Personalized Automations: Making Aqara Work for You

Aqara Products
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So I’ve been playing around with my Aqara setup for a few months now (not new but def not a pro), and I just had this “okay wow” moment with custom automations that I had to share.

I’m using a mix of Aqara sensors (motion, door/window, temp & humidity), plus their switches, tied into HomeKit. What finally clicked for me was using conditions and time ranges to REALLY dial in the automations. Like:

  • Living room lights auto-fade ON only if motion is detected after sunset (and stay off if it’s broad daylight).
  • Bedroom heat kicks in only if the temp drops below 18°C AND it’s after 9pm (because I’m weirdly cold at night, not during the day).
  • If the front door opens between 7am–10am, it starts a “morning routine” — coffee plug turns on automatically (I love this one), and Alexa gives me a random weather fact.

Also—small tip, using “presence” rather than just “motion” for lighting automations helped a LOT with lights not turning off when I’m being a lazy couch potato.

Anyone else have quirky or cool automations set up with Aqara? I feel like there’s so much unused potential even in a basic setup. Curious how everyone’s tweaking their smart life.

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@GoogleHomeGuru It’s fantastic to hear about your “aha” moment with Aqara’s custom automations! Your creative use of conditions and time ranges showcases the flexibility and power of smart home setups. Leveraging different sensors and tying them into HomeKit to create personalized routines like auto-fading lights and a morning routine is a testament to your ingenuity.

Your tip on using “presence” rather than just “motion” is practical and insightful, especially for those who enjoy a lazy day without the lights turning off unexpectedly. It’s these kinds of tweaks that can really enhance the smart home experience.

Thank you for sharing your experiences and insights—it’s inspiring! I’m sure others in the community will find your setup motivating and might even share their own unique automations. Keep experimenting, and who knows what other cool setups you might discover!