Smart lighting kit under $100
Updated
Three tunable white bulbs, two smart plugs and a wireless remote cover a living room and bedroom for under $100, with no rewiring, no hub and nothing to uninstall.
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Before you buy
This kit works because every part is plug-in or screw-in. You do not open a wall box or change a fixture, so it suits renters, dorm rooms and anyone who wants to try smart lighting before committing to switches. The trade-off is that bulbs and plugs need constant power, so the wall switch should stay on.
Where each piece goes
| Piece | Where it goes | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tunable white bulbs | Living room lamp, bedside lamp, desk lamp | Used daily; scenes pay off most here |
| Smart plugs | A lamp with an old-style bulb, a fan, holiday lights | Control devices with no smart bulb option |
| Remote | Next to the bed or beside the sofa | Brightness and scenes without a phone |
Wi-Fi bulbs, hub, or Matter?
With three bulbs, Wi-Fi is fine and needs no hub. If you expect to add many more, read Wi-Fi vs Zigbee and Thread smart bulbs first. Buying bulbs that support Matter keeps your options open if you change ecosystems.
Check brightness by room
An 800-lumen bulb replaces a 60 W incandescent bulb and uses about 9 W, according to the Federal Trade Commission. A living room usually needs several of them. Lumens and color temperature by room helps you count what you need.
What it saves
LEDs use at least 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs, says the Department of Energy. Smart control adds more savings by turning lights off when nobody needs them. Use the LED bulb savings calculator to estimate your own number.
Core items
Tunable white smart bulbs × 3
$8–$14Put them in the lamps and fixtures you use most. Tunable white gives warm light in the evening and cooler light for tasks, so one bulb type covers several uses.
What to look for: 800 lumens (about a 60 W equivalent), color temperature range of about 2700–6500 K, dimmable, Wi-Fi with your voice assistant or Matter, local control if listed
See options on AmazonMini smart plugs × 2
$10–$16They add schedules and voice control to lamps with ordinary bulbs, floor lamps and a fan or holiday lights.
What to look for: 15 A rating, compact body that leaves the second outlet free, schedules and timers, Matter or your ecosystem
See options on AmazonWireless smart button or remote
$12–$22Smart bulbs need the wall switch left on, so a battery remote gives everyone a physical control for scenes and on/off.
What to look for: compatibility with your bulbs or ecosystem, stick-on or free-standing, replaceable battery
See options on AmazonNice to have
Wall switch guards × 2
$5–$10A cover keeps the switch from being flipped off, which would cut power to smart bulbs and break schedules.
What to look for: fits a standard toggle or decorator switch, adhesive or screw mount
See options on AmazonSmart LED light strip
$15–$30Adds accent light behind a TV, under shelves or beside a bed, with scenes that match your bulbs.
What to look for: at least 16 ft, adhesive backing, dimmable color or tunable white, your ecosystem or Matter
See options on AmazonMotion sensor night light
$10–$25Switches a hallway or bathroom light on at night without a phone, and runs on batteries.
What to look for: motion and light sensing, adjustable timeout, works with your bulbs or ecosystem
See options on AmazonExtra smart bulbs for another room
$8–$14Expand room by room once you know which scenes you actually use.
What to look for: the same brand or protocol as your first bulbs, so they appear in one app
See options on AmazonStep by step
- Replace the bulbs in your three most-used lamps and leave the wall switches on.
- Install your ecosystem’s app (or the maker’s), add each bulb and name it by location, such as “Living room lamp”.
- Plug the smart plugs into the wall and connect the lamps or fans you want to schedule.
- Pair the remote or button with the bulbs and assign one tap for “on” and a hold for “dim”.
- Create two scenes: Evening (warm white at 40%) and Reading (neutral white at 100%).
- Add a schedule that turns the plug-controlled lamp on at sunset and off at bedtime.
Cheaper or upgraded versions
Cheaper, about $30–$45: two tunable white bulbs and one smart plug, controlled by voice or the phone app only.
Upgrade, about $150–$250: add smart switches or dimmers in the rooms you use most, so every fixture works with the wall control. See smart dimmer vs smart switch.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a hub for this kit?
No. The kit uses Wi-Fi bulbs and plugs, so a phone app and your router are enough. A hub only becomes useful if you add many devices or switch to Zigbee or Thread bulbs.
Will smart bulbs work with a dimmer switch?
Not reliably. A dimmer cuts power to the bulb, which can cause flicker or disconnects. Use smart bulbs on a plain switch left on, or on a dimmer set to full.
Can renters use this kit?
Yes. Everything screws in or plugs in, and you take it with you when you leave. Put the original bulbs in a bag to restore the fixtures on move-out.
What if the wall switch gets turned off?
The bulb loses power and cannot respond until the switch is turned back on. A switch guard or a label on the switch prevents it, and a wireless remote gives a physical control.