Hey folks, just wanted to share my smart home transformation story using mostly Aqara devices — maybe it’ll help someone who’s just starting out!
So I was a complete newbie a few months ago. Didn’t even know the difference between Zigbee and Wi-Fi. All I knew was…I wanted my lights to turn on automatically and maybe get a cool voice command working. Fast forward to now, my home actually feels “smart” and I owe a lot of it to Aqara.
Started off with the Aqara Hub M1S — super easy to set up, plugs right in and talks to HomeKit like a charm. I added a motion sensor in the hallway, door sensor at the front, and a few switches. Suddenly my lights knew when I walked by!
Then I got bold and integrated it with Home Assistant. Bit of a learning curve, ngl — but once I figured out how to pair devices properly and set up automations there, game changed. Got scenes like “movie night” and “away mode” working with just a tap or voice command.
Honestly, the best part? Everything just works. Reliable connections, looks neat, and didn’t cost an arm and a leg. Still exploring new devices like curtain motors and vibration sensors.
Anyone else had a similar journey? I’m still learning—keen to see how others pushed it further! Drop your fav setups, tips or even fails, happy to chat!