Smart Living Room: 11 Devices You Need to Optimize Your Living Space

Modern living room with mountains in the backyard.Modern living room with mountains in the backyard.

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Smart devices have become part of our everyday lives. But knowing where to begin can seem overwhelming if you’re relatively new to this technology. 

Whether you’re just beginning to transition to smart home technology or looking to take your smart living room to the next level, here are 11 products you need to optimize your living space.

1. A Smart TV

Smart TVs have come a long way in the last few years. Most modern households, even non-smart homes, have at least one smart TV.  

These are usually the first smart devices people purchase. Here are some of the best smart TV models from various manufacturers.

Smart TV ModelAvailable Screen SizesScreen TechnologyOperating SystemSmart Assistant Compatibility
Samsung QN85C55”, 65”, 75”, 85”QLEDTizen OSAlexa, Google Home, SmartThings
LG UR900043”, 50”, 55”, 65”, 75”LEDWebOSAlexa
Amazon Fire TV 4-Series43”, 50”, 55”LEDFire OSAlexa
Fire TV Stick 4K

2. A Streaming Stick or Streaming Box

Not ready to commit to a new TV? You can upgrade your existing TV to support smart home technology with a streaming stick or streaming box. 

There are a ton of options available, including:

You can use a streaming stick or box with any TV, smart or non-smart, as long as it has at least one HDMI port. Once it’s set up, you can download all your favorite streaming apps.

3. Smart Speakers

Like hosting game night from your living room? Want to play some music during your next dinner party without fiddling with all the different connections? Make things easy with a couple of smart speakers.

Smart speakers connect to your favorite music streaming services, letting you play a song, album, or playlist through a single voice command. Some smart speakers can even double as a hub for your smart home devices.

Smart SpeakerVoice Assistant CompatibilitySupported Music ServicesWorks as a Bluetooth Speaker?Doubles as a Smart Hub?
Amazon Echo StudioAlexaAmazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and more.YesYes
Google Nest AudioGoogle AssistantApple Music, Spotify, SiriusXM, and more.YesYes
Apple HomePodSiriApple Music, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and more. Spotify and Amazon Music not supported through Siri commands.NoYes
Sonos OneAlexa, Google Assistant, SmartThings, Apple HomeKit Apple Music, Spotify, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, and more.NoNo

4. Smart Light Switches

Always forgetting to turn the light off before you go to bed? Hate coming home to a dark house? Switch your living room light switches to smart switches!

There are a lot of smart switches on the market, but our two favorite brands are TP-Link Kasa and Lutron

Smart SwitchSmart Assistant CompatibilityDimmer Switches Available?Hub Required?
TP-Link KasaAlexa, Google Home, SmartThings, Apple HomeKitYesNo
Lutron CasetaAlexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKitYes, also compatible with SmartThingsYes

5. Smart Bulbs

If changing all the light switches in your living room seems like too much work, smart bulbs are a great alternative to smarten up your living room lighting. 

You can place a smart bulb in any socket, then use a voice assistant or a smartphone app to:

  • Turn the lights on or off
  • Set lighting schedules
  • Change the light’s color

Our favorite smart bulbs are made by Philips Hue. The starter kit includes everything you need, including the Hue Bridge. They can connect to:

  • Alexa
  • Google Home
  • Apple HomeKit
Sengled Smart LED Daylight A19 Bulb

6. Smart Plugs

Looking to save some money on electricity after adding all these smart devices to your living room? Smart plugs are the way to go.

Smart plugs attach to any outlet and allow you to turn any device plugged into them on or off from your phone. Depending on the brand you go with, you might also be able to:

  • Set on/off schedules
  • Monitor your energy usage
  • Automatically “unplug” fully-charged devices

TP-Link Kasa is our favorite smart plug brand. These smart plugs work with Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit, and there are even outdoor options and smart plug strips available. 

7. Smart Cleaning Devices

Once you’ve automated a few other devices in your living room, you might decide to start automating your living room cleaning!

There are smart devices to automate almost any household task, including:

  • Vacuuming
  • Mopping
  • Window cleaning

Here’s what we recommend for each task.

Household ChoreBest Smart DeviceSmart Assistant CompatibilityNotable Features
VacuumingiRobot Roomba j5Alexa, Google AssistantOptional mopping, obstacle avoidance, designed with pet owners in mind.
MoppingiRobot Roomba Combo j7+Alexa, Google AssistantAutomatically switches between vacuuming and mopping, obstacle avoidance, designed with pet owners in mind.
Window cleaningECOVACS Winbot W1 ProNonePath planning, dual cross pray, app control

8. Smart Displays

Smart displays can be anything from a piece of art in your living to an all-in-one scheduling tool for your family. 

With a smart display in your living room, you can:

  • Display a photo to create a focal point in the room
  • Use a calendar widget to see the whole family’s schedule at a glance
  • Set and view reminders using your voice
  • Place a video call without picking up your phone

Smart displays have become very popular over the past few years, and it seems like every major manufacturer now has one available! But, these are our two favorites.

Smart DisplayScreen SizeDisplay TypeVoice Assistant CompatibilityBest WidgetsBuilt-in Camera?
Echo Show 1515.6”MountedAmazon AlexaCalendar, Reminders, Lists, Photo displayYes
Google Nest Hub Max10”CountertopGoogle AssistantPhoto display, Calendar, Reminders, Shopping ListsYes

9. Smart Ceiling Fans

You may not have even known there was such a thing as a smart fan — I didn’t until recently. 

Smart ceiling fans are something you would expect to see in a science fiction movie. And now, you can have your very own!

Haiku Home L Series 52" Smart Ceiling Fan

The top-of-the-line ceiling fan right now is the Haiku L Series Smart Ceiling Fan. You can control it with: 

  • Alexa 
  • Google Home
  • A mobile app
  • A remote control

The included light has 16 dimmable settings

10. Smart Thermostats

If you find yourself constantly adjusting the thermostat and dreading the day the electric bill comes in the mail, you probably need a smart thermostat.

Smart thermostats can help you lower your energy usage by:

  • Learning your heating/cooling routines
  • Monitoring the weather outside
  • Sending you regular energy usage reports

Two of the most well-known (and our favorite) smart thermostats are ecobee and Nest. 

Smart ThermostatVoice Assistant CompatibilityCompatibilityC-Wire Required?Notable Features
ecobee Smart Thermostat PremiumAlexa, Google Assistant, SmartThings, Apple HomeKitNot compatible with electric baseboard heatingNoBuilt-in air quality monitor and smoke alarm detection, Energy Star certified, weather monitoring
Nest Learning ThermostatAlexa, Google Assistant, SmartThingsNot compatible with proprietary systems, Millivolt heaters, high-voltage systems, or solid fuel systems. Only compatible with 1-2 stage cooling systems.NoEnergy Star certified, “Learns” when you’re home or away, energy usage reports, HVAC monitoring

11. Smart Indoor Cameras

Want to keep an eye on your living room when you’re not home? Need to make sure your new puppy isn’t tearing up all your throw pillows? You need a smart indoor camera in your living room.

Our favorite indoor cameras are the Ring Indoor Cam and Ring Stick Up Cam. The two devices are very similar — the main difference is that the Indoor Cam must be plugged in, while the Stick Up Cam is battery-powered. 

Both offer features including:

  • Built-in siren
  • Two-way audio
  • Live View through the Ring app
  • Video recording (with a Ring Protect Plan)

The Ring Indoor Camera is only compatible with Alexa, and the Ring Stick Up Cam is only compatible with Alexa and SmartThings

If you use Google Home or Apple HomeKit, you might prefer one of these options:

Indoor CameraVoice Assistant CompatibilityPower SourceTwo-Way Audio?Video Recording?
Nest Indoor CamGoogle Home, Alexa, SmartThingsAC powerYesYes, up to three hours without a Nest Aware subscription
Nest Indoor & Outdoor CamGoogle Home, Alexa, SmartThingsBatteryYesYes, up to three hours without a Nest Aware subscription
eufySecurity 2K Indoor CamAlexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKitAC powerYesYes

Bonus for Pet Owners: Furbo Pet Camera

If you have an anxious pet who tends to tear up the house when you’re not around, a Furbo camera could be the miracle product you’ve been waiting for. 

The Furbo 360° Pet Camera rotates for a full view of your living room, meaning you can see your pet anywhere they wander.  

With a built-in speaker and microphone, you can talk your dog down from a barking fit — or bribe them to calm down by throwing a treat directly from the camera housing!

Optimize Your Living Space Today!

Whether you’re a smart home aficionado or just getting into the new technology, there are smart devices to automate nearly any aspect of your home.

We’ve just scratched the surface here, and technology is advancing all the time. Jump on board and bring your home into the modern smart age!

Related Questions

How Much Does it Cost to Use Smart Home Devices? 

Other than the initial cost of purchase, there are very few costs associated with using smart home technology. 

Some devices require a monthly subscription to access premium features, but the right smart products will save you money — not cost you more.

Do You Need Professional Installation for Smart Home Devices? 

For the most part, smart home devices are designed for the DIY-er. However, if you don’t have the right technical experience, you may need a professional to install things like: 

  • Smart thermostats
  • Smart light switches
  • Smart ceiling fans
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