Home LivingSmart HomeHere’s how to make your Christmas tree part of your smart homeThe best ways to add Christmas decorations to your smart home systemWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Home LivingSmart HomeHere’s how to make your Christmas tree part of your smart homeThe best ways to add Christmas decorations to your smart home systemWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
The best ways to add Christmas decorations to your smart home system
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Signify)
(Image credit: Signify)
It’s that time again: time to get the Christmas decorations out of the cupboard or down from the loft. If like me you’ve invested in smart home tech such as smart lighting, there’s only one thing you’ll want to know: how do I add my Christmas tree lights to my smart home?
This isn’t just a tech for the sake of it thing. Adding your festive flickerers to the rest of your smart home opens up some useful possibilities that go beyond switching them on and off without getting up from the sofa. It means you can schedule them, or use geofencing so they go off when you go out and come on to welcome you home. And if you want to get really fancy you can make them part of whole-room light scenes too.
The best way to add a self-lit Christmas tree
The best way to put smart lighting on your Christmas tree
This isn’t exactly a cheap option, but if you’ve got aPhilips Huesetup then the newFestavia string lightsare brilliant. You get 20 metres and 250 colour-changing mini-LED bulbs with all the colour changing, Spotify syncing, smart speaker-supporting goodness of any other Hue kit.
There are two downsides. The first is that they’re $159 in the US and £139 in the UK. And the second is that they’re selling out as quickly as Signify, Hue’s parent, can make them.
Thankfully there are some alternatives out there, including the well reviewed Twinkly Generation 2. HomeKit users are out of luck but the Twinkly lights work with Alexa andGoogleHome, and once again they’re 20m with 250 colour changing LEDs. They’re marginally cheaper than the Hues, and they’re also in stock on retailers such asAmazon.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
TOPICSAmazon AlexaAmazon
TOPICS
Sky Stream gets a great new trick that unlocks long hidden potentialA Sky Stream puck update gives you a host of new channels
A Sky Stream puck update gives you a host of new channels
If you ever needed proof that cassette players are back, this is itWe Are Rewind has made a portable tape deck so retro it should appear from nowhere in a DeLorean
We Are Rewind has made a portable tape deck so retro it should appear from nowhere in a DeLorean
Amazon Alexa’s most asked questions revealed – AI and celebrity heights had a starring roleAlexa! What were your most asked questions of 2024?
Alexa! What were your most asked questions of 2024?
All-new Amazon Echo Show 21 and 15 already heavily discounted for Black FridayEven though they’ve just launched, you can get big Amazon Echo Show deals
Even though they’ve just launched, you can get big Amazon Echo Show deals
Amazon Echo Show range expands… literally – new 21-inch model and Echo Show 15 now availableAmazon announces two new Echo Show models, including its biggest yet
Amazon announces two new Echo Show models, including its biggest yet
You can now get the Nespresso Vertuo Pop for under $100 in Amazon’s early Black Friday saleAfter a new coffee machine? This is the deal we recommend
After a new coffee machine? This is the deal we recommend
Amazon Alexa’s biggest upgrade in a lifetime has been delayed – but it’s not all bad newsYou’ll have to wait a bit longer for the AI-powered, “chattier” version of Alexa
You’ll have to wait a bit longer for the AI-powered, “chattier” version of Alexa
Amazon could be making its own smart pillow to combat sleep apnea – but I’m not convincedAmazon files a patent to make its very own smart pillow
Amazon files a patent to make its very own smart pillow
Amazon’s new Echo Spot is now reduced for Prime Day – and it’s almost 50% offGrab it while stocks last!
Grab it while stocks last!
Amazon Echo Spot review: it’s back and it’s better than everAfter being discontinued in 2019, the Echo Spot has finally returned
After being discontinued in 2019, the Echo Spot has finally returned
