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Published: 08 May 2025
Room-by-Room Setup for Smarter Living
Welcome to Part 2 of our Smart Home Guide for 2025. In Part 1 – Essentials, we outlined the key foundations of starting a smart home. Now it’s time to go room by room — showing you which devices deliver the best results in everyday UK homes.
Each suggestion here focuses on value, simplicity, and ease of use. No fluff — just the smart tech that makes your life easier.
🏠 Living Room
- Smart Display/Speaker: Google Nest Hub – Touchscreen Voice Control or Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) – Compact Alexa Speaker
- Smart Plug: Tapo P110 Smart Plug – Voice + Energy Monitoring
- Smart Bulb: Tapo L510B – Dimmable Wi-Fi Bulb
- Streaming Integration: Control your TV via Alexa or Google Assistant
🛏️ Bedroom
- Sleep Assistant: Google Nest Hub – Sleep Sensing Features
- Smart Lighting: Set gentle dimming routines with colour temperature bulbs
- Smart Plug: Automate bedside lamps, heated blankets, or chargers
- Voice Routines: “Goodnight” command to power down the room and start white noise
🍳 Kitchen
- Smart Kettle: Top 5 Smart Kettles – Voice-Activated Boiling
- Smart Speaker: Use Alexa/Google for cooking timers, shopping lists, and conversions
- Smart Plug: Automate slow cookers or toasters for morning routines
- Smart Fridge: Optional — Samsung SmartThings fridges integrate with Alexa
🚿 Bathroom
- Motion Lighting: Humidity or motion-activated bulbs for hands-free control
- Heater Plug: Schedule towel warmers and fan heaters with a smart plug
- Voice Music: Echo Dot or waterproof speaker for music and news
🧼 Utility Room
- Smart Washer/Dryer: Control cycles via app (Samsung SmartThings, LG ThinQ)
- Monitoring Plug: Tapo P110 – Monitor appliance energy use
- Robot Vacuum: Eufy X10 Pro Omni – Hands-Free Cleaning
🔐 Entryway / Hallway
- Video Doorbell: Ring – Trusted Smart Entry or Arlo Essential – Wireless Monitoring
- Smart Lock: Optional – for remote keyless entry
- Hallway Lights: Motion-triggered bulbs for nighttime convenience
- Arrival/Leave Routines: Automatically turn lights or plugs on/off with geofencing
🌐 Whole-Home Enhancements
- Mesh Wi-Fi: Improve coverage with Google Nest Wi-Fi or TP-Link Deco
- Smart Thermostat: Bosch Smart Room Thermostat II – Heating Automation
- Energy Monitoring: Use plugs like Tapo P110 to cut standby usage
💡 Tips & Summary
- ✅ Start with 1–2 rooms to avoid complexity
- ✅ Stick with one platform or ecosystem
- ✅ Create simple automations that match your daily habits
- ✅ Focus on usefulness over novelty
By matching devices to real routines, your smart home becomes genuinely helpful — not just futuristic. In Part 3, we’ll explore automation strategies, platform integration, and future-proofing your setup.
Ready to take your smart home even further?
Continue to Part 3: Automations, Interconnectivity & Future-Proofing