Updating your living space with smart tech is highly appealing due to the ease it brings. Yet certain appliances do not spring to mind first for automation, though they truly merit attention.

The optimal approach to maximizing a smart home involves letting devices manage overlooked chores, cut down on mundane repetitions, and react to physical cues. This way, your smart system serves you effortlessly.

Home appliances worth automating - and the reasons

Automating lights in pantries and closets so they activate instantly upon opening the doors delivers exceptional ease. It is that subtle luxury you overlook until you no longer grope for switches in darkness.

Employ a smart bulb paired with a motion or presence detector for these areas. Without a nearby outlet, opt for a smart LED strip powered by an extension from the closest source. Secure the cord neatly with clips along the frame for discretion.

Position the motion or presence sensor at the spot where you stand to trigger the light. For closets, mount it on the door interior or adjacent wall.

I set up an Alexa routine tied to the presence sensor on my kitchen Echo Show. Detection in the kitchen activates the pantry light, which deactivates after 10 minutes of no activity. This keeps the space illuminated whenever needed.

Top smart devices I recommend:

Motion sensor: TP-Link Tapo Motion Sensor and Hub.
Presence sensor: Aqara FP300
Smart bulb: Govee Smart Light Bulbs
Smart light strip: GE Cync Smart LED Strip Light

Many overlook shutting off exhaust fans, and children might skip turning them on during showers. Though smart fans exist, a budget-friendly smart configuration can regulate bathroom humidity to curb mold.

A smart wall switch replaces the fan's standard one for remote access and routines. Pair it with a humidity sensor to automate fan activation at set humidity levels, and deactivation when levels drop.

Top smart devices I recommend:

Smart wall switch: Eve Light Switch
Smart humidity sensor: SwitchBot Thermometer Hygrometer

Coffee makers rank among top energy vampires, sipping power idly and heating water unnecessarily, inflating bills.

A smart plug on a timer powers it briefly each morning for family use, then cuts off to prevent standby drain.

For advanced control, attach a SwitchBot button pusher to start brewing remotely or on schedule via app.

Top smart devices I recommend:

Smart plug: Kasa Smart Plug Mini
Button pusher: SwitchBot Smart Switch Button Pusher

Pet owners know the grind of daily routines like early walks, refills, and repeats. Beyond robotic litter boxes, smarten feeding, access, and monitoring.

My smart pet door unlocks via collar tag and follows schedules. Automated feeders and pan-tilt cameras track activity seamlessly.

Top smart devices I recommend:

Smart pet feeder: Petlibro Automatic Cat Feeder
Pet cameras: Eufy Security E30
Smart pet door: High Tech Pet Power Pet

Bedtime routines often just dim lights, but expand to locks, garage, devices, and blinds in one go.

Replace house checks with a unified command that handles lights, locks doors, closes garage, powers down idlers, dims common areas, and adjusts blinds.

My routine covers forgotten items too. One trigger executes:

Single command turns off:

Lights in the bedroom and living area
Air purifier in my office
Outdoor string lights (with a smart plug)
Kitchen smart plugs and undercabinet lights
All the TVs (dumb ones have a smart plug)

And turns on:

Kids' night lights
Kids' white noise machine (with a smart plug)
Pedestal fan
Air purifier in my room
Smart humidifier
Robot vacuum cleans living areas

Control the temperature in specific rooms: Place a smart temperature sensor in target areas to pair with a smart thermostat. Set routines to tweak settings on temperature shifts.
Prevent frozen pipes: Install a smart temperature sensor in vulnerable spots like crawl spaces. Link to a smart plug space heater activating below 25 degrees.
Know when your laundry's done: Use a smart vibration sensor on washer-dryer to alert on cycle end, ideal for older units.
Catch a leak before a disaster: Deploy a smart water leak detector for early water detection alerts.
Water your yard automatically: Attach a Meross WiFi Water Timer to hoses for reliable scheduled or manual lawn watering.