Make Your Home Smarter with These 7 DIY Projects

Are you tired of living in a typical house and want to elevate your living space to a whole new level? One of the easiest and most effective ways to do this is by incorporating smart devices into your home. However, if you’re a DIY enthusiast, you might want to explore more creative and personalized solutions. Here are 7 DIY smart home projects that you can complete in a weekend when you have all the necessary parts.

1. Make a Custom LED Light with RGB LEDs

Using a smart RGB LED rope is an excellent way to add some personality to your home. This flexible material containing the LEDs allows you to bend the string into various shapes, while the built-in diffuser layer creates a neon-like glow. With the Govee Smart Neon Rope Light 2, you can create custom patterns or draw inspiration from the numerous designs available in the app and website. The LED rope also supports the Matter smart home standard and works with Google Home, allowing you to turn the LEDs on or off using voice commands with assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant.

Key Features:

• RGB LED rope with flexible material and built-in diffuser layer
• Supports Matter smart home standard and Google Home
• Customizable patterns and lighting effects

2. Create a DIY Smart Mirror

A geekier way to check yourself out is by creating a DIY smart mirror using an old PC monitor, a Raspberry Pi mini computer, and a two-way mirror. The built-in screen allows you to display widgets with information like the weather or your upcoming calendar events. You can also play music or videos. This project is suitable for experienced DIYers, but you can make it easier by buying a pre-made two-way mirror.

Key Features:

• Uses an old PC monitor, Raspberry Pi, and two-way mirror
• Built-in screen for displaying widgets and multimedia
• Customizable with smart home code and apps

3. Make a DIY Mailbox Notifier

Aqara sells a vibration sensor that detects vibration, drops, or tilt. You can use it to make a DIY smart mailbox by sticking it to the door. When the mail arrives, the sensor sends a signal to a smart hub, which pushes a notification to your phone. The vibration sensor can also be used as part of a home security system, but it can be used for other creative applications as well.

Key Features:

• Uses Aqara vibration sensor
• Sends notifications to your phone when mail arrives
• Can be used as part of a home security system

4. Create a DIY E-Ink Display Dashboard

If you’re an experienced DIY enthusiast, you can create a dashboard using an e-ink display, an ESP32 microcontroller module, and a 3D-printed enclosure. The dashboard displays data and status from multiple sensors around your home. The project relies on off-the-shelf parts, and you can connect them together. However, the software side of the project can be challenging, as you’ll need to write and edit code.

Key Features:

• Uses e-ink display, ESP32, and 3D-printed enclosure
• Displays data and status from multiple sensors
• Requires coding and software knowledge

5. Make a DIY Soil Moisture Sensor

A soil moisture sensor can alert you when your plants need watering. This project uses pre-made modules that you combine inside a 3D-printed enclosure. The hardware side of the project shouldn’t be much of a hurdle, but the software part could prove more challenging. The project uses the ESPHome platform, but you can replicate it or ask for help from the community.

Key Features:

• Uses pre-made modules and 3D-printed enclosure
• Displays moisture levels and alerts you when plants need watering
• Requires coding and software knowledge

6. Create a DIY Multi-Room Audio Setup

If you have an existing set of speakers and an amplifier that aren’t smart, you can create a DIY multi-room audio setup using WiiM’s wireless streamers. They connect to popular music services like Spotify, Tidal, and Amazon Music, and play music on your local network. The streamers also offer multi-room synchronization capabilities, allowing you to play the same media across your home.

Key Features:

• Uses WiiM wireless streamers
• Connects to popular music services like Spotify and Amazon Music
• Multi-room synchronization capabilities

7. Make Anything Smart with a SwitchBot

The SwitchBot is a device that physically pushes buttons and switches, allowing you to control or automate existing non-smart appliances without any modification. It is compatible with Alexa, Google Home, and IFTTT, making it easy to integrate into existing smart home setups. One popular application for a SwitchBot is to turn lights on and off, but it can be used for other creative applications as well.

Key Features:

• Physically pushes buttons and switches
• Compatible with Alexa, Google Home, and IFTTT
• Can be used to control or automate existing appliances

These DIY smart home projects are perfect for those who want to add some personality to their home and make it smarter without breaking the bank. With a little creativity and the right materials, you can create a unique and functional smart home that reflects your style and needs.