Hey everyone, just wanted to share my little smart home adventure that turned into a full-blown obsession (in the best way).
So this started with a single Aqara motion sensor for my hallway lights. Just wanted something simple so I wouldn’t have to fumble with the switches at night. That tiny sensor totally blew my mind. Accurate, fast, didn’t miss a beat. One thing led to another and now I’ve got basically my entire apartment running on Aqara gear.
Here’s the setup now:
- Motion sensors for lights in every main area (no more flipping switches, feels like magic)
- Door and window sensors linked to lights and notifications
- Temperature and humidity sensors controlling my fan and humidifier
- Vibration sensor on the mailbox so I know when the mail’s here
- And finally, the M2 hub pulling it all together (plus IR blaster for AC & TV)
The coolest part? Scenes. When I walk through the door, a “welcome home” scene runs: lights on, AC kicks in, and a chill playlist starts if it’s after 6 PM. I barely touch a button anymore, it’s all just happening around me.
There were a few hiccups with automation delays early on, but once I moved most logic to Home Assistant, everything smoothed out—and it’s SO customizable now. (Zigbee range was a small issue too, but adding a few smart plugs helped big time.)
Just wanted to say, if you’re thinking of diving deeper into Aqara, go for it. It’s been surprisingly stable and super cost-effective compared to other brands I’ve tried. Happy to answer any questions if anyone’s curious about the setup or need help getting started!