Home Automation Examples for Everyday Life

Smart bulbs, switches, or plugs can turn on a lamp at sunset, while a motion sensor can light a hallway when you get up at night. If you’re setting this up for an older adult, start with a familiar lamp and make sure its regular switch still works in a way everyone in the home understands.

Check the product’s listed specifications when evaluating lights that come on when you need them.

A smart thermostat can follow a daily heating and cooling schedule, so you don’t have to adjust it each morning and evening. Keep the schedule simple at first, and show everyone who uses the thermostat how to change the temperature manually when their plans or comfort needs change.

A smart lock can let you lock a door from an app, and some setups can send an alert if a door is left unlocked; a smart plug can turn a connected lamp on at a set time. For doors, choose an arrangement that everyone can operate confidently, including when a phone is unavailable, and never use a smart plug to bypass an appliance’s safety instructions.