Hey folks, just wanted to share a little adventure I’ve been on lately. I live in a super old house (like, creaky floors and questionable wiring kinda old), and I finally decided to dip my toes into the smart home world using Aqara gear and Apple HomeKit.
Let me tell you—it’s been a ride.
I started out just wanting to control lights without getting out of bed. That quickly spiraled into installing motion sensors, door sensors, and even automating my AC. The kicker? I barely had to drill or rewire anything. Aqara’s stuff really is plug-and-play friendly once you get the hang of it.
HomeKit picked up all the devices easily, but I did have to tinker with my WiFi a bit. My old router wasn’t cutting it—turns out, stable WiFi is the unsung hero of all smart homes.
One of the aha moments was setting up automations like “goodnight” scenes that kill all the lights and lock up if a door is open. I even rigged a shortcut that turns the hallway light red if the basement door opens too late at night… spooky vibes, but also very cool.
Anyway, if anyone else is trying to bring an old house into the 21st century with Aqara and HomeKit, let’s talk. I’ve hit a few bumps but it’s totally doable—and 100% worth it.
Anyone else on this journey? What worked for you?