Top 12 Unique Smart-Home Ideas
- Zachary Waldroup
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
We made a list of smart home ideas you've actually never seen
Look, we’ll admit it, we’re completely biased. We think the smartest thing you could possibly add to your home is a CarTurner. But bias aside, we also went down the Reddit rabbit hole to find genuinely clever, surprisingly practical smart-home ideas you probably won’t see on every “top 10” list. Here’s our curated lineup — with a dash of opinion on why each one is worth your time.
CarTurner with Smart Controls
This is peak luxury-meets-practicality. Imagine: it’s 11 PM, you remember you parked nose-in, and tomorrow you’ll be reversing out into traffic before coffee. No thanks.
With a smart-integrated CarTurner, you could just say, “Turn the car around” to your smart speaker, or swipe on your app, and wake up to a perfectly positioned, ready-to-go vehicle. It’s not just convenience; it’s safety, style, and a “wow” factor you won’t stop showing off to guests.
Under-Bed Ambient Night Lights
“An automation that simply lights under bed and dresser strip lights red at 2% brightness when motion is detected...”
This idea blew us away for its simplicity and brilliance. Low-intensity red LED strips under your bed or dresser, triggered by motion, give you just enough light for midnight trips without blinding you. It’s cozy, cinematic, and a game-changer for avoiding stubbed toes at 2 AM. Honestly, every bedroom needs this.
Garage & Car Automations
“Most useful automated devices would be the garage door and car doors. ‘Siri, open the garage door’.”
Few things feel as effortlessly futuristic as controlling your garage and car with your voice or phone. Imagine pulling into your driveway and simply saying, “Open the garage” — no keypad, no remote, no awkward key fumbling. Add in location-based automations so the door opens as you approach, and you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.
Kasa Smart Plugs & Switches
“Kasa Smart plugs... programmable on a schedule or controlled by phone or smart speaker.”
“Kasa smart plugs are especially useful for holiday lights.”
Sure, smart plugs are common — but Kasa’s are affordable, reliable, and make anything smart. Lamp? Check. Coffee maker? Done. That vintage lava lamp? Absolutely. We especially love scheduling them for “ambience mode” in the evenings, then killing all power-hungry devices at night to save on bills.
Robot Vacuums (With Auto-Empty Stations)
“Smart mopvac, that auto empties & refills, effing love it.”
Regular robot vacuums are good. Robot vacuums that clean and empty themselves are great. You get spotless floors without ever touching a dustbin. It’s one of those “why didn’t I get this sooner?” upgrades — especially if you have pets or a busy household.
Smart Humidifiers + Motion-Triggered Lights
“Smart humidifiers (closed loop hydro heat) critical over winter…”
“Motion detectors... in closets.”
These are underrated winter heroes. Smart humidifiers keep your home’s air at the perfect moisture level while you sleep, and motion-triggered lights in places like closets or hallways make life smoother. It’s comfort plus convenience, wrapped in automation.
Smart Power Strips to Kill Vampire Power
“Smart power strips to turn off all the [expletive] vampire draws...”
This is one of those “silent savings” tools. Vampire draw — the energy electronics use in standby mode — adds up fast. A smart power strip cuts the power when devices aren’t in use. You’ll notice the difference on your electric bill, and feel smug knowing you’re wasting less.
Lighting Routines That Follow the Sun
“Lights on/off to match sun set / sun rise… bedtime routine… announcements…”
There’s something magical about waking up to lights that gradually brighten like a sunrise, or winding down to a soft fade at sunset. It’s not just mood-setting — it’s better for your circadian rhythm. Once you try it, you’ll never go back to harsh, on-off switches.
Curtain Openers
“Curtain opener. I... automate them opening in the morning so I wake up to natural light.”
Motorized curtain openers are one of those upgrades that feel ridiculously over-the-top at first… until you try them. Waking up to natural light pouring in without leaving bed changes your mornings entirely. It’s healthier than a blaring alarm, feels luxurious, and once you’ve had it, you won’t go back to yanking on cords.
SwitchBot Upgrades
“Switchbot... turns your devices into smart devices.”
For all the gadgets in your house that aren’t smart yet, SwitchBot is like giving them a second life. It’s a tiny robot that physically presses buttons or flips switches for you. Old coffee machine? Ancient lamp? That stubborn ceiling fan? Suddenly, they’re all part of your smart home ecosystem — no rewiring required. It’s like hiring a miniature robot butler to modernize your stuff.
Water Leak Sensors
“Zigbee water sensors under any possible thing that can leak…”
Leak sensors are cheap insurance for your home — put them under sinks, near water heaters, and by the washing machine. Pair that with smart radiator valves for better room-by-room heating control, and you’ve got both protection and efficiency covered.
Air-Quality-Aware Kitchen Exhaust
“Smart MUAS tied to kitchen exhaust hood flow… auto exhaust intermittently throughout the day.” Reddit
Cooking smells are great… until they linger. An exhaust system that automatically kicks on when air quality drops means fresher air without the mental load of remembering to flip the switch. It’s a small change that makes daily living noticeably better.
Final Thoughts
This list blends wow factor ideas (CarTurner, under-bed lights, curtain automation) with unglamorous-but-life-changing tools (leak sensors, kitchen exhaust). Whether you’re building your smart home from scratch or just adding a few clever touches, these upgrades prove that smart tech can be both flashy and functional.