"Every morning, my home slowly starts to wake up just before the sun rises. The tiny light in the entryway flickers on, the kitchen lamp on the counter starts to emit a subtle glow, and even the living room lamps switch on simultaneously. And me? I’m slowly crawling out of bed, getting ready for the gym while half awake, and not stumbling around in the dark as I make my way downstairs. The vibe is set for my early morning routine without lifting a finger—all thanks to my smart lightbulbs. Cue a deep sigh.
+ how I did Scotland in a week without losing my mind in the planning process
After spending too many mornings fumbling around in the dark trying to turn on light switches, I finally upgraded my home with smart lightbulbs, and I’m so glad I did. Both my morning and evening routines have forever changed, and it truly couldn’t have been simpler to do so. Here’s why investing in smart lightbulbs is the home upgrade you definitely need.
What are smart lightbulbs?
Smart bulbs work like any other lightbulb, except these connect to Wi-Fi so you can control them without having to hit the switch or physically turn on the lamp. I have smart bulbs in every lamp in my home, so I can easily control their hue and intensity and automate them with a custom schedule. Most smart bulbs have different temperature settings (ranging from warm to cool white), dimming capabilities, and even color options. All of my smart bulbs are programmed through my Echo Show, but most smart lightbulbs work with other smart home assistants, too!
How to use smart lightbulbs in your daily routine
I’m an early morning gym girlie, and early risers know waking up in the dark is no easy feat. But now, instead of coming downstairs to a pitch-black space, I’m greeted with a subtle glow that’s easy on my eyes. I’ve scheduled all my downstairs lights to automatically turn on at 40 percent intensity right before the sun rises. This easy upgrade (seriously, it’s as simple as switching out a lightbulb) has made my mornings so much more pleasant. My space feels way cozier in the mornings, and I no longer get blinded by turning on the overhead kitchen light first thing. I can control everything within the Alexa app—it’s called a “routine,” and all I had to do was schedule each light to come on at a low intensity at 5:45 a.m.
Not only that, but I amp up the intensity of my smart bulbs throughout the day, then dim them as the sun sets as part of my wind-down routine. Dimming the lights as the sun sets is an easy way to cue my body that it’s time to start unwinding for the night. While I don’t have a set schedule for my wind-down routine, all I do is ask Alexa in real time to set the living room lights to 50 percent. Couldn’t be simpler!
Why smart lightbulbs are worth the extra investment
Lighting is a completely underrated styling hack, IMO. Good lighting can take the vibe from cold and stagnant to cozy and comfortable. You can even consider the lighting in your home as a form of self-care. If it helps curate an easy and effortless morning routine or a relaxed wind-down routine, that’s a plus for your mental health, too. There’s nothing complicated about installing them either—they screw in like a regular lightbulb. The extra step is just connecting them to your smart home assistant of choice (or simply pairing them with the app). Even if you just start with one smart bulb in your favorite room, you might just get hooked once you realize how easy it is to curate the vibe with light.
I personally always keep my bulbs on the warm white setting, and scheduling them to turn on automatically reduces early morning stress. I love that it’s an intentional part of the design of my home as well as my routines—the lighting makes it permanently cozy, even if there’s clutter. At this point, you’ll rarely see me reach for a light switch. Smart bulbs are truly the home upgrade I didn’t know I needed!
Kristen Garaffo, Contributing Home & Living Writer
Kristen Garaffo is a Washington DC-area-based freelance writer. She specializes in home and lifestyle content and loves helping others live their best lives at home and beyond.