Alright, so I’m pretty new to the smart home game. Always thought it was more for the tech-savvy crowd until someone mentioned Aqara stuff being super beginner-friendly.
Long story short, I decided to try setting up a basic DIY home security system with just a few Aqara devices — a hub, a couple of door/window sensors, and a motion sensor to start. Didn’t expect much, but wow, it felt like leveling up from zero to smart-home wizard in a day.
I used the M2 hub (love that it’s Wi-Fi and has a crazy good range), stuck sensors on my front and back doors, and set up the motion sensor in the hallway that leads to the bedrooms. With the Aqara app (and later linked it to HomeKit), I configured it to send me an alert if something moves at weird hours. It even chirps when a door opens, which is oddly satisfying.
What I didn’t expect:
– Setup took barely 30 mins
– No drilling, no cables, no drama
– My family actually thinks I’m some sort of home automation genius now
Anyone else started like this and gradually added more? Thinking of adding a camera or smart lock next. Also curious if anyone’s tried automating lights to come on when motion is detected — does it feel smooth or laggy?
Happy to share my baby steps if it helps someone else get started! Let me know what gear you started with.