If you were to build a new home based on HA in 2025, what would your recommendations be for:
In-wall switches and controls?
In-wall relays and dimmers?
Compatible lights?
Should I build a completely new setup based on Matter or go with the Zooz 800 series (since I have a ZWave dongle)? Or maybe just go with WiFi? Or is there a better option?
Any other recommendations for thermostats, compatible blinds, motion sensors, door and leak detectors, or dedicated control screens?
(location: north america, a relatively small/medium apartment)
Welcome! One of the best features of HA is its interoperability with so many different protocols. So you don’t need to pick a single technology. You can (and most of us do) mix WiFi, YoLink, Z-Wave or whatever. The only caveat to that is systems that build a mesh, like Zigbee and ZWave, get stronger, more reliable, and further reaching the more (powered) devices you have. So there is some benefit to growing those protocols out with multiple devices over time. But if you find that perfect Wifi device from Shelly or whatever, go for it!
I think it’s generally considered best practice to aim for smart wall switches, not smart light bulbs as much as possible.
Z-Wave is pretty solid in the US (less so in Europe), and matter is “probably” the future, but is just getting started at this point.
Shelly has a wide range of products and generally good reputation. Same for Zooz for Z-Wave. (Of course, there are those that disagree, and YMMV!)
Finally, these forums are gold. Your request has been asked many times before. Search here and read a lot. Then ask questions and folks are more than happy to help.
Dare I boast that almost everything in my 115 year-old California home is automated and that over the last decade I’ve tried most major products (screenshot attached as proof).
I agree that smart light bulbs, as opposed to switches, can be problematic, especially when they get turned off at the source. However, they do have benefits, such as color-changing, and can be combined with smart switches by assigning them as a ‘group’.
I am a fan of Enbrighten Z-wave in-wall light switches, Shelly IP relays, SONOFF Zigbee relays, and Kauf IP products. I can recommend Ecobee thermostats but not Nest. There’s not much benefit that I can see to having an in-wall smart electrical outlet, as opposed to a plugged-in switch. I’ve mixed Z-wave, Zigbee, and IP devices throughout the home.
Local control is preferred over anything that requires an Internet connection, though the latter can be difficult to avoid, especially for monitored alarm products. Shelly products can be controlled either locally or over the Web.
If you are renting, you probably don’t want to make permanent modifications to the home wiring in the form of an in-wall switch–and may be prohibited from doing so. Additionally, some of the in-wall products are larger than the switch or outlet they are replacing and may not fit or may exceed one’s comfort level and skills with electrical wiring.
My advice would be to start out small and see what works best for you.
“Benefits” - plural?? The ONLY benefit to smart bulbs is color. Unless you absolutely must have color control, smart bulbs are dumb.
OP- Recommendations… Ask 100 people on this forum and you will get 100 different replies. (Except Tuya or any other device that must connect through the cloud to work. Just say no.). Last, you NEVER have to use the manufacturer’s hub, even when the box says you must. As you fall deeper into this rabbit hole you will eventually have devices on every protocol. The best question to ask is “if you were to start over, what would you do differently?” In my case I would use the same smart switches everywhere. The reason is the wife factor. Smart switches operations vary by manufacturer. That is, “do I double-tap or press and hold?”
Yes, plural! Another benefit to smart light bulbs, in addition to color-changing, is that they can be dimmed when a dimming switch has not been installed. The smart on/off (non-dimmable) switch and (dimmable) smart lightbulb can still be bound together and controlled as a single entity by forming a group.
My house is old. All of the many outdoor lights are on the same circuit; the only switch for that circuit is a hard-wired photocell (turning on from dusk to dawn) mounted on an exterior wall under an eave about 25 feet off the ground. The lens on the photocell has clouded over, meaning that the circuit is on all the time. There is no convenient place to install a physical switch, as the wiring runs through an interior wall before going underground and distributing power to the outdoor lights. Instead of climbing up on a ladder, opening up the wall, finding a place to mount and wire a switch (awkwardly accessible only from the exterior of the residence), I simply installed smart light bulbs, initially Zigbee, then later Kauf IP devices.
