“Smart home technology is cool, but is it actually worth it?” We asked ourselves that for years as the trend slowly grew. My current answer: it’s not a necessity — it’s a want, not a need — but a few well-chosen smart devices can genuinely make life at home easier. Some also improve energy efficiency and save money by cutting water or heating and cooling costs.
We’re not early adopters (Sherry likes to joke we’re “consistently behind the trends”), but our interest accelerated last fall when I received an Amazon Echo for my birthday. Since then we’ve added several smart devices around the house, many of which I’ve mentioned on our podcast. Readers have asked for a clear list of what we own and how we actually use it day to day, so here’s a straightforward look at our setup and why each piece is useful.
The Smart Home Devices We Own
There’s a smart version of nearly everything now — vacuums, refrigerators, garage door openers — but our purchases focus mainly on lighting and energy efficiency. Below is an overview of what we use; later sections explain how each item improves daily life.
1. Echo / 2. Echo Dot / 3. Smart Plug / 4. Mini Smart Plug / 5. Smart Light Switch / 6. Smart Light Bulb / 7. Smart Thermostat / 8. Smart Irrigation Controller
All of these devices work better with a voice assistant or smart hub. For us that’s the Echo with Alexa, and although it wasn’t our first purchase, I’d recommend anyone starting out choose a hub first so new devices are compatible. Echo and Google Home both support most smart devices; we picked Echo because music quality was a priority for us.
We later added three Echo Dots so Alexa is available from multiple rooms: the home office, our bedroom, and the bonus room. Having an Echo or Dot in several locations also enables a very useful intercom-like function called “Drop In,” which I’ll explain below.
Our smart plugs and lights are central to how we use automation. I prefer smart plugs because they allow control of non-standard fixtures and multiple-bulb setups as well as lamps, fans, or holiday decorations. Smart bulbs are great for dimming or color control, but plugs often offer better flexibility for our needs.
Before buying anything, ask: what problem am I trying to solve in my home? Identifying a real inconvenience helped us avoid collecting gadgets we didn’t need. Below are ten practical ways we use smart devices to improve everyday life.
#1: Resolving Annoying Switch Situations
Some rooms have switches that don’t control the lights you expect. Our living room switch is inconveniently placed by the back door and it controls nearly all outlets in the room, which used to turn off our modem and TV when guests flipped it. To avoid that, we put the three main lamps on smart plugs and grouped them in the Alexa app. Now a single voice command, “Alexa, turn on the living room,” powers all the lamps without affecting other outlets. We can still control each lamp individually, but the group command saves us time and frustration.
#2: Streamlining Bedtime
Routines are sequences the hub performs after a single command. Our favorite is “Alexa, Good Night.” That routine turns off all downstairs lights and turns on bedside lamps upstairs, so we never stumble into a dark bedroom. Routines can also play music, read the news, or announce custom phrases, making daily transitions smoother and more pleasant.
#3: Saving Laps Around The Office
Our office ceiling light is hardwired and has two bulbs. Instead of two smart bulbs, we installed a smart light switch. It works like a normal switch by hand and also responds to voice commands such as “Alexa, turn on the office.” A smart switch can be a cost-effective way to automate multi-bulb fixtures and avoid multiple bulbs for a single light source.
#4: Controlling Items With Inconvenient Controls
The first thing we put on a smart plug was our Christmas tree — no more crawling behind the tree each day. After the holidays we repurposed those plugs for salt lamps that had awkward dial switches hidden behind furniture. Smart plugs eliminate the need to fish for tiny switches and make frequently used items easier to operate.
#5: Minimizing Yelling — The Easiest Intercom
With multiple Echo devices we use the Drop In feature as a simple intercom. “Alexa, Drop In on the bonus room” lets us speak to family members in other rooms without shouting. It’s great for calling kids to dinner or checking on someone quickly. Drop In also works between households if both sides permit access, though long-distance connections can sometimes feel like a conference call.
#6: Cutting Heating & Cooling Costs
We use a smart thermostat that learns patterns and offers an auto-away feature. It reduces heating or cooling when no motion is detected, saving energy automatically when we’re out for errands or on vacation. The thermostat can be controlled by voice, so we say things like “Alexa, turn downstairs down one degree.” For many households, a smart thermostat pays for itself over time through energy savings.
#7: Keeping The Yard Healthy & Saving Water
We installed a smart irrigation controller for our sprinkler system. It adjusts schedules based on local weather, skipping runs when it’s wet and reducing watering during cooler periods. The controller is app-controlled and works with voice commands, though we mostly rely on its automated scheduling. It’s an easy way to conserve water while keeping the lawn healthy.
#8: Creating The Illusion We’re Home
Although our alarm system doesn’t integrate with Alexa, our smart plugs and switches can simulate occupancy. The app controlling those devices offers an “away” mode that randomly turns lights on and off during scheduled times, which looks more natural than a simple timer. It’s a useful security layer when we’re away and want the house to appear occupied.
#9: Timers, Quick Answers, and Simple Help
We use voice assistants for basic tasks all the time: setting timers, checking dates, asking simple math or spelling questions, and finding business hours. Alexa doesn’t always provide exhaustive answers the way a web search might, but she’s fast and convenient for everyday queries and kitchen timers. Kids enjoy asking for jokes or setting their own timers for reading.
#10: Having Fun
Beyond utility, smart devices add fun to daily life. We stream music through the Echo devices (linked to our Spotify account) and use voice commands to play songs, playlists, or artists. The kids enjoy interactive skills, and I often play a short trivia game before bed. These small pleasures add warmth and personality to the home.
So is smart home technology worth it? That depends on your priorities and which inconveniences you want to solve. For us, a handful of well-chosen devices has improved convenience, saved energy, and added entertainment value. We continue to watch new devices and evaluate whether they earn a place in our home — some will, some won’t — but so far we’re happy with what we’ve added.
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