Begin building a smart home by choosing a primary platform like Alexa, Google, or Apple for easier integration.
Smart devices such as speakers, lighting, and thermostats can add convenience and peace of mind.
Look for devices with the "Matter" logo to ensure they work across different smart home platforms.
Automate daily tasks by creating routines that control multiple devices with a single command.
As someone still fairly new to the whole smart home world, I can honestly say it’s been a total game-changer. When I bought my house in 2023, it already came loaded with smart tech—and I quickly realized I’d been missing out. Before that, I thought having a "smart home" just meant having a Google display on the counter. But now I’m genuinely impressed by how much I can control without even getting off the couch.
Integrating your lighting, climate and more into one fluid ecosystem has been a total game-changer. It’s more than just the luxury of dimming the lights from bed with a smart light setup; it’s the peace of mind that comes from checking whether the garage is shut after leaving for a long trip or getting a notification the second a package hits the porch. If you want to start your own setup for full home automation and routines, I’ve narrowed it down to a few must-have devices that are perfect for beginners.
The first thing you need to figure out is whether you want to be an Alexa, Google or Apple household. You can mix and match a little, but trust me—it’s much less of a headache if everything flows through one app. I personally use Google for the heavy lifting around the house, but I still lean on Alexa for entertainment and Amazon Prime stuff. It really just comes down to which ecosystem feels the most natural for you to use every day.
For me, having a master smart display in the kitchen is a must. It’s the easiest spot to grab quick control of everything, but I end up using it for the little things just as much—like setting timers or checking the family calendar. When we aren't using it, it doubles as a digital photo frame. It’s always a conversation starter when people come over and see the photos rotating through.
Here are some of our top choices for smart displays:
Amazon Echo Show 5
The Amazon Echo Show 5 is the ideal bedside companion for your smart home because its compact display is perfect for viewing your morning routine, checking smart cameras and making video calls without taking up too much space. Shop at Amazon
Amazon Echo Show 8
The Amazon Echo Show 8 is a premium multimedia centerpiece that elevates your smart home with a vibrant 8-inch Full-HD display, making it perfect for managing a busy family calendar, streaming high-quality video and acting as a high-end digital photo frame that adjusts to the room's lighting. Plus, it's also available in a larger 11-inch option. Shop at Amazon
Amazon Echo Show 15
The Echo Show 15 is the ultimate organizational hub for a busy home because its massive 15.6-inch Full HD display can be wall-mounted to act as a digital command center for shared family calendars, shopping lists and even a kitchen TV with built-in Fire TV. Plus, it's also available in a larger, show-stopping 21-inch display. Shop at Amazon
Google Nest Hub Smart Display
The Google Nest Hub is the perfect kitchen "mission control" because it combines a central smart home dashboard with a vibrant display for visual timers, family calendars and a digital photo frame that brings your favorite memories to life when not in use. Shop at Target
Google Nest Hub Max Smart Display
The Google Nest Hub Max is the ultimate multitasking centerpiece for your smart home because it features a large 10-inch screen and a built-in camera that allows for seamless video calls, home monitoring when you're away and personalized "Face Match" notifications for every member of the family. Shop at Amazon
Once you’ve picked your platform, the next step is figuring out which devices actually make sense for your house. Every home is a little different—for example, if you don't have a garage, you obviously don't need to worry about a smart opener. It’s also worth checking your current wiring because some homes might require calling in a pro or an electrician, so always double-check compatibility first.
Plus, if you plan on using both Google and Alexa, try to look for the "Matter" logo on the box when you're shopping. It’s a newer tech standard that basically ensures the device will work with almost any platform you choose, making it way easier to keep everything flowing together.
To save you some time and hassle, here are my top recommendations for smart devices that are perfect for a beginner setup.
This smart device is the ultimate all-in-one starter device because it combines a room-filling speaker with built-in motion and temperature sensors that can automatically trigger your lights or fans the moment you walk into a room. Shop at Amazon
Amazon Echo Dot Max
The Echo Dot Max is the definitive upgrade for power users because it replaces the single driver of the standard Dot with a two-way speaker system for nearly 3x the bass, while a built-in smart home hub and Omnisense technology offer a highly personalized experience. Shop at Amazon
Amazon Echo Spot
The Echo Spot is a specialized upgrade that adds a vibrant touchscreen to your bedside, allowing for visual alarms, song art and easy "tap-to-control" smart home adjustments. While it lacks the heavy bass and advanced sensors of the Dot Max, it is the superior choice for anyone who wants at-a-glance information and manual touch controls. Shop at Amazon
Amazon Echo Studio
The Amazon Echo Studio is a massive audio upgrade that uses five directional speakers and Dolby Atmos to create an immersive, 3D soundstage for high-end music and home theater. While the Dot Max is great for small rooms, the Studio is the superior choice for audiophiles who want the deepest bass and the ability to replace a traditional soundbar setup. Shop at Amazon
Google Nest Audio
The Google Nest Audio is the ideal first step for a smart home because it serves as a powerful central hub that uses Google Assistant to control thousands of compatible lights, locks and thermostats with simple voice commands. It is especially effective for beginners who already use Google Calendar or Android, as it seamlessly syncs your personal schedule and allows you to "cast" music directly from your phone. Shop at Amazon
Apple Homepod
The Apple HomePod is an audio powerhouse that doubles as a Matter-enabled smart home hub, allowing you to automate your accessories using its built-in temperature and humidity sensors or voice commands through Siri. Shop at Amazon
Apple HomePod Mini
The Apple HomePod mini is an essential, budget-friendly addition to an Apple smart home because it acts as a Thread-enabled Matter hub, allowing you to use voice commands for your accessories, while its built-in temperature and humidity sensors can automatically trigger your thermostat or fans. Shop at Amazon
Govee Smart LED Bulbs are a fantastic entry point for beginners because they offer millions of colors and specialized music sync modes that don't require a separate hub. They are an especially smart investment because many models are Matter-compatible, ensuring they will work seamlessly with your choice of Alexa, Google Home or Apple Home as you grow your system. Shop at Amazon
Philips Hue Smart Light Bulbs Starter Kit
This starter kit is considered the gold standard for smart lighting beginners because the included Hue Bridge creates a dedicated, ultra-reliable network that won't slow down your home Wi-Fi. It is an ideal "foundation" for your smart home, offering seamless compatibility with Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit while providing millions of colors and expert-designed lighting scenes. Shop at Amazon
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is the perfect entry point for a smart home because it instantly transforms any TV with an HDMI port into a voice-controlled entertainment hub that lets you stream in cinematic 4K while managing your smart lights and cameras directly through the Alexa remote. Shop at Amazon
Amazon Fire TV Cube
This essential hub provides your smart home with lightning-fast 4K streaming in a hands-free Alexa speaker, allowing you to control your TV, soundbar and even smart home cameras using just your voice. Shop at Amazon
Google TV Streamer 4K
The Google TV Streamer is a powerhouse for your living room because it acts as a central hub for your entire home, letting you check your Nest cameras, dim the lights and control Matter-enabled devices directly from your TV screen without pausing your movie. Shop at Amazon
Apple TV 4K
The Apple TV 4K is the ultimate command center for Apple users because it serves as a high-performance HomeHub, allowing you to securely control all your HomeKit accessories and view multiple camera feeds on the big screen with the same seamless, private experience you get on your iPhone. Shop at Target
The Amazon Smart Thermostat is an ideal entry point for smart home automation, offering energy-saving schedules and automatic adjustments via Alexa "Hunches." It is Energy Star certified and integrates seamlessly with your existing Echo devices to lower utility bills while keeping your home perfectly comfortable. Shop at Amazon
Google Nest Thermostat
The Google Nest Thermostat is a stylish, energy-saving entry point that uses a modern mirrored display and touch controls to lower your bills by up to 15%. It is a versatile choice for any home because it works with both Google Assistant and Alexa, offering proactive system alerts to keep your heating and cooling running smoothly. Shop at Amazon
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential
The ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced is the premier choice for Apple users, offering native HomeKit integration so you can manage your home’s climate using Siri or the Apple Home app. It provides a more robust experience than entry-level models by using advanced occupancy sensors and a premium glass display to ensure total comfort throughout your entire house. Shop at Amazon
This wired Ring Doorbell is a sleek, budget-friendly security solution that provides continuous power and crisp 1080p HD video by using your existing doorbell wiring. It integrates perfectly with Alexa to announce visitors on your Echo speakers and allows you to customize motion zones so you only get alerted when it truly matters. Shop at Amazon
Ring Battery Doorbell
The Ring Battery Doorbell is the ultimate "no-hassle" security choice, offering a quick wire-free installation that works on any home surface in just minutes. It is a significant step up for visibility, providing Head-to-Toe HD+ video so you can see visitors' faces and packages on the ground more clearly than with the standard wired model. Shop at Amazon
Google Nest Doorbell
This premium doorbell choice provides intelligent alerts for people and packages for free, allowing you to see visitors from head-to-toe with its tall 3:4 view. It is the perfect entry point for Google users because it integrates natively with Nest Hub displays and works wirelessly on almost any home surface. Shop at Amazon
Aqara Smart Doorbell Camera G410 with Chime
This smart doorbell is an exceptional choice for Apple users because it is one of the few battery-powered doorbells that support HomeKit Secure Video and even allows for local AI facial recognition. It offers incredible value by providing free cloud storage and local microSD options, meaning you can enjoy advanced security features and smart automations without paying a monthly subscription fee. Shop at Amazon
The Chamberlain Smart Garage Control is a perfect "gateway" device for beginners because it quickly turns your existing basic garage door into a smart one without requiring any complex hardwiring or professional installation. For a low cost, you gain the ability to remotely monitor, open and close your garage door via the myQ app, ensuring you never have to wonder if you accidentally left your home vulnerable. Shop at Amazon
MyQ Smart Garage Door Video Keypad
This smart video keypad garage door opener is an excellent security upgrade that combines a traditional PIN pad with a 1080p wide-angle camera, allowing you to see and speak to anyone at your garage door. It is ideal for beginners because it installs wirelessly and lets you create customized guest PINs for family or delivery drivers, providing total control over who enters your home without needing to share a physical key. Shop at Amazon
These smart plugs are a perfect starting point for beginners because their compact design keeps adjacent outlets free while allowing you to turn any standard lamp or appliance into a smart device in minutes. It offers reliable voice and app control without needing a separate hub, and features a helpful "Away Mode" that randomly toggles your lights to make it look like someone is home. Shop at Amazon
Amazon Smart Plug
This smart plug is a top choice for Alexa users because it offers a frustration-free setup that can get you up and running in seconds without any extra hubs. Its compact design ensures you don't block the second wall outlet, allowing you to easily automate lamps, fans or coffee makers with simple voice commands and schedules. Shop at Amazon
TP-Link Tapo Mini Smart Plug
These mini smart plugs are a future-proof choice for beginners because it uses the Matter standard, ensuring it works seamlessly with Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home or Samsung SmartThings. Its compact, space-saving design fits easily into any outlet while providing reliable app control and energy monitoring to help you manage your home's power usage. Shop at Amazon
Once your devices are installed, you can dive into what I think is the coolest part of a smart home: Routines. Think of a routine as a single command or "trigger" that kicks off a whole chain reaction of events. Instead of turning everything on one by one, you can set your home to run on your schedule.
For example, you can set a "Good Morning" routine that starts the second your alarm goes off. Your smart display can read you the weather forecast and the morning news while your smart plug starts brewing your first cup of coffee. At the same time, your thermostat can kick on to make the house cozy in the winter or crisp and cool during the summer.
Other popular routines to try:
"I'm Leaving" Routine: One command that turns off all the lights, locks the front door, sets the thermostat to an energy-saving temp while you're out and double-checks that the garage is shut.
"Movie Night" Routine: Dims the living room lights, closes the smart blinds and turns on the TV.
"Goodnight" Routine: Double-checks that the garage is shut, locks the doors and you can even set up to slowly fade the bedroom lights to help you wind down.
A Final Thought on Getting Started
The most important thing to remember is that you don't have to automate your entire life in one weekend. Start with one room or one routine that solves a daily task—like fumbling for a light switch or wondering if the garage is open—and go from there.
Once you see how much simpler it makes your day-to-day, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.
Our team of savvy editors independently handpicks all recommendations. If you purchase through our links, the Paste BN Network may earn a commission. Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.
Rachel Cortez
