The best smart home devices can enhance any living space. Yes, that means even your closet-sized college dorm. You can use gadgets like the best smart lights and smart plugs to make your life easier and room more comfortable.
From changing up your pad's look on the fly with color mood lighting to controlling your devices with just your voice, I'll walk you through the best dorm-friendly smart home devices. All of these devices are as easy to set up as they are to take down at the end of the year and they don't require a permanent installation.
Smart speaker
The Echo Dot and Nest Mini are powerful, compact speakers under $50 that can fill your room with rich sound. Their built-in voice assistants provide hands-free control over your alarms, music, and calendar. You can use their extensive knowledge base to quickly get instructions on how to fix something or crank out answers to a homework question. Smart speakers also integrate with the other smart home devices below, so you can control your dorm with simple voice commands.
Smart plugs
Smart plugs are an affordable and versatile way to add your existing devices to your smart home. They allow you to control and schedule any outlet-powered gadget remotely over the internet via a smartphone app. Whether you need to turn off a stick lamp you forgot about while in a lecture or set your coffee brewer to start a cup at 8 AM on weekdays, smart plugs open up the door for plenty of possibilities.
My window air conditioner is connected to a smart plug and tied to a routine with my Echo Dot's temperature sensor. When the temperature gets too hot (I have this trigger set to 71 degrees) my smart speaker tells the plug to turn on the A/C and cool down my room automatically. This could be especially useful in a dorm where you can't install one of the best smart thermostats.
Smart lights
Smart bulbs like the Philips Hue or Kasa Bulb can transform your dorm room's ambiance. These bulbs can be controlled through an app or voice commands, offering features like color changes, dimming, and scheduling. That way you can wake up to a simulated sunrise as they gradually power on or turn your room orange for Halloween.
Also consider light strips which can be wrapped around your bed or the top of your walls. You can use these strips solely for aesthetics or to create helpful timer routines. For example, set the colors to shift from green to red over a period of time so that you can see how long you have left in your study times or morning routine to make it to class on time.
Security cameras
A compact smart security camera can provide you peace of mind to make sure nobody is rummaging through your belongings while you're away. In addition to a constant live feed, you'll be notified when someone enters your space thanks to built-in motion detectors. Just make sure to respect your roommate's privacy by disclosing its placement and creating privacy zones.
Smart locks
A smart lock, especially a rental-friendly conversion model like the August Smart Lock, is a total timesaver. It provides keyless entry and can be controlled via a smartphone app, ensuring your room remains secure while granting easy access for yourself and trusted friends. Conversion models only replace the interior portion of the lock so an RA can still get in with original keys. You can remotely unlock your door or check activity while you're away too.
Streaming stick
You can create a smart entertainment center using a streaming stick and smart speaker. To get started just plug a streaming device into your TV to act as the brains. This will add a computer-like operating system to the biggest screen in your room from where you can watch shows, play video games over the cloud, and manage smart home devices. You can use the included controller or your voice to navigate this menu. Pair up two smart speakers and you can create a surround sound experience.
Robot vacuum
Keep your floors spotless with an automated robot vacuum. You can store the bot's dock underneath your bed or on the side of your desk to keep it out of the way. Simply schedule it to go out on runs between classes and you can forget about it until you get a notification that you need to clean out the bin.
