Title: Finally Upgraded My Living Room Lights—Anyone Else Tried Smart Bulbs?
I ended up installing a couple of smart switches too, just to keep things consistent when guests are over.
That’s exactly the snag I hit. First time my parents visited after I put in smart bulbs, they flipped the wall switch off out of habit and suddenly none of my automations worked. Took me a while to figure out why the “sunset scene” wasn’t kicking in. Ended up swapping out the main switches for smart ones as well, just like you did. It’s a bit more upfront work, but honestly, it’s saved me a lot of explaining.
I do think there’s still some room for improvement with how these systems handle manual overrides. Sometimes I wonder if we’re just adding layers of complexity for ourselves... but then again, being able to dim everything down for a movie night without getting off the couch is pretty sweet. The tech’s not perfect yet, but it does feel like a step forward—at least when it works as intended.
Yeah, that’s a classic issue with smart bulbs—if someone kills power at the wall, all your fancy automations are dead in the water. I ran into the same thing and ended up going with smart switches that work with regular bulbs, just to keep things simple for guests and family. If you’re set on using smart bulbs, one workaround is to use switch covers or those magnetic “always on” adapters, but honestly, it’s not the most elegant solution.
From an energy perspective, I do like that these systems can help cut down on wasted electricity if you set them up right. Still, I wish there was a more seamless way to handle manual overrides without breaking automations. Maybe in a few years we’ll get there... For now, it’s a bit of a balancing act between convenience and complexity.
Still, I wish there was a more seamless way to handle manual overrides without breaking automations.
Honestly, that’s the main reason I stick with smart switches instead of bulbs. In my experience, guests just want to flip a switch, not mess with apps or voice commands. I’ve seen too many setups where someone cuts the power and suddenly nothing works—frustrating for everyone. Until they figure out a better way to keep automations alive no matter what, I’ll keep it simple. Sometimes old-school just works better.
Title: Finally Upgraded My Living Room Lights—Anyone Else Tried Smart Bulbs?
I get where you’re coming from. I’ve run into the same issue with smart bulbs, especially when it comes to guests or even just family members who aren’t as invested in the tech side of things. There was one time during a holiday gathering when someone flipped the wall switch off, and suddenly the whole “smart” part of my living room went dark. Not exactly the seamless experience I’d hoped for.
I’ve tried a few different brands, hoping one would handle manual overrides better, but it always seems to come back to that basic problem: if the power’s cut at the switch, the bulb’s just a regular bulb—or worse, a dead one. I appreciate the energy savings and flexibility with scenes and schedules, but honestly, it’s hard to justify the hassle when a simple switch just works every time.
That said, I do like the idea of being able to dim or change color temperature for different times of day. It’s just that the tech isn’t quite there yet for people who want both automation and the reliability of a physical switch. I’ve heard about some newer systems that claim to keep automations running even if someone toggles the switch, but I haven’t seen one in action that really solves the problem.
Until then, I’m sticking with smart switches too. They seem to hit that sweet spot between convenience and practicality. Maybe it’s not as flashy as having every bulb connected, but at least I don’t have to explain to every visitor how to turn on the lights...
I get the frustration with guests flipping switches, but honestly, I’ve found smart bulbs can work pretty well if you pair them with those stick-on remotes or wireless buttons. It’s not perfect, but it keeps the tech accessible for everyone—no need to explain apps or routines. Plus, being able to tweak the lighting for movie nights or early mornings is something I’ve come to really appreciate. I guess it depends on how much you want to tinker versus just set it and forget it.
