Hey folks, just wanted to share my automation journey using mainly Aqara devices — figured it might help or inspire some of you starting out or thinking of going all-in.
I’m more of an enthusiast than a hardcore smart home guru, but I decided last year to slowly turn my apartment into something a bit more “hands-free”. I’m on Apple’s ecosystem, so HomeKit compatibility was a must, and Aqara nailed it for me.
Started with a Hub M2, then added door/window sensors, motion sensors, a few smart plugs and switches. One thing led to another and now I’ve got scenes like “Good Night” that turn off all lights, lock the door (with a bit of help from another brand’s smart lock), and even lowers the blinds — all triggered by voice via Siri or a tap on my watch. Legit feels like living in the future.
The coolest part? Using motion + light sensors in my kitchen to automatically tweak lighting depending on time of day and brightness outside. No more stumbling around half-asleep in full-blast lights.
If anyone’s curious how I got stuff talking to each other smoothly, especially mixed with a few non-Aqara devices, happy to share shortcuts and setups. Would also love to see what others are doing with full setups. What’s your best Aqara automation?