Lighting automations
Lighting is often the first area people automate in their smart home - and for good reason. Automatic lighting creates a magical experience where lights respond to your presence and needs without you ever touching a switch.
Why automate lighting?
Hands-Free Convenience - Lights turn on automatically as you enter any room
Energy Savings - Lights turn off when rooms are unoccupied
Safety at Night - Never stumble in the dark with gentle nighttime lighting
True Automation - Works without any input from you
Versatile Triggers - Motion sensors, door sensors, time of day, and more
Instant Response - Modern sensors detect presence in milliseconds
Essential automations
Turn on lights when motion is detected
The most common and useful automation. Automatically turn on lights when entering a room.
Turn off lights after motion stops
Complete the cycle by turning lights off when a room is no longer occupied.
Bathroom night light
Gentle low-brightness lighting for nighttime bathroom visits that won’t disrupt sleep.
Toggle lights when door opens
Automatically turn on lights when doors open - perfect for closets, pantries, and garages.
Outdoor night lights
Turn on outdoor lights automatically at sunset for safety, curb appeal, and convenience.
Gradual wake-up lights
Simulate a natural sunrise to wake up gently with gradually brightening lights.
Driveway welcome wave
Create a stunning ripple lighting effect from street to front door when you arrive home.
Trigger types for lighting
Motion sensors
Motion sensors are the most popular trigger for lighting automation:
How it works: Detects movement using infrared (PIR), microwave, or mmWave technology
Best for:
- Rooms you enter briefly (bathrooms, hallways)
- Hands-full situations (laundry, garage)
- Nighttime navigation
Popular sensors: Philips Hue, Aqara, SmartThings, Wyze
Door and window sensors (contact sensors)
Contact sensors trigger lights when doors or windows open:
How it works: Magnetic sensor detects when door/window opens or closes
Best for:
- Closets and pantries (100% reliable - door must open to access)
- Garage entry lighting
- Preventing lights turning off while occupied
Popular sensors: Aqara, SmartThings, Ring, Sonoff
Time-based triggers
Schedule lights based on time of day:
How it works: Automation triggers at specific times or sunset/sunrise
Best for:
- Outdoor lighting at dusk
- Morning wake-up lights
- Nighttime security lighting
Combined triggers
The most reliable automations use multiple triggers:
Example: Motion sensor + door sensor + time condition
- Motion triggers lights on
- Door sensor prevents lights turning off while occupied
- Time condition adjusts brightness (dim at night)
Best practices
Sensor placement
Motion sensors:
- 6-8 feet high for optimal coverage
- Pointed toward entry points
- Away from windows and heat sources
- Test coverage before permanent mounting
Door sensors:
- Sensor on door frame, magnet on door
- Within 20mm gap when closed
- Clean surfaces before mounting
Timing strategies
Quick access spaces (1-2 min timeout):
- Closets, pantry, laundry room, hallways
Living spaces (3-5 min timeout):
- Living room, dining room, kitchen
Work/relaxation (5-10 min timeout):
- Home office, reading nook, bathroom
Night vs. day
Create different behaviors for day and night:
Daytime:
- Full brightness (100%)
- Skip if room has natural light
Nighttime:
- Reduced brightness (10-30%)
- Warm color temperature (2200-2700K)
- Longer timeout delays
Common challenges
Lights turn off while room is occupied
Solutions:
- Add door sensor to prevent off when door closed
- Increase timeout duration
- Add additional motion sensors for full coverage
- Use mmWave sensors for stationary detection
False triggers
Solutions:
- Adjust sensor sensitivity
- Add lux sensor condition (only in dark)
- Use pet-immune sensors
- Position away from windows and heat sources
Slow response time
Solutions:
- Use local automation (not cloud)
- Add Zigbee/Z-Wave repeaters
- Simplify automation conditions
- Position sensor to detect entry earlier
Get Started: