29 Great Gadgets for a Smarter Home – Bob Vila

If your house could talk, it would probably say, “Hey, can I get Wi-Fi and a robot helper, please?” Smart home gadgets have gone from sci-fi fantasy to everyday basics, helping with everything from keeping your energy bills in check to making sure packages don’t walk off your porch. The trick is knowing which devices are worth your money and which ones will just collect dust next to that bread maker you swore you’d use.

This guide rounds up 29 great gadgets for a smarter homeorganized by how they actually make life easier. We’ll look at comfort, lighting, security, cleaning, outdoor systems, and everyday helpers, with real-world examples and buying tips so you can build a smart home that’s genuinely smarter, not just “more apps on your phone.”

Why Smart Home Gadgets Are Worth It

Comfort, Convenience, and Lower Bills

Modern smart thermostats, plugs, and lights can learn your schedule, detect when you’re home or away, and fine-tune settings to save energy without sacrificing comfort. Many homeowners report noticeable drops in heating and cooling costs after upgrading their thermostats and tightening up how and when lights run. Over a year or two, those savings can offset the cost of several devices.

Safety and Peace of Mind

Video doorbells, smart locks, and security cameras make it easier to see who’s at the door, keep tabs on deliveries, and check in on your place when you’re traveling. Add smart smoke, carbon monoxide, and leak detectors, and your home can send an alert to your phone before a small problem becomes a big disaster.

Simple Control From Anywhere

Most gadgets now work with voice assistants and phone apps, so you can lock the door, adjust the thermostat, or turn off the hallway lights from the couchor from another country. Many newer devices also support Matter or multiple platforms, so you’re not locked into one ecosystem for life.

29 Great Gadgets for a Smarter Home

Smart Climate & Comfort

1. 1. Smart Thermostat for Everyday Efficiency

   A modern smart thermostat, such as a midrange model with a color touchscreen and app control, is the starting point for many smarter homes. These thermostats let you set schedules, adjust the temperature remotely, and get alerts if your home gets unusually hot or cold. Some can even pre-heat or pre-cool based on how long your home typically takes to reach your preferred temperature, so you’re comfortable when you walk in without wasting energy all day.

2. 2. Learning Thermostat With Advanced Features

   Learning thermostats go a step further by noticing the temperature tweaks you make over time and suggesting or automatically building new schedules. Many offer presence detection, energy-use reports, and fun extras like seasonal display faces that turn your thermostat into a little piece of wall art. They’re ideal if you want comfort and savings but don’t love micromanaging temperature settings.

3. 3. Smart Room Sensors

   If your main thermostat is in a hallway that’s always comfortable while your bedroom feels like the Arctic, add smart room sensors. These small wireless sensors measure temperature and sometimes occupancy, telling your thermostat to prioritize the rooms you actually use. They’re especially handy in multi-story homes where heat rises and comfort zones are inconsistent.

4. 4. Smart Air Quality Monitor

   A smart air quality monitor tracks things you can’t easily see or smell: humidity, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and sometimes particulate matter. The app can alert you when it’s time to open a window, run an air purifier, or adjust your humidifier. Pair it with a smart plug or purifier and you can automate cleaner air without babysitting your devices.

5. 5. Wi-Fi Air Purifier

   A Wi-Fi–enabled air purifier lets you adjust fan speeds, monitor filter life, and schedule “turbo clean” sessions during allergy season. Some models automatically react to indoor pollution spikessuch as when you’re cooking or when pollen counts are highso the air stays fresh without you needing to remember to flip a switch.

Smarter Lighting & Power

6. 6. Color-Changing Smart Bulbs

   Color-changing smart bulbs let you dial in everything from warm, cozy light for evenings to crisp, bright white for workingor even party colors that match your favorite team on game day. You can group bulbs by room, create scenes like “Movie Night” or “Morning Bright,” and use schedules or motion sensors to turn them on or off automatically.

7. 7. Budget Smart Bulbs for First-Timers

   Don’t want to invest in a full lighting ecosystem yet? Budget smart bulbs give you app and voice control plus basic scheduling for a fraction of the cost. They’re a great way to test whether smart lighting fits your lifestyle before committing to more expensive fixtures or a bridge-based system.

8. 8. Smart Plugs for “Dumb” Devices

   Smart plugs are the secret weapon of home automation. Plug in a lamp, fan, coffee maker, or holiday lights and suddenly you can control it from your phone, set schedules, or connect it to voice commands. Some models also track energy usage, so you can spot sneaky power hogs and adjust accordingly.

9. 9. Smart Light Switches

   Smart switches replace traditional wall switches so you can control built-in fixtures and groups of lightsnot just individual bulbs. They’re perfect for multi-bulb fixtures, recessed lighting, or rooms where not everyone will remember to use the app. Look for models that work with your home’s wiring and preferred voice assistant.

10. 10. Smart Dimmers for Ambience

    A smart dimmer lets you set the mood with precise brightness levels and save favorite presets. Imagine tapping a button or using a voice command to jump from “Work Mode” to “Dinner” to “Nightlight,” all on the same fixtures. Dimmer schedules can also soften wake-up lighting in the morning and gently reduce brightness at night.

11. 11. Smart LED Light Strips

    Stick smart LED strips under cabinets, behind the TV, or along stair treads for subtle, modern lighting effects. Many models offer rich colors, scene effects, and music-sync modes, all controllable via app or voice. They’re one of the easiest ways to add “wow” factor to a room without hiring an electrician.

12. 12. Outdoor Smart String Lights

    Weather-rated smart string lights can turn a patio, balcony, or backyard into your favorite “room.” Control color, brightness, and schedules, or tie them into routines that turn everything on at sunset and off at bedtime. Your future self, not tripping over in the dark to find a switch, will be grateful.

Security, Doors & Entryways

13. 13. Video Doorbell With Two-Way Talk

    A video doorbell lets you see and talk to visitors from your phone, whether you’re upstairs folding laundry or halfway around the world. Look for models with clear HD video, motion detection, customizable activity zones, and reliable notifications. Options range from subscription-based cloud recording to doorbells that support local storage.

14. 14. Battery-Powered Smart Doorbell for Flexible Mounting

    If you don’t have existing doorbell wiringor don’t want to touch ita battery-powered doorbell is your friend. Many can be installed with simple hardware and recharged periodically via USB. Newer models offer improved resolution, wide fields of view, and support for major smart home platforms.

15. 15. Smart Doorbell That Doubles as a Hub

    Some premium doorbells now act as mini smart home hubs, supporting multiple wireless protocols and controlling other devices like sensors and lights. This can simplify your setup, reduce the number of separate boxes you need, and help your devices talk to each other more reliably.

16. 16. Wi-Fi Smart Deadbolt

    Smart deadbolts let you lock and unlock the door with your phone, a keypad code, or voice command. You can create temporary codes for guests, contractors, or pet sitters and get alerts when the door is locked or unlocked. Just make sure the lock still has a traditional keyway so you have a backup if the power or Wi-Fi goes out.

17. 17. Smart Lock With Built-In Wi-Fi

    Some locks have Wi-Fi built in, so you don’t need an extra bridge plugged into an outlet. That reduces clutter and simplifies setup. These locks are great for folks who want remote access, door-open alerts, and code management without turning their house into a science-fair project.

18. 18. Outdoor Security Camera With Spotlight

    A smart outdoor camera with an integrated spotlight can deter would-be intruders and make it easier to see who’s outside at night. Look for flexible mounting options, good low-light performance, and smart notifications that distinguish between people, animals, and vehicles so your phone doesn’t buzz nonstop.

19. 19. Indoor/Outdoor 2K Camera

    Higher-resolution 2K cameras can capture more detail, which helps if you ever need to zoom in to see a face or license plate. Many can be used indoors or outdoors, run on battery or wired power, and tie into smart displays so you can say, “Show me the backyard,” and get a live feed instantly.

Cleaning, Maintenance & Safety

20. 20. High-End Robot Vacuum

    Modern robot vacuums do far more than randomly bump into furniture. Flagship models use LiDAR sensors and cameras to map your home, avoid cords and pet messes, and return to a base that empties the dust bin for you. Set a schedule and they’ll quietly handle crumbs and pet hair while you’re at workor while you sit on the couch pretending you’re “monitoring their performance.”

21. 21. Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo

    If you have hard floors, a vacuum-and-mop combo can tackle dust and light spills in a single pass. Better models lift the mop pad over rugs, adjust suction on different surfaces, and return to a dock that washes and dries the mop. It’s not a full replacement for deep mopping, but it dramatically cuts down on everyday cleaning.

22. 22. Smart Leak Detector

    Water damage is one of the most expensive home headaches, and it often starts quietly under a sink or behind a washer. Smart leak sensors sit in risky spotsnear water heaters, washing machines, and under sinksand send an alert if they detect moisture. Some can also monitor temperature and humidity to help prevent frozen pipes.

23. 23. Smart Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm

    A smart smoke and CO alarm adds app alerts and detailed voice prompts (“Smoke detected in the kitchen”) so you’re not playing “Where is that beeping coming from?” at two in the morning. You can silence minor alarms, like burnt toast, from your phone and receive alerts when batteries are low or a device goes offline.

Outdoors, Water & Utilities

24. 24. Smart Sprinkler Controller

    Smart sprinkler controllers help keep your lawn and garden healthy while cutting down on water waste. They can adjust watering schedules based on local weather, soil conditions, and seasonal changes. Some systems even skip watering when rain is in the forecast or when the ground is already saturated.

25. 25. Smart Garage Door Opener

    Ever driven halfway to work and wondered, “Did I close the garage door?” A smart garage door opener answers that question instantlyand lets you fix the problem from your phone. You can also set schedules, receive alerts when the door opens unexpectedly, or grant guests one-time access without hiding a spare remote.

26. 26. Smart Portable Power Station

    Portable power stations have gotten smarter, with app control, detailed energy-use readouts, and fast-charging options. They’re handy for backup power during outages, running small appliances on a jobsite, or setting up a laptop-and-string-lights camp office in the backyard. Some models integrate with solar panels, so you can top them off with free sunshine.

Entertainment & Everyday Helpers

27. 27. Smart Speaker With Voice Assistant

    A smart speaker is the unofficial “remote control” for your entire smart home. Use it to play music, set timers, control lights, adjust the thermostat, lock doors, and run routines like “Goodnight” that shut things down with a single command. Place one in the kitchen and you also get hands-free recipes, measurement conversions, and the occasional dance party.

28. 28. Smart Display for Visual Control

    Smart displays add a touchscreen to the mix, making it easier to see who’s at the door, check camera feeds, browse recipes, or glance at your calendar and weather. Many newer models also act as powerful hubs for automations, letting you build routines from a visual interface instead of dug-in settings menus.

29. 29. Matter-Ready Smart Home Hub

    A modern smart home hub that supports Matter or multiple wireless standards helps all your gadgets play nicely together. Think of it as the translator in the middle, letting bulbs, locks, thermostats, and sensors from different brands respond to the same routines. If you’re building a larger setup, a good hub can reduce app overload and future-proof your system as new devices arrive.

How to Choose the Right Smart Home Gadgets

Start With Your Daily Annoyances

Instead of asking, “What’s the coolest gadget?” start with, “What drives me nuts at home?” Are you constantly forgetting to turn off lights, worried about porch pirates, or tired of nagging kids to close doors? Match gadgets to problems, not the other way around. The best smart home upgrades melt into your routine so quickly you forget how you managed without them.

Think Compatibility, Not Just Features

When comparing smart home devices, check which platforms they supportAlexa, Google Home, Apple Home, Matter, or a combination. Picking products that all speak the same “language” keeps your setup simpler and gives you more flexibility as your system grows. Future-ready devices that support open standards tend to be safer bets.

Balance Upfront Cost and Long-Term Savings

Some gadgets, like robot vacuums and smart thermostats, cost more upfront but pay you back in time or energy savings. Others, like smart plugs and budget bulbs, are inexpensive entry points that still add genuine convenience. A balanced mix lets you test what you like without going overboard on day one.

Real-Life Smart Home Experiences: Living With 29 Gadgets

So what does life actually look like in a home sprinkled with 29 smart gadgets? Surprisingly normaljust smoother around the edges. When you wake up, the thermostat has already nudged the temperature up a bit, the bedroom lights fade on softly, and the coffee maker is humming because it’s plugged into a smart plug on a “morning” schedule. Instead of stumbling around in the dark, you’re greeted by a house that feels like it was paying attention.

During the workday, robot vacuums quietly make their rounds while you’re out or in a home office. The robots are not perfect (they still occasionally try to eat phone chargers), but running them a few times a week keeps dust and pet hair under control. It’s not that you never vacuum manually again; it’s that “deep clean” is now something you do less often and on your own terms.

Security gadgets add their own comfort. When a package arrives, your video doorbell pings your phone and a smart display lights up with a live view of the porch. If the kids get home from school and punch in their door code, your phone quietly logs the event. You’re not obsessively checking your cameras all day; you’ve simply gained enough visibility that you don’t have to wonder what’s happening at home.

Lighting may be where the smart home feels most “magical.” At sunset, outdoor string lights and selected indoor lamps switch on automatically, making the house look lived in even when you’re away. Movie night becomes a one-tap scene: the overhead lights dim, a bias-lighting strip behind the TV glows softly, and a smart speaker pulls up your favorite streaming app’s jingle. None of these scenes are difficult to set up, but they make your home feel personalized.

Of course, it’s not all perfection. Everyone hits a learning curve: Wi-Fi hiccups, apps that change interfaces, and the occasional device that goes “offline” for dramatic effect. The key is to introduce gadgets gradually. Add a thermostat and a few smart plugs, live with them for a month, then decide whether a robot vacuum or smart lock is your next priority. This slow-and-steady approach prevents notification overload and lets you see which automations genuinely help.

Over time, you’ll notice little quality-of-life improvements that add up. You stop worrying about whether the garage is open because you can see it and control it from your phone. You use less water because the sprinklers don’t run in the rain. You waste less energy heating or cooling an empty house. And when guests arrive, they’re impressedbut what they’re really seeing is a home tuned to your routines, not a showroom full of blinking gadgets.

Perhaps the biggest “experience upgrade” is peace of mind. Knowing that smoke, carbon monoxide, or leaks will trigger loud alarms and phone alerts lets you sleep more easily. Being able to turn on lights before you walk into a dark house makes late nights feel safer. Smart home technology isn’t about turning your living room into a spaceship; it’s about nudging dozens of small daily moments in a more comfortable, secure, and efficient direction.

In the end, the smartest homes aren’t the ones with the most expensive gear; they’re the ones where each device earns its keep. If a gadget saves you time, trims your bills, or lets you worry a little less, it belongs on your short list.

Conclusion: Build the Smart Home That Works for You

Smart home gadgets can absolutely transform how your house feelsbut you don’t need to buy everything at once, and you don’t need to chase every shiny new gadget. Start with a few high-impact upgrades like a smart thermostat, video doorbell, and smarter lighting. Layer in cleaning helpers, safety devices, and outdoor gear as your budget and comfort level grow.

Think of your home as a living project: as your routines change, your gadgets and automations can evolve with you. With the right mix of smart thermometers, locks, sensors, lights, and speakers, you’ll end up with a home that’s easier to manage, more secure, and just a little more fun to live inexactly the kind of place a modern “Bob Vila” would be proud of.