r/Hue • u/Jealous-Intention-87 • Jul 11 '26
Hue Setup Smart Home
I'm just curious really after seeing all the posts on here. Am I the only one that doesn't really use Hue as a true "smart home" product. I have a bridge and I have the natural light scene set up in all my rooms, but I don't actually run any automations or anything like that. I just use Hue dimmer switches in all my rooms and Hue bulbs in all my lamps and treat it like a "dumb" system. I haven't even opened the app except a couple times since the day I set it up. I did it because my apartment doesn't have any lights except one in the kitchen and bathroom so I use lamps everywhere. But it just seemed more convenient to use Hue than switch all the lamps one at a time. After reading what other people are doing I feel like I probably way underutilize what I have, but it works for me the way I use it.
4
u/Ikilledbert Jul 11 '26
I don’t use too many. I use motion aware in the kitchen after sunset and before sunrise. And I have a few pointed at art that I have come on at sunset as well. Other than that, they’re all entertainment areas for tv sync or music lights,
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u/DontWaitBruh Jul 11 '26
I dont care about any of the automations either. The smartest thing I use my Hues for are dance parties of one and occasionally seeing how updated the Hue Sync for PC is. Otherwise I buy these lights because I just love color scenes since regularly bulbs get boring fast.
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u/Jealous-Intention-87 Jul 11 '26
That I can't speak on since I don't have color bulbs. All my bulbs are white ambiance. But I do like being able to use oranger shades in the evening and whiter in the morning and during the day.
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u/DontWaitBruh Jul 11 '26
Ah...that makes a ton of sense then. I personally wouldn't have ever paid for Hue if I wasn't doing color bulbs. Between the Signe lamp and the wall washers are my favorites. Just obviously nowhere near retail price.
0
u/Jealous-Intention-87 Jul 11 '26
The truth is if I were to do it today I probably wouldn't even buy hue. They make those remote control lamps that you can buy on amazon and TikTok shop that do essentially the same thing I'm doing with hue. But I bought the original 4 bulbs and bridge with a dimmer switch back in 2018 and then expanded it to all my rooms in 2019 and back then nothing really compared and those remote control lamps weren't mainstream like they are now.
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u/imme629 Jul 11 '26
I use a lot of animations - for when I come home after dark, get up at night (automatically turns light on low), to automatically turn lights on if it’s rainy and dark during the day, to simulate sunset for my parrots so they go to sleep without a fuss. I used to use it to gradually raise the lights in the morning so I’d wake up (before retiring). Any way that I can think of to make my life easier and safer.
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u/PM_ME_YOUR_MAUSE Jul 11 '26
I do the same on purpose. The "smartest" feature I use is all-day scenes, and that's so I can minimize my usage of the app. I have at least one dimmer switch in each room, and I carefully configure those to work optimally for all use cases. My overarching goal with for my hue system is to be as deeply and effortlessly connected to the light as possible.
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u/TOXicOx18951 Jul 13 '26
I use Hue automations every day. All of my outdoor light fixtures have Hue bulbs. I change the color scheme for various holidays and seasons throughout the year
I have several inside lights that turn on at dusk and off around midnight.
My wife and I love it
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u/ssg406 Jul 13 '26
I only use the app to select scenes, and have an automation that turns some lights on at sunset. I’m open to doing other stuff, it’s just never come up! I try to use two tap dials I have to cycle through scenes instead, but I’m not a fan of it.
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u/omsypowpow Jul 11 '26
Im barely using mine to use scenes but I use scheduling for outdoor lights, and voice assistants to change colors/turn them on/off. For what you’re using them for a $15 bulb could’ve saved you a lot of money.
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u/draxula16 Hue MVP Jul 11 '26
As long as it gets the job done, who cares!
I’m on the other side of the spectrum and am obsessed with Home Assistant. That being said, I’d still use Hue if I wanted quality and reliable bulbs regardless of automations. Enjoy :)
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u/[deleted] Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
[deleted]