Smart Lights Vs Smart Switches For Yard Setup?
Man, you’re not kidding about those no-neutral switches being a pain in old houses. I’ve got a 1920s bungalow, and every time I try to “modernize” something, it’s like the house is personally offended. Tried installing a smart switch in the mudroom last winter—ended up with flickering lights and a weird humming noise that freaked out my dog more than the vacuum ever did.
I’ve landed on smart plugs for most of my outdoor stuff too. The wiring out there is anybody’s guess, and I’d rather not find out the hard way when it’s below freezing. Plus, if one goes kaput, it’s just a quick swap—no fishing wires through ancient plaster or cursing at breaker panels older than my parents.
I do miss having a wall switch sometimes, but honestly, being able to turn on the porch lights from bed when I hear raccoons wrestling with the trash cans? Worth every penny. Sometimes the “smart” part is just not having to get up.
Honestly, I get the appeal of just using smart plugs—especially with unpredictable old wiring. But I keep running into this dilemma: energy efficiency versus convenience. Smart bulbs let you dial in brightness and color, which is great for saving power, but then you’re stuck if someone flips the actual switch off. Plugs are simple, but they don’t give you as much control over the light itself. Anyone figure out a setup that balances both without making things more complicated than they need to be? Sometimes I wonder if we’re trading one headache for another.
Here’s what I landed on after way too many trips to the hardware store:
- Smart switches for the main circuits. They’re a pain to install with old wiring, but once they’re in, nobody can mess up the automation by flipping a switch.
- Regular LED bulbs (not smart) in those fixtures. Less to go wrong, and cheaper to replace if one burns out.
- For accent stuff—like string lights or that weird solar owl my partner loves—I use smart plugs. Easy to move around, and you don’t care about dimming or color there anyway.
Honestly, it’s not perfect, but it keeps things simple-ish. I tried smart bulbs everywhere at first, but it turned into a circus every time someone hit a wall switch. Sometimes “smart” just means “more ways to break things,” right?
I hear you on the “circus” of smart bulbs—been there, done that, and my family still jokes about the time we had to eat dinner in the dark because someone flipped the wrong switch. I ended up with a similar setup: smart switches for the main stuff, regular bulbs, and smart plugs for the random things that make the yard feel cozy. Honestly, it’s way cheaper in the long run, and I don’t have to explain to guests how to turn on the porch light. Sometimes simple just works better, even if it’s not as flashy.
“Honestly, it’s way cheaper in the long run, and I don’t have to explain to guests how to turn on the porch light.”
- Totally get the appeal of keeping things straightforward. I’ve seen setups where every bulb is “smart,” but then you end up with a dozen apps and a lot of confusion.
- One thing I do like about smart bulbs, though, is the color control for mood lighting—especially for outdoor gatherings. But yeah, if someone flips the wall switch, game over.
- Curious—have you tried any motion sensors with your smart switches or plugs? I’ve found those can add convenience without making things complicated for visitors.
