Simple Ways to Automate Everyday Life (Without Rewiring Your Whole House)

When we bought our 1960s house, the idea of a “smart home” was the furthest thing from my mind. I imagined futuristic, newly built houses with intricate wiring and expensive, complex systems. Certainly not a charming older home like ours, with its creaky floors, somewhat quirky wiring, and absolutely no built-in tech. It felt like a distant dream, something unattainable.

But little by little, we started incorporating simple smart home upgrades, essentially building a basic smart home setup. And then, something surprising happened: our home began working for us instead of the other way around. It felt like a weight had been lifted.

Lights turned on intuitively, without a second thought. Window treatments opened gracefully with the sunrise, gently awakening us. The kids could be summoned to dinner without resorting to shouting across the house. Even our home started smelling inviting and cozy on a consistent schedule – which, honestly, feels like a small miracle in itself.

The truly amazing part is that the vast majority of these upgrades didn’t involve any rewiring whatsoever. We didn’t need major renovations or any sort of tech wizardry. (Believe it or not, I’m pretty sure I’m the least tech-savvy blogger on the planet. Computers, frankly, often leave me utterly bewildered.)

If you currently live in an older home and are craving a life that feels easier, smoother, and just a touch more peaceful, then keep reading. Here are our absolute favorite methods for making it happen. These are the changes that made a noticeable positive difference in our daily lives.

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Skylight Calendar Command Center Wall — A digital family calendar can be a game-changer for staying organized.

Start With the Command Center: A Digital Family Calendar

One of the single biggest game-changers in our daily lives has been making the switch from the chaotic mess of paper calendars and notes to a centralized, wall-mounted digital calendar. It has brought a sense of order and calm to our household.

We personally use the Skylight Calendar and absolutely love it. However, the core benefit comes from using *any* shared digital calendar, which works beautifully to keep everyone on the same page. The key is having a central, accessible point of information.

Related: Our Family’s Skylight Calendar Review – What You Need to Know

Why it helps:

Everyone’s schedule syncs automatically in real-time, eliminating confusion and double-bookings.
Grocery lists and meal plans are all conveniently located in one central place.
Chore tracking for the kids becomes much easier and more transparent.
Reminders are sent for absolutely everything – appointments, school field trips, sports practices, and more.
When not in use, it transforms into a beautiful digital art display, so it looks stylish and unobtrusive rather than overly techy.

It effectively keeps the entire household aligned and organized, eliminating the need for scattered sticky notes cluttering up every surface. The visual clarity is a huge benefit.

Setting it up is incredibly simple – you simply mount it on the wall and plug it in. No special wiring is required whatsoever. (Although, we did choose to have a recessed outlet installed to help conceal the cord, but that was purely for aesthetic purposes and is totally optional.)

Add Cozy Automation With Smart Fragrance

This might sound like a relatively small detail, but it genuinely transforms the overall feeling of a home. We invested in Pura smart fragrance diffusers a few years ago, and we’ve been devoted fans ever since. They add a layer of subtle luxury and comfort.

Smart fragrance diffusers (like Pura) allow you to:

Schedule different scents to release at specific times of the day, creating an evolving sensory experience.
Switch fragrances seasonally, tailoring the ambiance to the time of year.
Adjust the intensity of the scent directly from your smartphone, ensuring it’s always just right.
Enjoy a cozy, inviting fragrance without the potential hazards of burning candles.

For example, we set ours to release a fresh, clean scent in the morning and a warm, cozy scent in the evening, creating a calming transition.

Plus, they send alerts directly to your phone when the fragrance cartridges need to be replaced, so you never run out. Convenience is key.

It’s one of those quiet, understated luxuries that makes a house feel truly intentional and carefully curated. It elevates the everyday experience.

Smart Plugs: The Simplest Way to Start Automating

If you only try one thing from this list, start with a smart plug. It instantly transforms any device you plug into it into a “smart” device. The versatility is amazing.

Smart plugs can automate a wide range of everyday items:

Lamps can be programmed to turn on automatically at sunset, creating a warm and welcoming ambiance.
Your coffee maker can be set to start brewing first thing in the morning, ensuring a fresh cup awaits you.
Christmas tree lights can be set to a specific schedule, saving you time and effort during the holidays.
Wax warmers can be programmed to automatically shut off after a set time, ensuring safety and preventing overheating.
Fans, humidifiers, and speakers can all be controlled hands-free using voice commands.

There’s no rewiring required, and you don’t need to call an electrician. Simply plug the smart plug into an outlet, plug your device into the smart plug, set up your desired schedules within the Alexa app, and you’re all set! The ease of use is incredible.

Lutron Smart Light Switch Dimmer — Smart light switches and dimmers add a touch of elegance and control to your lighting.

Smart Lighting With Lutron Switches & Dimmers

This is the point where a home truly begins to feel “smart.” Our electrician recommended Lutron smart switches during our media room makeover a few years ago. The impact was immediate and significant.

Smart switches allow you to:

Control your lights directly from your smartphone or with simple voice commands.
Create custom lighting “scenes” (like “Morning,” “Evening,” or “Movie Night”) to instantly set the perfect mood.
Schedule your lights to turn on automatically at sunset, providing security and convenience.
Dim your lights without needing to change the light bulbs, saving energy and extending bulb life.
Continue working even during Wi-Fi outages, ensuring that your lighting remains functional.

Many Lutron models don’t require a neutral wire, making them an ideal choice for older homes with potentially outdated wiring systems. This compatibility is a huge advantage.

Upgrade Security With a Smart Doorbell

This is a simple yet incredibly powerful addition to any home. It seems like the majority of homeowners now have smart doorbells installed, but if you’re one of the few who don’t yet, they provide an invaluable sense of security and peace of mind. They are worth every penny.

See exactly who is at your door from absolutely anywhere in the world.
Talk to visitors remotely, even if you’re not at home.
Receive instant motion detection alerts whenever someone approaches your door.
Monitor package deliveries to prevent theft and ensure they arrive safely.
Add a significant layer of security without the need to install a full, complex security system.

This is especially helpful for older homes that weren’t originally built with modern security features in mind. It bridges the gap and provides added protection.

Smart Home Security System

Along with the smart doorbell, we have gained so much peace of mind since we installed our smart home security system with security cameras set up around every exterior angle of our home so we can always monitor our safety from our phones.

Homerilla Lille Linen Curtains — Automated curtains can be a luxurious and practical addition to your smart home.

Automatic Curtains (Yes, Really!)

Your curtains can literally close automatically at sunset with SwitchBot. It’s quite remarkable! You can effortlessly close the curtains with the simple push of a button in the living room for a cozy family movie night or schedule the curtains to open automatically in the bedrooms at sunrise, gently awakening you.

With a small device like a SwitchBot curtain opener, you can:

Wake up naturally with the soft glow of natural sunlight, improving your mood and energy levels.
Close your curtains automatically at sunset, creating instant privacy and helping to regulate your home’s temperature.
Automate windows that are hard to reach manually, providing convenience and accessibility.
Add a sense of calm and rhythm to your day, syncing with your natural circadian rhythm.

Pairing this with a sunrise simulator lighting system can make your mornings feel peaceful and refreshing instead of rushed and chaotic. (It’s even more impactful when combined with a sunrise alarm clock.)

Whole-House Intercom Using Smart Speakers

This is one of the most underrated smart home upgrades for families! Rather than yelling up the stairs to try and communicate with your kids, you can easily sync Echo Dot Kids with an Echo Hub or Echo Show to create a seamless wireless home intercom system.

By using an Amazon Echo in conjunction with Echo Dots strategically placed in other rooms, you can:

Call the kids to dinner without resorting to yelling across the house, preserving your voice and sanity.
Broadcast important reminders throughout the entire house simultaneously, ensuring that everyone receives the message.
Talk room-to-room instantly, facilitating quick and easy communication.
Play music throughout the entire home, creating a consistent and enjoyable atmosphere.

It makes an older home feel more connected and integrated, even with its potentially separated rooms and closed floor plans. It promotes a sense of togetherness.

How to Disguise a Thermostat in Plain Sight — A smart thermostat can improve comfort and save you money on energy bills.

Smart Thermostat = Comfort + Energy Savings

Older homes are notoriously known for having uneven temperatures throughout, with some rooms being too hot and others being too cold. A smart thermostat can effectively help to balance things out and create a more comfortable living environment. If you don’t already have one installed, it’s definitely time to consider getting on board.

It learns your daily schedule and preferences, automatically adjusting the temperature accordingly.
It adjusts the temperature automatically based on your habits, ensuring optimal comfort at all times.
It saves energy when you’re away from home, reducing your utility bills and minimizing your environmental impact.
You can control it from your smartphone at any time and from anywhere, providing ultimate convenience.

Overall comfort improves significantly, and energy waste decreases without the need for constant manual adjustments. It’s a win-win situation.

Robot Vacuum: The Everyday Helper

This smart home device saves time and effort every single day. Sadly, a robot vacuum doesn’t work exceptionally well in our home due to our relatively high door thresholds. But if we didn’t have this particular issue, we would absolutely take full advantage of one of these ingenious devices. It’s a game changer for floor cleanliness.

It runs automatically on a pre-set schedule, freeing up your time for other tasks.
It cleans effectively while you’re out of the house, ensuring that you always return to a tidy home.
It is particularly well-suited for cleaning hardwood floors, leaving them sparkling and dust-free.
It helps to significantly reduce dust accumulation in older homes, improving air quality and overall cleanliness.
It’s a true lifesaver for managing pet hair and the messes that kids inevitably create.

It’s like having a tireless little helper that’s constantly working to keep your home neat and tidy.

Smart Leak Detectors (Peace of Mind for Older Homes)

If you own an older home, smart leak detectors are an absolute must-have! (We, unfortunately, learned this lesson the hard way after experiencing several unexpected leaks before finally investing in these essential devices.)

Place them near:

Your washing machine.
Your dishwasher.
Your water heater.
Underneath sinks.
Near toilets.
Your HVAC condensation drip line (If we had installed a leak detector in this location a few years ago, it would have saved us thousands of dollars in damages from a major water disaster that occurred in our attic.)

You’ll receive an immediate phone alert the moment any water is detected, potentially saving you a significant amount of money in costly repairs and property damage.

Smart Garage Door Controller

It may seem simple, but a smart garage door opener is incredibly helpful and provides surprising peace of mind.

Check remotely from your smartphone to see if your garage door is currently open.
Close the garage door remotely if you accidentally left it open.
Open the garage door automatically as you arrive home, providing seamless entry.
Add an extra layer of security to older garages, making them more secure against potential intrusion.

No more frantic moments of wondering, “Did I remember to close the garage door?” or having to call your neighbor and ask them to close it for you.

Smart Home Keyless Entry Lock — Keyless entry with smart locks offers convenience and enhanced security.

Keyless Simplicity With Smart Locks

Giving friends or family members (or even a trusted contractor) temporary access to our home is now significantly easier with smart locks, especially when we’re not available to physically let them in.

Eliminate the hassle of lost or misplaced keys.
Unlock the door conveniently using a code or your smartphone.
Create temporary guest codes that expire automatically after a specified period of time.
Utilize the auto-lock feature to ensure that the door is always securely locked.
Perfect for kids who come home from school on their own.

It’s a blend of convenience and added security all rolled into one smart home upgrade.

Smart Blinds & Shades (Optional Upgrade)

We installed smart shades in our home a few years ago, and while they were certainly a luxurious addition, we found that they were somewhat of a pain to constantly charge. However, these new SmartWings motorized window shades have solar charging capabilities, completely eliminating the need for manual charging. It’s a significant improvement!

Great for:

Bedrooms, promoting better sleep and privacy.
Sunrooms, helping to regulate temperature and prevent overheating.
Hard-to-reach windows, making them easily accessible.

You can schedule the automated opening and closing of the shades for enhanced privacy, optimal comfort, and improved energy efficiency.

Smart Home Automated Window Shades — Automated window shades add a touch of luxury and convenience to your home.

The Real Magic: Smart Home Routines

The true transformation occurs when everything starts working seamlessly together. I have shared my go-to smart home setup which may give you ideas for your own home.

The majority of smart home devices can be easily connected within the Amazon Alexa app, allowing you to synchronize your entire home and establish schedules that work harmoniously with your daily routine.

It’s incredibly satisfying to simply say, “Good morning, Alexa,” and have your entire home spring to life to serve you better.

Morning Routine:

Curtains open automatically, welcoming the daylight.
Lights turn on softly, gradually illuminating the space.
The coffee maker starts brewing, filling the air with its enticing aroma.
The weather forecast and daily calendar are read aloud, keeping you informed and prepared.
The thermostat adjusts to your preferred temperature, ensuring optimal comfort.

Similarly, you can program your home so that when you say, “Good night, Alexa,” it automatically powers down for the evening. Alternatively, you can simply set a schedule, and it will perform all of these actions automatically without you even having to say a word.

Night Routine:

Doors lock securely, providing peace of mind.
Lights dim gradually, creating a relaxing atmosphere.
Curtains close, ensuring privacy and darkness.
The diffuser switches to an evening scent, promoting relaxation and sleep.
White noise (or soft music) turns on, masking disruptive sounds.

That’s when your home truly starts working for you, anticipating your needs and enhancing your overall quality of life.

Here are all of the smart home devices we personally use and/or recommend to streamline your home. Connect each device to your Alexa app, and you’re all set to enjoy the benefits of a smarter, more automated living space.

Transforming an older home into a smart home isn’t about simply filling it with the latest gadgets and gizmos. It’s about intentionally removing friction from your everyday life, reducing the number of forgotten lights, minimizing repetitive tasks, and eliminating small, everyday annoyances.

We didn’t accomplish everything all at once. We took a gradual approach, adding one upgrade at a time. And slowly but surely, our home became a calmer, easier, and more supportive environment that perfectly complements our daily routines.

Once you start experiencing the benefits of a smart home, it’s hard to go back!

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