The trouble is controlling them.
Withsmart plugs, you might schedule them to turn on and off automatically.
You’re better off using what you have because smart outdoor lighting tends to be expensive.
Instead, buy smart plugs.
These canmake any “dumb” gadget smart.
Smart plugs run off a simple principle.
Turn it on to restore power.
If you’re only planning on scheduling indoor lights, we recommend Wyze as the best option.
It’s less expensive than iClever’s indoor entry and the app is better.
But if you’re looking at scheduling indoor and outdoor, then we recommend using iClever for both.
That way you only need to learn one app.
Both are affordable, work well, and are compatible with Alexa and Google.
Josh Hendrickson / How-To Geek
That’s essential if you are considering getting into smart homes and don’t have a smart home hub.
Insert a smart plug into your outlet and pair it with the app.
You should do this one plug at a time.
Amazon, Google
Typically, we’d advise you topick the namesfor the smart plugs carefully.
But, in this case, you’re going toadd them to a Christmas group.
You might want to name your tree lights differently.
when you’ve got everything paired and set up, you’ll connect your lights.
Your next step is to create a schedule.
Wyze calls scheduling options “rules” while Smart Life calls them “automations.”
That might look like “turn on plugs at 6:30 P.M.”, for instance.
you might even create a third or fourth rule to control specific lights.
For example, you might want to turn on the tree lights earlier than the outdoor lights.
Josh Hendrickson / How-To Geek
You’re all set with automated Christmas lights.
They essentially act as the brains of your smart home.
If you haven’t invested in either ecosystem yet, we recommend the Echo Dot over the Nest Mini.
That’s mostly because Alexa’s routines are more intuitive and more powerful than Google Assistant’s.
But either will work.
Routines are, essentially, very basic if/then programs.
You set a trigger, the “if” for your Echo or Nest Mini to monitor.
Then you create actions to occur (“then”).
Check the official documentation fromAmazonandGooglefor the most up-to-date information.
The first is the ability to throw await command into a routine.
That’s useful if you want to combine an “on” and “off” routine into one.
You’ll get a nice view as you leave home.
The second involves a fun trick with Echo Buttons.
You canpair Echo Buttons to an Echo deviceandincorporate them into your routines.
It’s a fun yet straightforward trick anyone can enjoy.
And you have choices.
it’s possible for you to play music on your indoor smart speaker, of course.
But if you have an outdoor speaker, you could send the music there.
Alexa and Google Assistant are perfect for inexpensive, simple automations that won’t take days to put together.
And that’s a good starting place during the busy holiday season.
you’re free to always add more in the future.
