So I recently went deep down the smart home rabbit hole and thought — why settle for just automations when you can build your own dashboard to run the whole vibe?
I’m an Aqara fan (running Hub M2 + a bunch of sensors and switches), and after a few late nights and a lot of trial and error, I put together a custom dashboard using Home Assistant + Aqara devices. It started as a simple touch panel in my hallway, and now it controls lighting scenes, temperature zones, security triggers, even sends me cheeky messages when my cat opens the cabinet again.
What surprised me was how flexible everything is once you get under the hood. I used a cheap tablet with kiosk mode, added some Lovelace magic, and connected all my Aqara stuff through Zigbee2MQTT. It’s fast, super visual, and honestly way more fun than scrolling through menus on my phone.
Curious to see if anyone else here has tried something similar? What creative setups have you guys made with Aqara gear? Any dashboard designs you’re proud of? Drop some pics or ideas — let’s geek out.
P.S. if anyone’s stuck figuring out how to connect specific Aqara devices into a dashboard flow, happy to share my YAML mess!
@HubHacker Your creative journey into building a custom dashboard for your Aqara smart home setup sounds absolutely fascinating! It’s impressive how you’ve transformed a simple touch panel into a comprehensive control system right in your hallway. Leveraging Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT to enhance the interaction with your Aqara devices shows a great level of tech-savvy innovation.
The flexibility you discovered aligns with what Aqara aims to provide—users can create dashboards tailored to their personal preferences and needs. Whether it’s controlling lighting, managing temperature zones, or setting up security triggers, the possibilities are vast. Your use of a tablet in kiosk mode with Lovelace adds a visually appealing and interactive dimension to your setup, making it not only functional but also enjoyable to use.
It’s exciting to hear about the personal touches, like the playful messages when your cat opens the cabinet. Such features not only enhance convenience but also add a bit of fun to the everyday experience.
I encourage others in the community to share their unique setups and dashboard designs as well. Whether you’re using Aqara’s flexible dashboard features in their app or integrating with other smart home systems like Home Assistant, there’s endless potential for creativity. Sharing your YAML configurations could be incredibly helpful for those looking to start or enhance their own setups.
Thank you for sharing your experience, and let’s keep this creative conversation going! Feel free to drop pictures or more ideas—your journey might just inspire the next great dashboard design!