7 Ways to Improve Your Home Lighting Control with Smart Home Automation

One feature of your house that shouldn’t be overlooked when you have a smart automation system is home lighting control. A home lighting control system can be installed and programmed by a professional, or you can use a wireless DIY lighting system that you install and set up yourself. If you can’t decide between a professional or DIY system, read this article.

Operated by a an automation system, your lights lights can turn on and off automatically based on the time of day and other parameters. Putting the lights on a schedule with home lighting control will certainly bring a new level of convenience to your daily schedule, and save money to boot, but there are many other setups that can be just as beneficial to your family.

Pathways: When you enter your home where’s the first place you typically go? The kitchen? The family room? Or maybe you head straight to the home office. The lights can illuminate a pathway to your destination. The lights can be triggered in a number of different ways: when you push a button on a keypad, when you disarm the security system, when you open the front door. The lights can be programmed to only turn on if it’s dark in the house and to automatically turn off after a certain length of time. Other popular pathways: from the bedroom to the bathroom, from the bedroom to the kitchen, from your bedroom to the kids’ bedrooms. Read more about pathway lighting here.

Fade to Black: This one’s ideal for media rooms and kids’ bedrooms. The lights from full on to completely off over a pre-determined period of time (3 minutes, 10 minutes, a half-hour—whichever you prefer). The gradual fade out lets people find their seats before the movie starts or helps lull kids to sleep.

Lived-in Look: Most control systems have a setting that can help make your home look occupied while your away by turning the lights on and off in a random pattern. Some can recall how you typically use the lights and can mimic your routine.

Daylight Harvesting: There’s no sense in using the lights when there’s ample sunshine to illuminate the space. Lights can work in concert with the help of a special sensor that measures the incoming natural light. If the sensor detects enough sunshine, it can trigger the control system which can then turn off the lamps and overhead fixtures and operate your motorized window shades.

Motion Triggered: How many times have you left the lights on in a closet or pantry? A motion sensor can preclude unnecessary energy use by turning off the lights when you leave the area. Conversely, it can switch on the lights when it notices you enter—ideal when you hands are busy with grocery bags and laundry baskets.

Astronomical Clock: If your control system has a built-in astronomical clock (most do), the certain lights can be programmed to turn on at dusk and off and dawn. It’s an ideal setup for exterior fixtures.

Ambiance: Groups of lights can be programmed to brighten and dim to certain intensity levels to help set the mood for a number of different activities and occasions. Each setting can be activated from a button on a handheld remote, a keypad, smartphone/tablet or a touchpanel, making it a cinch to prepare your house for a party, dinnertime or a relaxing evening in front of the TV. Color-changing LED lights, such as Philips Hue Lights (read about lights similar to Philips Hue Lights here or read our Philips Hue review here)can completely change the look of a room by subtly or drastically changing the color of the lights.

If you’re interested in smart lighting control systems, check out this article on creative outdoor lighting solutions.