too much, but reliability’s still hit or miss for me.
FINALLY UPGRADED MY LIVING ROOM LIGHTS—ANYONE ELSE TRIED SMART BULBS?
- Been there with the smart bulbs and sensors. Installed a bunch during my last remodel, figured it’d be a game changer.
- Reliability is honestly hit or miss, like you said. Some days everything works perfect, other times I’m waving my arms like a lunatic while nothing happens.
- Pets triggering motion sensors is a pain. I had to adjust mine to ignore movement below a certain height—most decent sensors let you set sensitivity or “pet immunity,” but it’s not foolproof.
- Automation routines help, but if your WiFi hiccups or the app glitches, you’re back to the dark ages.
- For me, physical switches are still a must. I use smart switches instead of just bulbs—means you can still flip them old-school if tech fails.
- Energy savings are real, but honestly, the main win for me is controlling lights from bed when I forget to turn them off.
It’s cool tech, but I wouldn’t trust it 100% yet—especially in spots where you NEED light every time. Maybe next gen will finally nail it...
For me, physical switches are still a must. I use smart switches instead of just bulbs—means you can still flip them old-school if tech fails.
I get the appeal, but honestly, smart switches cost way more than bulbs. For me, sticking with just the bulbs was a lot cheaper upfront. If one glitches, I just swap it out—no rewiring or extra hardware. Not perfect, but my wallet’s happier.
