Smart home on a tight budget—is it doable?

SMART HOME ON A TIGHT BUDGET—IS IT DOABLE?

Painted conduit can be a lifesaver, but I’ll admit, I’m always a little torn. From a design perspective, even the best paint job doesn’t totally erase the fact that you’ve got a pipe running along your wall. That said, I’ve seen some clever workarounds—like using conduit as a “feature,” running it in super straight lines or even framing it with trim to make it look intentional. But yeah, resale can get tricky if the next buyer is more about aesthetics than function. I’ve had a couple of clients ask to have it removed before listing, especially in higher-end markets.

On the wireless vs hardwired front, I’m with you: hardwired is king for reliability, but sometimes it just isn’t worth the hassle or cost, especially in older homes where opening up walls means dealing with who-knows-what behind the plaster. Mesh systems have come a long way, though. I’ve seen setups where you’d never know they weren’t hardwired—no lag, no dropped connections. Still, for things like security or HVAC, I’d rather over-engineer a bit than risk a dead spot.

I’m curious—has anyone tried hiding conduit behind crown molding or baseboards? I’ve used that trick a couple of times, and it’s surprisingly effective if you’re already redoing trim. It’s a bit more labor upfront, but the end result is much cleaner. Also, when you’re prioritizing what to wire, do you ever factor in future upgrades? I tend to push for running conduit or at least leaving access panels in key spots, just because tech moves so fast. Nothing worse than finishing a reno and realizing you need another cable run six months later.

It’s always a balancing act—cost, aesthetics, and future-proofing. Curious how others are tackling that, especially in tight spaces or with strict budgets.

SMART HOME ON A TIGHT BUDGET—IS IT DOABLE?

Totally agree, hiding conduit behind crown or baseboards is a game-changer if you’re already touching the trim. I’ve done this a couple times on tight projects, and it’s way less intrusive than chasing out walls or running surface conduit. One thing I’d add: if you’re planning for future upgrades, try to use larger conduit than you think you’ll need. It’s wild how fast tech changes—what fits today might feel cramped in two years.

I’m with you on the mesh networks, too. For most folks, especially in smaller spaces or older homes, wireless is plenty reliable these days. I do still lean toward hardwired for anything security-related—maybe I’m paranoid, but I just sleep better knowing my cams and sensors aren’t relying on Wi-Fi.

On resale, it’s a toss-up. Some buyers geek out over the infrastructure, others see it as clutter. If you can make the install look intentional—like running everything perfectly straight or even color-matching to the wall—it helps a ton. Just don’t skip labeling everything... future-you (or the next owner) will thank you.

SMART HOME ON A TIGHT BUDGET—IS IT DOABLE?

I’ve been down this road a couple times, and I’ll say—if you’re patient and a little creative, you can get a lot done without dropping a fortune. When we started, I was convinced I needed to hardwire everything, but after wrestling with baseboards and fishing cables through insulation (never again), I realized wireless has come a long way. For most stuff—lights, plugs, even thermostats—I just went with Zigbee or Wi-Fi. The only thing I still insist on wiring is the security cams, like you mentioned. I had a neighbor lose footage during a Wi-Fi hiccup, and that was enough for me.

One thing I learned the hard way: don’t cheap out on your hub or main router. I tried to save money with a bargain mesh system, and it just couldn’t handle the number of devices once we added smart bulbs in every room. Ended up spending more to upgrade later. If you’re on a budget, maybe start with fewer devices and invest in a solid network foundation first.

About hiding conduit—totally agree it’s worth the effort if you’re already doing trim work. I did a run behind crown molding in our living room, and unless you know it’s there, you’d never spot it. But I’ll admit, sometimes I wonder if all this hidden wiring is overkill. My brother just sticks with battery-powered sensors and says swapping batteries once a year is easier than patching drywall. Maybe he’s got a point?

On resale, I’ve had mixed feedback too. Some folks love seeing ethernet jacks everywhere, others just want a clean look. I started labeling everything after my partner unplugged the wrong thing and took out half the living room lights... lesson learned.

If you’re willing to do some DIY and don’t mind troubleshooting now and then, it’s totally doable to build a smart home on a budget. Just be ready for a few surprises along the way—nothing ever goes exactly as planned, but that’s half the fun, right?

SMART HOME ON A TIGHT BUDGET—IS IT DOABLE?

“sometimes I wonder if all this hidden wiring is overkill. My brother just sticks with battery-powered sensors and says swapping batteries once a year is easier than patching drywall. Maybe he’s got a point?”

I get where your brother’s coming from, but honestly, hidden wiring pays off in the long run—especially if you ever want to add higher-end automation or integrated audio down the line. Battery swaps sound easy now, but when you’ve got 30+ sensors… trust me, it gets old fast. If you’re already doing trim work, I’d say go for the extra effort. Clean look, zero maintenance headaches later.

I mean,

“hidden wiring pays off in the long run”