Totally hear you on the “weatherproof” bulbs—mine lasted about as long as a snowman in April. I tried those smart color bulbs for a hot minute, but after the novelty wore off, it was just another thing to troubleshoot. Swapped to smart switches last year and haven’t looked back. It’s way less e-waste too, which makes my inner tree-hugger happy. Only thing I miss is dimming for “mood lighting,” but honestly, my backyard BBQs aren’t that fancy anyway.
Smart Switches Are a Game Changer
Honestly, I think you nailed it with the switch to smart switches—way less hassle in the long run. I used to mess around with those “weatherproof” bulbs too, and half the time they’d flicker or just die after a couple storms. The e-waste thing bugs me too, so I totally get that. If you ever want to bring back some dimming for mood lighting, there are a few smart dimmer switches out there that work with outdoor-rated fixtures. Not perfect, but better than juggling a bunch of finicky bulbs. For most backyard hangs, simple on/off is all you really need anyway.
For most backyard hangs, simple on/off is all you really need anyway.
Couldn’t agree more—sometimes simple is just better. I’ve seen folks get caught up in the “smart everything” hype, only to end up frustrated with apps and firmware updates. I swapped out a bunch of old switches myself last year, and it’s been so much smoother. Still, I do miss having dimmers for those rare evenings when you want a little ambiance. Smart dimmers are a decent middle ground, but yeah, reliability is key, especially outdoors.
- Tried the “smart” route once—ended up yelling at my phone in the dark because the app crashed.
- Switched to basic outdoor switches. Cheaper, less drama, and I don’t have to explain to guests how to turn on the lights.
- Miss having dimmers for BBQ nights, but honestly, my wallet’s happier this way.
Miss having dimmers for BBQ nights, but honestly, my wallet’s happier this way.
I get where you’re coming from—simplicity wins a lot of the time. Had a rental where I tried to impress tenants with all the smart bells and whistles in the backyard. Ended up fielding late-night calls about “why won’t the lights turn on?” or “what’s the WiFi password again?” Now I stick to manual switches, but I do splurge for dimmable ones. There are some decent outdoor dimmers that aren’t “smart” but still give you that mood lighting for BBQs. Costs a bit more up front, but way less hassle long-term. Sometimes tech just overcomplicates a good thing.
