Smart lighting is the perfect first smart-home project: cheap, instantly gratifying, and genuinely useful. Turn lights off from bed, dim for movie night, or wake to a gentle sunrise — all from an app or your voice.
Bulbs vs. switches
Smart bulbs are the easiest starting point — screw them in and go — but the switch must stay on. Smart switches control the circuit itself and work even when guests flip the wall switch, at the cost of a bit of wiring.
Color or white
Tunable white bulbs shift from warm to cool and cover most needs cheaply. Full-color bulbs are fun and great for accents, but cost more. Start with white where you read, and add color for ambience.
Pick a hub (or not)
Many bulbs connect directly over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, no hub needed. If you plan a large setup, a hub like a Zigbee or Thread border router keeps things reliable and responsive as you add devices.
Our recommended picks
Philips Hue White and Color Starter Kit
The gold standard, with a hub and unmatched reliability.
Govee Smart Light Bulbs
Bright, affordable color bulbs that need no hub.
Wyze Bulb Color
A budget-friendly color option with solid app controls.
The verdict
Philips Hue is the reliable premium choice, while Govee and Wyze bring color and scheduling at a much lower entry price.
✓ Pros
- Instant, satisfying upgrade
- Voice and app control
- Inexpensive entry point
✗ Cons
- Bulbs need the switch left on
- Color bulbs cost more
- Hub optional but helps large setups