Smart Home 201: Automations & Routines
Building a smart home isn't just about buying gadgets; it’s about making those gadgets work for you so you can stop thinking about them.
Below is a breakdown of 40 automation ideas. Think of the Basic list as your "Daily Essentials" and the Unique list as the "Magic Tricks" that make a home feel like it’s living and breathing.
20 Basic Automations (The "Daily Essentials")
These are the building blocks of any smart home. They focus on saving time, energy, and mental effort.
The "I’m Home" Entry: When your smart lock unfolds or your phone connects to WiFi, the hallway lights turn on and the thermostat adjusts to your comfort level.
Sunrise Wake-up: Bedroom lights gradually brighten over 20 minutes before your alarm goes off to simulate a natural sunrise.
The "Off to Work" Sweep: One tap (or a voice command) locks all doors, turns off every light, and lowers the heat.
Sunset Exterior: Porch and driveway lights turn on automatically at sunset and dim to 20% at midnight.
Motion-Sensed Hallway: A dim, warm light turns on in the hallway at 2 AM if you get up for water, so you aren't blinded.
Bathroom Humidity Fan: The exhaust fan turns on automatically when the humidity hits 70% (shower time) and turns off once the air is clear.
The "Did I Leave it Open?" Alert: Get a notification if the garage door or front door has been left open for more than 10 minutes.
Kitchen Morning Prep: Your coffee maker or kettle starts heating up the moment you trigger your "Good Morning" routine.
Vacuum While Away: The robot vacuum starts cleaning only after everyone has left the house.
Laundry's Done: Your smart speakers announce "The laundry is finished" so you don't forget wet clothes in the washer.
Fridge Door Guard: An alert pings your phone if the fridge or freezer door isn't closed all the way.
Movie Night Mode: One command dims the living room lights, closes the smart blinds, and turns on the TV.
Auto-Lock: The front door locks itself automatically 2 minutes after being closed.
Rain-Sensing Sprinklers: Your garden irrigation skips its cycle if the weather forecast predicts rain.
Energy-Saving AC: If a window is left open for more than 2 minutes, the Air Conditioning turns off automatically.
Package Arrival: Your doorbell camera flashes a specific light in the living room when a package is dropped off.
Evening Wind-Down: At 9 PM, the house lights shift from "cool white" to a "warm amber" to help your brain get ready for sleep.
Panic Button: A button by the bed that, when held, turns on every light in the house (inside and out) to scare off intruders.
Trash Day Reminder: On Tuesday mornings, the kitchen light flashes green to remind you to take the bins to the curb.
Basement Auto-Off: A motion sensor turns off the basement lights if no movement is detected for 30 minutes.
20 Unique & Creative Automations (The "Magic Tricks")
These usually require a "Brain" like Home Assistant to coordinate between different brands and sensors.
The "Meeting in Progress" Light: If your work computer’s camera is active, a red light outside your office door turns on so the family knows not to interrupt.
The Sleepy Kid Sensor: If a motion sensor detects the kids are out of bed after 8 PM, a notification pops up on your TV: "Child in the hallway!"
Shower Music Sync: When the shower light turns on, your favorite morning playlist starts playing on the bathroom speaker.
The "Phone Charger" Power-Off: When your phone hits 100% charge at night, the smart plug turns off to save battery health and electricity.
The Bug-Deterrent: If it's summer and the door stays open for more than 30 seconds, a fan above the door turns on to blow flies/mosquitos away.
The "Quiet Vacuum": If you receive a phone call, the robot vacuum automatically pauses so you can hear, then resumes when you hang up.
Plant Thirst Alert: A soil sensor turns a small LED near the plant purple when it needs water.
The "Left My Keys" Reminder: If you open the front door to leave but your smart tag (attached to keys) isn't nearby, the house chirps a warning.
Bed-Presence Pre-Heat: When you actually lay down in bed (detected by a pressure mat), the electric blanket turns on for 15 minutes of toastiness.
The "Game Day" Celebration: When your favorite sports team scores (tracked via internet data), your smart lights flash the team colors.
Morning Commute Warning: If there is heavy traffic on your route to work, your bedroom light turns red 15 minutes before you need to leave.
The "Empty the Dishwasher" Light: After the dishwasher finishes, a light under the kitchen cabinet stays blue until you physically open the dishwasher door.
Curtain Heat-Sync: In the summer, if the sun is hitting the west side of the house and the temp is over 80°F, the blinds close automatically to keep the house cool.
The "Night Owl" Dimmer: Between 11 PM and 5 AM, the toilet light only turns on at 5% brightness so you don't fully wake up.
Dog-Mode Climate: If you leave the house and the dog is home, the AC stays on, but only in the specific room where the dog’s bed is located.
The "Unread Mail" Flag: A contact sensor on your physical mailbox triggers a notification on your kitchen dashboard: "You've got mail!"
Smart Mirror News: When you stand in front of the bathroom mirror in the morning, it displays your calendar and the day's weather.
The Guest Mode Toggle: A "Guest" switch that disables all your weird automations (like lights turning off automatically) so your visitors don't get frustrated.
Iron/Hair Straightener Safety: If the house is "Armed-Away" and the smart plug for the hair straightener is still on, it cuts the power immediately.
The "Movie Pause" Light: When you hit "Pause" on your movie, the room lights automatically come up to 30% so you can find your snacks.