12 Affordable Smart Home Upgrades Using Raspberry Pi
Maybe you’re new to smart home automation or think it’s too expensive to be worth the hassle. So today, I want to cover smart home upgrades that are so affordable, that anyone with a Raspberry Pi can try them out.
For inexpensive smart home upgrades, look for sensors and switches that work with Home Assistant. Home Assistant is a central smart home hub software that can be installed on Raspberry Pi.
The first thing I check before I buy a new smart device is if it works with Home Assistant. If yes, I know it can be integrated with HA on Raspberry Pi. Without further ado, here are my gadget recommendations to jumpstart your smart home.
If you’re looking for inspiration for your next Raspberry Pi project, I’ve put together a list of 75+ ideas with full descriptions, difficulty ratings, and links to tutorials. Whether you’re a beginner or more advanced, there’s something here for you. Grab the list for free here!
Turn “Dumb” Devices into Smart and Automated
If you have a “dumb” appliance with a remote control, is it possible to make it smart? Yes, I’ve done it, and converting ceiling fans, space heaters, and ductless mini split air conditioners with smart control is much less expensive than replacing them entirely.
All you need is an IR blaster to replicate the remote’s infrared signals. Make sure you get an IR blaster that can link to Home Assistant. You can go with one already tuned to work out of the box (like this one). Or, if you’re DIY-savvy, you could get an ESP32 device (like this one) and flash it with ESPHome.
Once integrated with Home Assistant on Raspberry Pi, the IR blaster can automate button presses for you. For example, you can have the fan start depending on the temperature or time, or turn on all of your home theater equipment with a single voice command.
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Check Your Mailbox Instantly
Does the mail come at 10 a.m. or 6 p.m., and is it different on Saturday and Sunday? They keep changing it, so maybe it’s a secret the government doesn’t want me to know! What if there was a way to save time on all unnecessary trips to the mailbox?
Smart contact sensors notify you when something has been opened. They’re commonly attached to doors and windows for home security, but you can also put contact sensors (like this one or this one) in other places like your mailbox.
All you need to do is link the device to Home Assistant on Raspberry Pi. Next, you’ll create an automation that sends a notification to your phone when the sensor is triggered, such as when the postman/post lady visits you.
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Trigger Motion-Activated Lights
Even if you don’t live in a high-tech luxury compound like in the film Ex Machina (2014), you can still pretend to live the high life with one easy upgrade. Make your bathrooms and closets light up when someone enters and switch off on their own.
You’ll need a passive infrared (PIR) sensor: in other words, a smart motion detector. You can get a sensor like this one, this one, or roll your own using a Raspberry Pi. Bonus points if you create a setting with dim lights for those late-night restroom breaks.
I feel like there are more possibilities with motion detection that I haven’t thought of, but I’m not an evil genius tech bro living on a secret island.
Retrofit Smart Light Switches to Set a Mood
I love Philips Hue smart bulbs and put them everywhere I can, but the costs add up quickly. Besides, the light fixtures in my hallways and bathrooms don’t need neon LEDs. There’s a less costly alternative, and that’s smart light switches.
Smart light switches replace your regular wall switches. You can convert multiple lights with a single upgrade, or control a fixture that won’t take a smart bulb. If you buy the right switches (like this one or this one), they’ll work with Home Assistant on Raspberry Pi.
That means you can automate them, such as having them turn on or off at specific times of day. I’ve programmed a voice command—”TV time”—that dims the lights to the perfect setting for when I want to watch something on Plex.
Note: To install a smart light switch, you’ll need access to your home’s electrical breaker. I found rewiring light switches easy by copying what’s already there, but be aware it’s one more step to do than going with smart bulbs.
Make Laundry Less of a Chore
When I forget my favorite sweater in the dryer, it shrinks so much that it looks like it was made for an Oompa Loompa. To prevent this problem, you could replace your old washer and dryer with smart ones. But if your machines are still perfectly good, it’s an overkill solution.
Instead, try installing a vibration sensor (like this one or this one). The vibration sensor will detect when the cycle is finished, signal Home Assistant on Raspberry Pi, and send a phone notification. Now, you won’t have to check on your laundry cycles constantly.
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Note: the devices linked above use Zigbee, not Wi-Fi, so you’ll need a Zigbee hub. Zigbee is a local-only protocol often used in IoT devices because it’s great for battery life and security.
Detect Leaks Before They Cause Damage
If water pools up in the home someplace, it can lead to permanent property damage. Especially if you never go into your dark, scary basement and don’t notice until it’s too late.
One solution to water leaks is to install auto-shutoff valves, but those will run into the thousands. A less costly solution is to monitor for leaks with smart sensors (like these). Smart water sensors send notifications when they detect a leak, so you can get on it immediately.
You could leave sensors under your water heater or sinks. Or if you have a basement prone to flooding, you can make it so that when the sensors detect water, your sump pump activates automatically to get the water out.
Achieve Total Climate Control
I’m sure you’ve heard of a smart thermostat, but many older heating and air systems won’t regulate humidity or air quality. If you want to address these factors, you don’t need to redo your entire HVAC system. Instead, try installing smart climate sensors.
A smart humidity sensor can provide readings that activate a standalone humidifier/dehumidifier. These sensors (like this or this one) are perfect for reducing sensitive allergies, monitoring pet enclosures, or preventing mould growth.
Another example is to activate your air purifier when air quality dips low. Link a smart air quality sensor (like this one) to Home Assistant on your Pi and then create an automation based on the sensor’s readings.
Reduce Energy Bills by Killing Energy Vampires
Maybe all you need is to switch a device on/off when. Instead of spending extra to replace your device with a smart one, plug it into a smart socket.
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A smart socket or smart power strip can turn dumb appliances on/off. For example, you can use them to automate holiday lights or turn off your speaker setup. Creating automation for these also comes in handy if you tend to be forgetful or are thinking about child safety.
Smart outlets also provide another unexpected benefit: some (like this one, this one, and this one) can monitor energy usage via Home Assistant on Raspberry Pi. It’s great for figuring out which appliances are energy vampires so you can power them down completely when not in use.
Program Smart Buttons to Perform Macros
Sure, my smart devices can be automated by Home Assistant or manually controlled by the HA app on my smartphone. But for some actions, it’s more convenient to have a physical button nearby that I can press.
Smart buttons let you program a series of actions with a single press. For example, you could place a button next to your bed that performs this macro: turn on the electric blanket, dim the lights, and play soothing music. Or maybe eject yourself out of bed in the morning.
Smart buttons come in many communication standards. Zigbee buttons are becoming increasingly popular for this purpose (like this one or this one). But if you’re not ready for Zigbee stuff yet, there are WiFi/Bluetooth-equipped ones instead (like this one).
Make a Robot Finger Push Buttons for You
The first time I saw this product, I laughed and thought, “How lazy can I be?” Then I realized, very lazy. The funnily-named Switchbot Bot is a robot finger that sits on your device, like a virtual extension of your hand.
It’s perfect for situations where you have a physical interface but can’t automate it the way you want with a smart plug or IR blaster. The Switchbot Bot will press a button or flick a switch for you, maybe to open your garage door or switch modes on your coffee maker.
It’s a lot less expensive than coding a full-motion bipedal robot to do the task, and because the Switchbot Bot doesn’t have a body, you won’t have to feed it (with much power).
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Open & Close Curtains Every Morning and Night
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I’ve looked into automated window treatments at different times in my life, and the prices have slowly come down. They’re calculated PER window, based on how big it is, and can easily tack thousands onto what you’ve planned. Many systems aren’t even smart-capable.
Thankfully, IoT companies are entering this market to bring the costs back down. The SwitchBot Blind Tilt and the more heavy-duty SwitchBot Curtain Opener aren’t cheap, but they’re a lot less than what traditional window treatment manufacturers charge.
These smart devices will open or close blinds and curtains for you. You can automate them to activate at certain times or even based on sunlight. You’ll be grateful for the time savings when you don’t have to mess with curtains 2x a day, 365 days a year.
If you prefer watching videos instead of reading tutorials, you’ll love the RaspberryTips Community. I post a new lesson every month (only for members), and you can unlock them all with a 7-day trial for $1.
Beef Up Home Security With AI
For home security, you could take the traditional route by getting a regular IP camera (like this one) and hooking it up to your network via Power over Ethernet. But if you want advanced AI detection features, you often pay for a cloud subscription.
What if you want to protect your privacy and keep costs down? You can use a Raspberry Pi for home surveillance by adding a regular or AI camera. Power users with advanced scripts in mind could go for a full Raspberry Pi AI Kit and integrate it with MotionEye.
An AI camera can be programmed to take action on different events. For example, you could tell it to identify who’s at the door using facial recognition, ignore bird movements but capture car license plates, or send a notification if a package is waiting on your doorstep.
That concludes our roundup! I hope I’ve given you inspiration for automation that will save you time and money. For more ideas, check out our guides for easy home automation projects and other Raspberry Pi home projects.
Remember: the first step is to ensure whatever you buy integrates with Home Assistant. Even if the device doesn’t act on the conditions you want out of the box, as long as it’s compatible with Home Assistant, you can create automation using HA on Rasberry Pi instead.
Now, I don’t have to juggle multiple apps from different companies anymore; I control them all with my Raspberry Pi instead. Neat!
Whenever you’re ready, here are other ways I can help you:
Test Your Raspberry Pi Level (Free): Not sure why everything takes so long on your Raspberry Pi? Take this free 3-minute assessment and see what’s causing the problems.
The RaspberryTips Community: Need help or want to discuss your Raspberry Pi projects with others who actually get it? Join the RaspberryTips Community and get access to private forums, exclusive lessons, and direct help (try it for just $1).
Master your Raspberry Pi in 30 days: If you are looking for the best tips to become an expert on Raspberry Pi, this book is for you. Learn useful Linux skills and practice multiple projects with step-by-step guides.
Master Python on Raspberry Pi: Create, understand, and improve any Python script for your Raspberry Pi. Learn the essentials step-by-step without losing time understanding useless concepts.
You can also find all my recommendations for tools and hardware on this page.
