Sharing a bedside current weather conditions display that uses ESPHome and a small TFT screen, importing most sensor readings from HA.
This provides at-a-glance access to important questions like “is it raining?”, “what’s the temp outside?”, “what is today’s forecast?”, “Is the room hot, or is it just me?”, without having to lift a finger or access your phone etc. You can now check conditions before getting out of bed and selecting an outfit for the day 
.
Looks better in real life!
Hardware:
- A small SPI TFT display (1.8" / 47mm); a bigger display would be better
- ESP32 C3 supermini; any ESP32 (preferably with PSRAM) would do
- Light sensor (VEML7700); can remove and rely on time-of-day / PIR (etc) for brightness control
Details on screen (L>R, T>B):
- Current outside temperature (SHT31 sensor, via HA)
- Current outside humidity (SHT31 sensor, via HA)
- Current “feels like” temperature (via calculations in HA)
- Rain / no rain indicator (custom sensor, via HA)
- Rainfall today (custom tipping-bucket sensor, via HA)
- Forecast max/min/synopsis for today & tomorrow (from Aust BoM, via HA)
- Current time (via HA)
- Current day / date (via HA)
- Current room temperature (from existing room sensor, via HA)
Other features of note:
- “Retro” 7-segment display font in use for main readings, with custom spacing for better readibility - and an old-school flashing colon in the time!
- Rain detail display is dynamic and only displayed if relevant.
- Forecast details change from for Min - Max (today) & Min - Max (tmrw) to Max - Min (today) and Max (tmrw) as BoM updates details.
- I use Aust BoM feels-like calculations plus my PWS temp/wind/humidity readings to generate a truly local “feels like”.
- Custom scrolling text function is used for synopsis details to ensure the full “mini synopsis” sourced from BoM is displayed.
- Display is dimmed at night / low-light to prevent sleep interruption.
This project was just to build a gadget to display existing information…most heavy lifting is done by existing sensors and logic in HA. The most challenging parts of this project (yet to build a nice case!) were:
- Finding suitable fonts & sizes to fit everything I wanted on a low-resolution screen
- Building a screen layout that is sensible / easy-to-read
- Getting the display to work on an ESP32-C3 supermini
Code below. There’s plenty of room for improvement, and I’ll probably move to a larger screen shortly. Note all HA sensors are custom and need replacement with local sensors.
# ESP32-C3SuperMini, bedside weather display, Britespark 02/2026
esphome:
name: $devicename
friendly_name: $upper_devicename
min_version: 2025.5.0
name_add_mac_suffix: false
on_boot:
priority: -100 # Lowest priority is -100, this ensuree all other boot tasks are completed first
then:
# Logic to set the initial display brightness based on time of day
- lambda: |-
auto time_now = id(homeassistant_time).now();
auto call = id(back_light).turn_on();
if (time_now.is_valid()) {
if ((time_now.hour >= 23) || (time_now.hour < 6))
call.set_brightness(0.3);
else
call.set_brightness(1.0);
call.perform();
}
esp32:
board: esp32-c3-devkitm-1
framework:
type: esp-idf
# Enable logging
logger:
# Enable Home Assistant API
api:
# Allow Over-The-Air updates
ota:
- platform: esphome
substitutions:
devicename: esp32-c3mini-01
upper_devicename: ESP32-C3mini-01
pin_C3_clk: "4" #GPIO4 - SPI CLK
pin_C3_mosi: "6" #GPIO6 - SPI MOSI
pin_C3_sda: "20" #GPIO20 - I2C SDA
pin_C3_scl: "21" #GPIO21 - I2C SCL
pin_C3_led: "8" #GPIO8 - ESP C3 onboard LED
pin_lcd_reset: "1" #GPIO1 - LCD reset
pin_lcd_cs: "2" #GPIO2 - LCD CS
pin_lcd_dc: "0" #GPIO0 - LCD DC
pin_lcd_bklit: "3" #GPIO3 - LCD backlight
# FONTS for LCD screen
font_2r: "fonts/RobotoCondensed-Light.ttf"
font_3: "fonts/DigitalDisplay.ttf"
font_5r: "fonts/RobotoCondensed-Medium.ttf"
# ===== Networking =====
wifi:
networks:
- ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
password: !secret wifi_password
# Enable fallback hotspot (captive portal) in case wifi connection fails
ap:
ssid: $devicename AP
password: !secret fallback_hotspot_pswd
captive_portal:
time:
- platform: homeassistant
id: homeassistant_time
on_time:
# dim display at 23:00 and full brightness at 06:00
- seconds: 0
minutes: 0
hours: 23
then:
- light.turn_on:
id: back_light
brightness: 30%
- seconds: 0
minutes: 0
hours: 6
then:
- light.turn_on:
id: back_light
brightness: 100%
# ===== Hardware interfaces =====
spi:
clk_pin: GPIO${pin_C3_clk}
mosi_pin: GPIO${pin_C3_mosi}
i2c:
sda: GPIO${pin_C3_sda} # Non-default
scl: GPIO${pin_C3_scl} # Non-default
# ===== Components & Devices =====
light:
- platform: status_led
# Onboard status LED allocation & control
name: $upper_devicename Status LED
id: esp32_c3mini_01_status_led
pin:
number: GPIO${pin_C3_led}
inverted: true
- platform: monochromatic
# Define a monochromatic, dimmable light for the backlight
output: backlight_pwm
name: $upper_devicename Display Backlight
id: back_light
restore_mode: ALWAYS_ON
sensor:
- platform: wifi_signal
# Platform parameters
name: $upper_devicename WiFi Signal strength
update_interval: 60s
accuracy_decimals: 0
- platform: uptime
name: $upper_devicename Uptime
unit_of_measurement: d
update_interval: 300s
accuracy_decimals: 1
filters:
- multiply: 0.000011574
- platform: veml7700
# Ambient light sensor VEML 7700. 4-wire connection. Black is 0 lx, very bright light > 300,000 lx.
address: 0x10
update_interval: 5s
ambient_light:
name: $upper_devicename Ambient light
id: C3_01_ambient
# This value check lowers backlight brightness to 50% when room is dark (<11 lx)
on_value_range:
- below: 9
then:
- light.turn_on:
id: back_light
brightness: 30%
- above: 9
then:
- light.turn_on:
id: back_light
brightness: 100%
actual_gain:
name: $upper_devicename Actual gain
# Homeassistant sensor imports
- platform: homeassistant
name: "Master bedroom"
id: Temp_BedM
entity_id: sensor.tz3000_bjawzodf_ty0201_temperature
- platform: homeassistant
entity_id: sensor.esp32_tank_Temp_SHT3X
id: Temp_outside
- platform: homeassistant
entity_id: sensor.esp32_tank_humidity_sht3x
id: Hum_outside
- platform: homeassistant
entity_id: sensor.rainfall_today_v2
id: Today_rain
- platform: homeassistant
entity_id: sensor.BOM_local_temp_max_0
id: Temp_max
- platform: homeassistant
entity_id: sensor.BOM_local_temp_min_0
id: Temp_min
- platform: homeassistant
entity_id: sensor.BOM_local_temp_max_1
id: Temp_max1
- platform: homeassistant
entity_id: sensor.BOM_local_temp_min_1
id: Temp_min1
- platform: homeassistant
entity_id: sensor.feels_like_temp
id: Temp_feels
binary_sensor:
- platform: homeassistant
entity_id: binary_sensor.esp32_tank_raining
# Import current raining check sensor from HA
id: Rain_check
output:
- platform: ledc
# Define a PWM output on the ESP32 for screen backlight control
pin: GPIO${pin_lcd_bklit}
id: backlight_pwm
text_sensor:
- platform: wifi_info
# Add WiFi parameters
ip_address:
name: $upper_devicename IP Address
ssid:
name: $upper_devicename Connected SSID
mac_address:
name: $upper_devicename Mac Wifi Address
scan_results:
name: $upper_devicename Latest Scan Results
- platform: homeassistant
entity_id: sensor.BOM_local_short_text_0
id: Weather_today
- platform: homeassistant
entity_id: sensor.BOM_local_short_text_1
id: Weather_tmrw
# ===== Fonts & display configuration =====
font:
- file: $font_2r
id: font_2r_s1
size: 15
- file: $font_2r
id: font_2r_s2
size: 13
- file: $font_3
id: font_3r_s1
size: 46
- file: $font_3
id: font_3r_s2
size: 22
- file: $font_3
id: font_3r_s3
size: 30
- file: $font_5r
id: font_5r_s1
size: 15
# ===== Display settings =====
display:
- platform: ili9xxx
model: ST7735
# 1.8" TFT display (red board) 128x160
dimensions:
height: 160
width: 128
invert_colors: false
show_test_card: false
reset_pin: GPIO${pin_lcd_reset}
cs_pin: GPIO${pin_lcd_cs}
dc_pin: GPIO${pin_lcd_dc}
rotation: 180°
update_interval: 500ms # was 500ms for non-scrolling
lambda: |-
auto red = Color(255, 0, 0);
auto green = Color(0, 255, 0);
auto green2 = Color(0, 192, 0); // Was 0, 224, 0 - dulling it down a bit
auto blue = Color(0, 0, 255);
auto blue2 = Color(224, 224, 255);
auto yellow = Color(255, 255, 0);
auto yellow2 = Color (215, 215, 0);
auto amber = Color(255, 200, 0); // Originally 255,170,0
auto amber2 = Color(224, 184, 0); // Was 172, 127, 0
auto white = Color(255, 255, 255);
unsigned long current_time = millis();
static bool show_text = true; // Static variable to toggle text visibility
static unsigned long last_toggle_time = 0;
int disp_width = it.get_width();
// TFT display row settings
int r_time = 122;
int r_BOM1 = 54;
int r_BOM2 = r_BOM1 + 16;
int r_BOM3 = r_BOM2 + 16;
int r_BOM4 = r_BOM3 + 16;
// Variables below required for scrolling text only (Synopsis - today)
static int sct_pos = 0;
int sct_width = 0;
int sct_ht = 0;
int x1 = 0;
int y1 = 0;
// Variables below required for scrolling text only (Synopsis - tmrw)
static int sct2_pos = 0;
int sct2_width = 0;
int sct2_ht = 0;
int x2 = 0;
int y2 = 0;
// Variables below required for scrolling text only (TEST)
static int test_pos = 0;
std::string test_text = "Warm and sunny, then cloudy with a chance of meatballs. "; // About 326 pixels using font_2r_s1
int test_width = 0;
int test_ht = 0;
int x0 = 0;
int y0 = 0;
// Toggle text visibility every 500ms (adjust as needed)
if (current_time - last_toggle_time >= 500) {
show_text = !show_text;
last_toggle_time = current_time;
}
// ===== Display time with seconds and flashing colon separator
// To compress text around colon with monospaced font the H, M, : are written individually.
// : is written first to prevent over-write on H and M
// Flashing colon
if (show_text) {
it.printf(24, r_time, id(font_3r_s3), red, ":");
} else {
it.printf(24, r_time, id(font_3r_s3), red, " ");
}
it.strftime(2, r_time, id(font_3r_s3), red, "%H", id(homeassistant_time).now());
it.strftime(34, r_time, id(font_3r_s3), red, "%M", id(homeassistant_time).now());
it.strftime(62, r_time, id(font_3r_s2), red, "%S", id(homeassistant_time).now());
// ===== Current temperature readings
float temp_out = id(Temp_outside).state;
int temp_out_int = (int)std::floor(temp_out);
it.printf(2, 5, id(font_3r_s1), yellow, "%.0f", floor(id(Temp_outside).state));
it.printf(39, 18, id(font_3r_s2), yellow, ".%.0f", floor(10 * (temp_out - temp_out_int)));
it.printf(43, 1, id(font_2r_s1), yellow, "°C");
it.printf(64, 18, id(font_3r_s2), amber2, "%.0f", id(Hum_outside).state);
it.printf(84, 18, id(font_2r_s1), amber2, "%%");
it.printf(66, 1, id(font_2r_s2), amber, "Feels:");
it.printf(it.get_width(), 1, id(font_2r_s1), amber, TextAlign::RIGHT, "°");
it.printf(it.get_width()-5, 3, id(font_3r_s3), amber, TextAlign::RIGHT, "%.0f", id(Temp_feels).state);
// ===== Indoor (room) temperature
it.printf(it.get_width(), 118, id(font_2r_s2), green, TextAlign::RIGHT, "Room: ");
it.printf(it.get_width(), 132, id(font_2r_s1), green, TextAlign::RIGHT, "°");
it.printf(it.get_width()-5, 136, id(font_3r_s3), green, TextAlign::RIGHT, "%.0f", id(Temp_BedM).state);
// ===== Raining indicator
if (id(Rain_check).state) {
it.printf(2, 36, id(font_2r_s1), white, "Rain!");
}
if (id(Today_rain).state) {
it.printf(it.get_width(), 36, id(font_2r_s1), blue2, TextAlign::RIGHT, "%.1f mm today", id(Today_rain).state);
}
//===== Add BOM forecast details
it.printf(2, r_BOM1, id(font_5r_s1), amber, "Today:");
it.printf(2, r_BOM3, id(font_5r_s1), amber, "Tmrw:");
// Display Min > Max OR Max > Min plus tomorrow details
if (isnan(id(Temp_min).state)) {
it.printf(47, r_BOM1, id(font_2r_s1), amber, "%.0f° - %.0f°", id(Temp_max).state, id(Temp_min1).state);
it.printf(47, r_BOM3, id(font_2r_s1), amber, "%.0f°", id(Temp_max1).state);
}
else {
it.printf(47, r_BOM1, id(font_2r_s1), amber, "%.0f° - %.0f°", id(Temp_min).state, id(Temp_max).state);
it.printf(47, r_BOM3, id(font_2r_s1), amber, "%.0f° - %.0f°", id(Temp_min1).state, id(Temp_max1).state);
}
// Display synopsis (scrolling) for today
it.get_text_bounds(0, 0, id(Weather_today).state.c_str(), id(font_2r_s1), TextAlign::TOP_LEFT, &x1, &y1, &sct_width, &sct_ht); // Determine the pixel length of text line
if (sct_width > disp_width) {
it.printf(sct_pos, r_BOM2, id(font_2r_s1), amber, "%s", id(Weather_today).state.c_str()); // Redraw text at the current scroll position
sct_pos -= 2; // Update the scroll position for the next update_interval by moving left 2 pixels
if (sct_pos < -sct_width) { // If the text has scrolled completely off-screen, reset its position
sct_pos = 2; // Set scroll start position to start of line.
}
}
else { // If text fits, just display it statically
it.printf(2, r_BOM2, id(font_2r_s1), amber, id(Weather_today).state.c_str());
sct_pos = 0; // Reset global variable if no scrolling needed
}
// Display synopsis (scrolling) for tomorrow
it.get_text_bounds(0, 0, id(Weather_tmrw).state.c_str(), id(font_2r_s1), TextAlign::TOP_LEFT, &x2, &y2, &sct2_width, &sct2_ht); // Determine the pixel length of text line
if (sct2_width > disp_width) {
it.printf(sct2_pos, r_BOM4, id(font_2r_s1), amber, "%s", id(Weather_tmrw).state.c_str()); // Redraw text at the current scroll position
sct2_pos -= 2; // Update the scroll position for the next update_interval by moving left 2 pixels
if (sct2_pos < -sct_width) { // If the text has scrolled completely off-screen, reset its position
sct2_pos = 2; // Set scroll start position to start of line.
}
}
else { // If text fits, just display it statically
it.printf(2, r_BOM4, id(font_2r_s1), amber, id(Weather_tmrw).state.c_str());
sct2_pos = 0; // Reset global variable if no scrolling needed
}
//===== Day / date
it.strftime(2, 142, id(font_2r_s2), red, "%a %d %b %Y", id(homeassistant_time).now());