I've noticed the same thing—smart bulbs can be finicky, especially if Wi-Fi coverage isn't great. Philips Hue bulbs with their dedicated hub seem more stable in my experience. Curious if anyone's tried smart switches instead...might be a simpler solution overall.
I've actually been curious about smart switches myself lately. From what I've gathered, they seem pretty straightforward—just swap out your existing switch and you're good to go. Plus, you don't have to worry about bulbs disconnecting or resetting after power outages. But I wonder how flexible they are compared to bulbs when it comes to dimming or color-changing options... Anyway, sounds like you're on the right track exploring alternatives; lighting upgrades can be tricky but totally worth it once you nail down the setup.
I've installed smart switches in a few recent projects, and they're great for reliability—no more bulb resets after outages. But like you mentioned:
"I wonder how flexible they are compared to bulbs when it comes to dimming or color-changing options..."
That's the trade-off. Switches handle dimming pretty well, but color-changing is definitely bulbs territory. Maybe mix and match a bit?
I've done a few setups with both switches and bulbs, and here's my take:
- Smart switches are unbeatable for reliability and basic dimming. No resets, no fuss after power outages.
- Color-changing is definitely bulb territory. Switches just can't compete there.
- Mixing them works well—switches for main lighting (ceiling fixtures, recessed cans), bulbs for accent or mood lighting (lamps, sconces).
I recently did this combo in a client's media room... turned out great. Flexible enough without sacrificing reliability.
Good points overall, but I'd add one thing:
- Smart bulbs have gotten way more reliable lately. Haven't had to reset mine in months, even after power blips. Might be worth reconsidering bulbs for main fixtures too, especially if you like adjusting color temp throughout the day...
