If you want to make your home smarter without spending a lot of time or money, there are some easy projects you can try. This post shares quick smart home upgrades you can do yourself in less than ten minutes each. These ideas include things like putting in a smart door sensor, using a plug to give voice control to your lamps, or setting up a wake-up routine in your home assistant app. Each one is simple and can help you get more out of your space. Keep reading to see how you can start making these changes today.
Install a Smart Door Sensor
One quick project that can make your home feel a bit smarter is putting in a smart door sensor. Most smart door sensors come with sticky strips or screws, so you can put them on your door frame in a few minutes. After you stick or screw the sensor in place, you just connect it to your Wi-Fi or smart home hub by following the instructions in the app. With a smart door sensor, you can get an alert on your phone every time the door opens or closes. Some sensors can also connect with other smart devices, so you can have lights turn on when you walk in the door or get a reminder if you leave the door open. This upgrade does not take much time and does not need any special tools.
Add Voice Control to a Lamp with a Smart Plug
Adding voice control to a lamp with a smart plug is one of the easiest ways to start making your home smarter. All you need is a smart plug that works with your voice assistant, like Alexa or Google Assistant. You just plug your lamp into the smart plug and then follow the instructions in the smart plug’s app to connect it to your Wi-Fi and link it to your voice assistant. After that, you can turn the lamp on or off just by asking your assistant. This upgrade does not need any tools, and you do not have to move any furniture. It is a quick change that can make daily life a bit more simple.
Set Up a Morning WakeUp Routine
Setting up a morning wake-up routine using your smart assistant app is a quick way to make mornings easier. With just your phone or tablet, you can create a routine that turns on lights, starts your coffee maker, and reads the news when your alarm goes off. Most smart assistants have a section for routines where you can pick what you want to happen and when. You only need to tap a few buttons to set it up, and you can change it whenever you want. This is a simple upgrade that saves you time and helps you start your day without extra effort.
Install a Smart Button Near Your Bed
Putting a smart button near your bed takes only a few minutes, but can make it easier to control your lights or trigger a “bed time” routine. Most smart buttons work with common apps or voice assistants. You just stick the button where you want it (on the side of a bedside table near the bed is a good choice), and connect it to your smart home. After setup, you can use the button to control lights, scenes, or trigger smart home automations. This way you can turn off the bedroom lights from your bed, run an automation to make sure all of the doors are locked, or more.
Create a Movie Night Scene with Your Assistant App
Creating a movie night scene with your assistant app is a quick way to make your living room feel more like a theater. You can do this by setting up a routine in your assistant app, such as Google Assistant or Alexa. Pick actions you want to happen when you say a certain phrase, like “movie night.” For example, you might set your smart lights to dim, turn on your TV, and lower your smart blinds all at once. You can also connect your smart speaker to start playing your favorite movie playlist. This setup only takes a few minutes and can be changed anytime you want to try something new.
Set Up a Smart Thermostat Schedule
Setting up a smart thermostat schedule is a simple way to help manage your home’s temperature without a lot of effort. Most smart thermostats have an app that lets you set times for the heat or air to turn on and off. You can pick different temperatures for when you are home, away, or asleep. This does not take much time, and you can usually do it with just a few taps on your phone. Setting a schedule can help keep your place comfortable and may help with your energy bill. Many smart thermostats also let you change the schedule later if you need to, so you are not locked into your first choice.
Install a Motion Sensor Light Switch
Installing a motion sensor light switch is one of the quickest smart home changes you can do. While not technically “smart”, motion sensor light switches can sure seem like it. Most motion sensor switches are made to fit in place of a regular wall switch and only need a screwdriver for the job. After turning off the power, you remove the old switch, connect the wires to the new one, and screw it back into the wall. Once you turn the power back on, the light will turn on automatically when someone walks into the room, which can help save power and is useful in places like hallways, laundry rooms, or bathrooms. This small change can make your daily routine smoother without much effort.
Link a Smart Speaker for Music in Every Room
Linking a smart speaker for music in every room is one of the easier smart home upgrades you can do. Most smart speakers work with apps that let you add more speakers and connect them together. Once you set up each speaker on your Wi-Fi, you can group them in the app and play the same song or playlist across all the rooms. This does not take much time and usually just needs you to follow a few steps on your phone. You can use voice commands to play, pause or skip songs. This kind of setup is good for parties or just moving from room to room without missing your music.
Set Up App Alerts for Package Deliveries
Setting up app alerts for package deliveries is a quick way to keep track of your mail. Many delivery services and smart doorbells have options in their apps to send you a notification when a package is dropped off. You usually just need to open the app, find the settings for notifications, and make sure alerts for deliveries are turned on. Some apps let you pick what kind of alerts you want, so you can get a message as soon as your package arrives. This can help you bring your package in faster and avoid missed deliveries. Most people can finish this setup in just a few minutes.
Rename Your Devices for Easier Voice Commands
Renaming your smart devices is a small change that can make a big difference. Most voice assistants and smart home apps give devices generic names like “Plug 1” or “Light 2” by default. That can get confusing fast, especially if you have more than a few. By giving each device a clear, descriptive name like “Living Room Lamp” or “Garage Fan,” you make it easier to remember what’s what—and your voice commands become more natural. Instead of saying “turn off plug one,” you can say “turn off the lamp,” and your assistant will know exactly what you mean. It only takes a minute to rename a device in the app, and it makes controlling your home feel more seamless.
Summary
You don’t need to be a tech expert or spend hours wiring your home to enjoy the benefits of smart devices. These quick upgrades take just minutes but can make your home feel more connected, secure, and efficient. You can pick just one to try or do a few at once, and you will start to notice small changes in how you go about your daily life. Whether you’re new to smart home tech or just want to get more from what you already have, these small projects are a great way to get started.
