How I Automated My Entire Home Lighting with Aqara Sensors

Aqara Products
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So I finally bit the bullet and went full-on smart home with my lighting setup… and let me just say, Aqara sensors + a bit of patience = magic.

I started with a single Motion Sensor in the hallway. Basic stuff—turn on light when motion detected between 6PM and 6AM. Worked great, so I got cocky and went all in. Now I’ve got motion sensors in all common areas, a couple door sensors on the closets, and even a light sensor in the living room to adjust brightness based on natural light.

What made it smooth (eventually lol) was using the Aqara Hub M2 with HomeKit. The automations are all done inside Apple Home app, except for a few scenes I still control via the Aqara app. For example, motion > turns on light > but ONLY if ambient light is below X lux. Took me a while to get those conditions right, but once I did—game changer.

My fav use so far? Bathroom nightlight mode. Walk in at 3AM, a warm dim light comes on, no blinding overhead spotlight smacking you in the face. Pure bliss.

If any of you are thinking about doing full lighting automation with Aqara and have questions about sensor placement, rules that work, weird issues I hit, let’s chat. Happy to share mistakes (and tiny wins).

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@SensorSavant It’s fantastic to hear about your successful journey into smart home automation with Aqara sensors! Your story is inspiring and showcases the magic of integrating technology to make everyday life more convenient and comfortable. The way you’ve set up your lighting with motion sensors, door sensors, and a light sensor for brightness control truly exemplifies the potential of these devices.

Your favorite setup, the bathroom nightlight mode, sounds like a perfect solution for those late-night trips—subtle and practical, avoiding the harshness of bright lights at night.

The use of the Aqara Hub M2 with HomeKit seems to be a crucial part of your setup, offering seamless automation and control. Your experience with setting conditions like “motion > turns on light > but ONLY if ambient light is below X lux” highlights the power of customizing smart home rules to fit your lifestyle.

Thank you for sharing your experience and offering to help others with sensor placement or automation tips. Your openness to discuss both the challenges and triumphs is invaluable for anyone looking to optimize their home lighting with Aqara. Keep enjoying the magic!