If there is any rule in my home, it is that the 'big lights' (otherwise known as the ceiling lights) are never turned on. I prioritize making my home feel cozy, and using lots of lamps to layer lighting is a massive part of that.
However, while having lots of lamps with warm white bulbs in them is great for creating a relaxing ambiance, they are not all that practical if I need to read something in bed or on the sofa, clean something up, focus while working on a fiddly task, or find something. That is where the Philips Hue Smart Bulbs, available on Amazon (and currently discounted for Black Friday) came into my life.
These pricey bulbs might seem like overkill to anyone who hasn't yet taken the full plunge into smart home must-haves yet, but they are by far the best investment I have ever made for my home, and me, increasing security and reducing over-stimulation.
Why I love the Philips Hue Bulbs
This Hue starter kit has everything you need to start your Hue journey. The hub connects to your WiFi router so you can control your lights from anywhere, while the bulbs can be controlled by app
I first tried out the Philips Hue bulbs two years ago as a housewarming gift. It was a novelty, something that I initially thought might be a bit of fun for a few months and then I would treat them like any other lighting ideas. Boy, was I wrong.
Two years later I have bought even more, integrating them into almost every room of my house. I am even looking at picking up more in the Black Friday sales – and here's why it's worth parting with my hard-earned cash to upgrade my light bulbs.
1. They prevent me feeling overstimulated
I am very easily overstimulated by light and sound, especially when I am trying to relax or unwind for the evening. The Philips Hue bulbs makes it so that I have complete control over my environment, no matter if I am setting down to read before going to sleep, or I am cuddling up on the sofa to enjoy the latest episodes of my favorite TV shows. They are a savior for making a living room cozy with lighting.
The app has a dedicated setting specifically for relaxing, turning the bulbs to a warm orange glow that bathes my living room in a soothing light that doesn't overstimulate me when I am trying to chill out. I can even turn the brightness down further if I want to really immerse myself in my show without sitting in complete darkness.
They even help me to sleep better, as I can turn them down from the reading setting to relax or even nightlight as I wind down for bed and finish off my evening routine. The 'Go to Sleep' setting gradually dims the light for me, mimicking a sunset to help me drift off naturally after a day of staring at screens.
I am yet to try it as my partner and I wake up at different times, but I could even use the 'wake up with light' setting to gently pull me from sleep (like using the best sunrise alarm clocks) rather than using a blaring alarm clock. They are a great way to set up a bedroom to beat morning grogginess.
When I need to focus on a task such as home organizing, cleaning, or I need to find something, I can quickly turn the lights up to bright, clear daylight before switching them right back to cozy mode again.
2. They are remote controlled
There are several benefits of smart lighting, but controlling the lights from my phone or one of the many Hue remotes I have in my home is a massive draw. After all, is there anything worse than getting all cozy in bed before realizing you have to get up to turn off the light? Or fumbling with the lamp cable to find the switch?
With the Hue bulbs, all I need is my phone (I have an iPhone, so I even have widgets on my lock screen that allow me to instantly control my lights without even opening the app). It's perfect for when I am settled on the sofa or in bed, or even when I am on my way home at night and I don't want to stumble around in the dark when I get in.
When setting up a smart home, I also popped some of the best Alexa speakers around my home (one in the kitchen, living room, and my home office). Of all the ways voice assistants can be used in your smart home, using them to control my lighting is one of my favorites.
Say I am working when it starts to get dark outside and I am mid-flow, all I need to do is ask Alexa to turn on my home office and it is bathed in cozy task lighting. The same goes for when I have guests visiting – it is a great way to impress them with lighting trends, and it is always a conversation starter.
I even set up a 'goodnight' routine through my Alexa app. With only two words (Alexa, goodnight) all of my living room lighting is switched off and my bedroom lighting comes on as I go upstairs.
I use my Amazon Echo Dot (Alexa) for many things around my home, from setting timers and alarms, controlling my lighting, playing music and audiobooks, and monitoring my home security. They are a valuable investment for any modern home.
3. They boost my home security
As someone who grew up in a military household with a healthy level of paranoia, home security has always been important for me. I don't own my home, so I can't install security cameras, alarm system, or make any changes to the doors, so I use my Philips lights to help dissuade any opportunists when I am not home and secure my home without a security system.
It might sound strange that a home lighting system is one of the best security measures for a house, but the Hue app offers a 'Mimic' setting that will turn lights on around my home at realistic intervals after dark to make it look like I am moving around my home, even when I am away.
My older relatives have been keen to point out to me that they used to do this with much simpler plug-in timers, such as the two-pack of mechanical outlet timers available on Amazon. Those however lack flexibility and turn on and off at the same time every night.
The Hue system varies the times and the lights used daily to mimic my regular routines. It's a far safer home security tip, in my opinion.
4. They make entertainment more immersive
@ytgeekstreet ♬ original sound - Geek Street
As a household, we love all things digital media, especially gaming and TV shows. There is not a day that goes by where one of us is not on the PlayStation. As a result, constantly upgrading our entertainment center ideas is a top priority for us. While most people focus on the TV and sound systems, I am looking at lighting.
I have yet to take the plunge for this investment lighting piece, but it is certainly something I am eyeing up in the Black Friday sales this year.
When styling living room TV ideas, you can use the color ambiance Hue bulbs and TV strips to sync your lighting to your TV screen so your whole home is bathed in the same colors for a fully immersive experience. It is something every person who loves hosting should have in their homes.
Pair the TV strip with color bulbs around your room to bathe yourself in immersive lighting.
The lighting strip comes in varying lengths to slide around the back edge of your TV and project lighting against your wall for an immersive TV experience. Measure carefully to get the right fit and full effect
The sync box allows your lighting to line up with what is on your TV screen to set up a home cinema in the comfort of your living room. Be aware that it requires the Philips Sync Box from the starter set to work.
5. They help save me energy
Being able to dim my lights and turn them off quickly means that I am actively cutting energy bills. While you could argue that the bulbs are more expensive than a standard light bulb, the savings will pay off in the long term and will reduce my overall energy consumption helping me to be more sustainable at home.
A study by Signify, the parent company of Philips Hue found that for the white ambiance lights, 'When dimming a bulb to 70% of its maximum brightness, it uses 51% less energy. When dimming a Philips Hue bulb even further, such as to 50% of its maximum brightness, it saves as much as 75% on energy consumption. By choosing to dim your Philips Hue bulbs, you can still enjoy functional and mood lighting, while reducing your energy consumption.'
Given that I very rarely have my bulbs turned all the way to the max , I am always saving energy at home.
Switching to these bulbs is by far one of the best DIY lighting ideas you can use to instantly elevate your home. Don't mistake them for any other light bulbs you can pick up at the hardware store, they are an investment piece that will instantly improve your quality of life.
