I get the point about switches being more flexible, but I’ve actually found smart bulbs to be a lifesaver in older homes—especially when the wiring’s a total mystery. Popping in a bulb is way less hassle than pulling out a switch and hoping you’ve got a neutral wire hiding somewhere. Plus, for outdoor stuff, I like being able to control colors for holidays or parties without swapping hardware. The “trickle” issue hasn’t made a dent in my bill, but maybe I’m just not running enough of them...
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from. In older houses, the wiring can be a total wild card—sometimes you just don’t want to mess with it. Swapping in a smart bulb is way less intimidating than rewiring a switch, especially if you’re not sure what’s behind the wall. I’ve used smart bulbs for my porch and backyard too, mostly because I like changing up the vibe for BBQs or Halloween. The tiny power draw hasn’t really shown up on my bill either, and I run a handful of them year-round. For some setups, bulbs just make more sense.
I hear you on the old wiring roulette, but honestly, I’m team smart switch for most outdoor stuff. If someone flips the regular switch off by accident, your smart bulbs are just… dumb bulbs. Plus, switches don’t care what kind of bulb you use later. Just my two cents.
I totally get where you’re coming from with the “dumb bulb” problem. I’ve been there—set up a whole string of smart bulbs on my back porch, only to have my partner flip the wall switch off every other night. Suddenly, my carefully curated mood lighting was just… gone. It’s like, you want to create this magical vibe for an evening outside, but then you’re crawling around in the dark trying to reset everything. Not exactly the ambiance I was going for.
That said, I do love the flexibility of smart bulbs for certain spots, especially when I want to play with color or dimming. There’s something about being able to shift from “cozy firelight” to “neon tiki party” with a tap on my phone that just makes me happy. But yeah, if you’ve got folks in the house who aren’t as into the tech side, or you’re dealing with outdoor fixtures that get turned off at the switch a lot, smart switches are way less hassle. Plus, you can swap out bulbs whenever you want—no need to hunt down the exact same brand or worry about compatibility.
Honestly, I think it comes down to how much control you want over the vibe versus how much patience you have for troubleshooting. For me, I ended up mixing both—smart switches for the main paths and security lights, and then a few fun smart bulbs in the lounge area where I’m usually the one running the show. It’s not perfect, but it keeps everyone happy and lets me play interior (and exterior) designer when inspiration strikes.
You’re definitely not alone in the wiring roulette game, though. Sometimes I feel like half my job is just figuring out what mystery switch controls what... and then labeling it so nobody gets confused.
- Been there with the “who turned off the switch?” struggle—my kids are pros at it.
- For me, smart switches have been way more cost-effective, especially since I already had decent outdoor fixtures.
- I did try a couple of smart bulbs for the patio string lights, but honestly, replacing one when it died was a pain (and not cheap).
- Mixing both like you mentioned is probably the sweet spot. I just label the switches now and hope for the best...
- If you’re watching the budget, switches win out long-term. Less fiddling, less explaining to guests, and you can use whatever bulbs are on sale.
