The smart home is very much here – but what does it actually mean? For some it’s a great way to manage your electricity costs, for others it means enhanced security – but for more and more people, it means smart lights.
Simply put, smart lights are intelligent lighting solutions that you can control via an app, digital assistant or smart home hub. This functionality can be as simple as dimming a standard-style lightbulb, but for the majority of systems such as LIFX and Phillips Hue, the results are far more dramatic.
Think anything between nightclub visuals and 80s style lighting, all the way to warm hygge-friendly tones, and you’re pretty much there.
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So, what are the best lighting solutions you can buy? Keep reading to find out.
Nanoleaf
![NanoLeaf](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/6070/8633/b7bb/e452/9030/52a7/NanoLeafLIFX.png?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Nanoleaf isn’t about subtlety, it’s about being the centrepiece of a room. There are a few different types of Nanoleaf on offer right now: from triangular light panels, to hexagonal tile or square ones – but the result is pretty much the same.
Unlike some other smart lights on this list, a Nanoleaf system can be controlled both via an app – or the palm of your hand, and there are some other smart features: it’s a modular system so you can build and design patterns as large or as small as you want.
What’s more, those patterns detect themselves and are aware of their shape, so the NanoLeaf can create waves using its 16 million possible colours.
It’s not one of the most popular systems on this list, but it’s only a matter of time. As you’d expect, NanoLeaf is digital assistant compatible.
We've written a deep-dive into the Nanoleaf range if you're interested in finding out even more about this innovative lighting range, and rounded up our favourite products below.
![](https://images.bauerhosting.com/affiliates/sites/8/2024/05/umbra-cup-lamp.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
nanoleaf.me
Unlike Nanoleaf's more standard, wall-mounted light panels, this cup lamp is a freestanding item that you can move around the room depending on where it's most useful.
I've got it positioned on my desk, the cup element full of pens, and the soft down-lighting illuminating a collection of Lego Speed Champion cars. You could put it anywhere though, and store useful bedside items rather than stationary.
The lamp itself was designed by interior accessories company Umbra and Nanoleaf, and it's a satisfyingly minimal style, with clean lines except for the rotary on/off switch. This looks like a dimmer but it's not.
To control the amount of light (and the 16 million colours the lamp can produce) you can use the Nanoleaf app or any popular smart home hub. It can also be programmed to come on or go off during different times of the day.
I really like the soft glow of light it produces, and the fact it has a much slimmer construction than a normal lamp, which would have to make space for a bulb. It's also consolidated two items on my desk into one, replacing a standard light and a stationary holder.
Powering the lamp is a USB-A plug and if I've got one complaint it's that the supplied (and tethered) cable could be longer. Still, it cuts down on dangling wires.
Tried and tested by Affiliate Operations Editor Adam Binnie.
Pros
- Subtle looks
- Produces gentle light
Cons
- On/off switch looks like a dimmer, but isn't
![Nanoleaf Skylight](https://images.bauerhosting.com/affiliates/sites/8/2024/03/nanoleaf-skylight.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
nanoleaf.me
Nanoleaf's first hard-wired ceiling light panels (you could get bulbs and downlights before but nothing like this) produce a large, diffuse spread of light that looks absolutely stunning. Plugged into your existing ceiling cables and screwed into the wall, the instalation takes longer than other Nanoleaf products that stick to the wall and use socket power. But they're worth it.
"Originally announced earlier in 2023, we've been waiting a little while for the Nanoleaf Skylight, and the anticipation of this modular ceiling display has been high.
"Unlike other Nanoleaf panels the Skylight is wired into your existing ceiling cabling and supplied with screws to mount it, rather than sticky pads and a three-pin plug. Only one panel connects to your wiring and then you can piggyback 99 others from this.
"If you wanted colourful, interactive lighting on your ceiling previously you could buy Nanoleaf bulbs and downlights, but nothing with the size and presence of its wall-mounted panels.
"Once up there the light the Skylight produces is absolutely beautiful thanks to the large panels, which are much brighter than my other Nanoleaf products and also more diffuse.
"Schedules in the Nanoleaf app mean you can programme the Skylight to come on in the morning and simulate sunrise - I've tried this on my Nanoleaf shapes and it's much more effective on the Skylight.
"The only downside really is the cost, if you want a truly spectacular display - I counted roughly 60 panels in the impressive display in the image above, which would cost about £4,000. It's also be nice if it was available in hexagon or triangle shapes.
"Still, three panels is more than enough for a normal double bedroom and collectively throw out more light that my entire wall of Nanoleaf Shapes, so from that perspective they're better value." Tried and tested by Affiliate Operations Editor Adam Binnie.
Pros
- Hard-wired in
- Very bright
- Sunrise effect is brilliant
Cons
- More committed instalation
- Large displays will be very expensive
Features | Bright Functional Lighting |
Whites | (2700K - 6500K) |
Colours | 16M+ Colours with Dynamic Scenes |
![Nanoleaf Matter Smart Holiday String Lights](https://images.bauerhosting.com/affiliates/sites/8/2023/11/nanoleaf-holiday-lights.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
nanoleaf.me
The fairy lights you didn't know you needed until now - not just any string of festive LEDs, but ones you can control via your smart home hub, that react to music, and can display 16million+ colours.
"The trouble is, once you've got Nanoleaf something, you want Nanoleaf everything, so when I saw these festive LED lights advertised I suddenly starting wondering how I'd lived all these years without app controlled Christmas tree lights.
"Forget the standard white OR rainbow-coloured offerings, these Nanoleaf bulbs can display 16million+ colours, so you can have a traditional, crisp white hue or a music-sensitive blend of blue, purple and green. There's even a display that twinkles like a lit fireplace.
"You get two long strings emanating from a central control box, which can be used to cycle through the displays without reaching for your phone. The lights are Matter compatible though, so they'll sync to whatever home hub you're using and play nicely with any other smart devices you've got.
"Downsides? As with other the Nanoleaf "Essentials" like the LED strip or light bulbs, you can't schedule the holiday lights from within the Nanoleaf app. You'll need a smart home hub to do this. But you probably already have one.
"Otherwise they're a stunning addition to your festive decorations, producing a bright and vibrant point of light and offering a huge range of attractive sequences." Tried and tested by Affiliate Operations Editor Adam Binnie.
Pros
- Infinitely (almost) customisable
- Easy to set up
- Matter connectivity
Cons
- More expensive than standard LED lights
- No scheduling in the Nanoleaf app
![Nanoleaf Shapes Starter Kit](https://images.bauerhosting.com/affiliates/sites/8/2023/10/nanoleaf-shapes-scaled.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
nanoleaf.me
Pick from triangles or hexagons and fit them together in whatever pattern suits you. The Shapes range is the most flexible in terms of design and the only limit is your imagination - also available in Ultra Black, for a stealthy look. Especially impressive on darker walls.
"I've wanted some Nanoleaf shapes for our bedroom wall for a long time but was previously put off by how much the white panels would stand out against our dark blue paint.
"Thankfully the Ultra Black hexagons fade in almost perfectly, and look especially good when displaying a palette of white, grey and blue, because the darker shades very nearly disappear into the wall. In fact, the entire kit is black too, including the controller and power cable, so the whole thing is very stealthy.
"They're super easy to install thanks to the sticky back pads, although I found a couple of the connectors a bit tricky to locate behind the panels. There's a way around this, just ensure you've got the connector for the next panel installed before you stick each hexagon to the wall.
"Recent firmware updates mean this is the easiest-to-pair Nanoleaf product I've experienced so far, and it's slotted straight into my Thread network (time of writing, October 2023). The touch and sound sensitive controls work perfectly, and the light it produces can be tuned from gentle to bright.
"My favourite feature is that along with the Elements and Lines kits (and crucially not the bulbs) you can set up timers for the Shapes panels within the Nanoleaf app. So this set can be programmed to display a warm sunrise just before our alarms go off.
"Just bear in mind the Ultra Black hexagons come in a starter set of nine, not five like the standard shapes. This means they're more expensive and you'll need more space to display them." Tried and tested by Affiliate Operations Editor Adam Binnie.
Pros
- Flexible designs
- Wide range of colours
- Touch sensitive control
- Sync to music
Cons
- Slightly fiddly connectors
- Minimum of nine panels
![Matter B22 Smart Bulb](https://images.bauerhosting.com/affiliates/sites/8/2023/08/nanoleaf-bulbs.webp?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
nanoleaf.me
With 16 million colours and tuneable white tones a smart bulb like this one from Nanoleaf is a low-cost starting point for your interior lighting design. Available with a screw or bayonet fitting, as well as in GU10 and downlight form, these rhombicosidodecahedron bulbs (yes, that is a word) should fit right in. Now compatible with Matter over Thread, too.
"Swapping your bulbs for smart ones like these makes a huge enhancement for a relatively low outlay. Nanoleaf's bulbs are super bright and tuneable to pretty much any colour you can imagine.
"Controlled via the app you can play scenes from other Nanoleaf lights with them too, but to get the most from them you need a smart home hub. Now these bulbs use Matter you can pick any hub you like, and you'll need to do this if you want to set up a routine (for the bulbs to come on or off at a certain time, for example) as there's no way to do this in the native Nanoleaf app. Which is a bit weird.
"I also had a bit of a tricky time getting these to connect via Thread to my other Nanoleaf products but after a couple of firmware updates they are now working perfectly."
Pros
- Cost effective
- Easy to install
- Two year warranty
Cons
- Can't follow routines in the Nanoleaf app
![Nanoleaf Lines 60 Degrees](https://images.bauerhosting.com/affiliates/sites/8/2023/05/nanoleaf-lines-2.png?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
nanoleaf.me
A set containing long plastic strips that can be assembled in geodesic patterns or even used around the edges of furniture or as downlights under cabinets.
"The Nanoleaf Lines kit can be used in similar circumstances to a self-adhesive strip of LED lights, except they can also be mounted to the wall and looked at directly, as opposed to being tucked away behind furniture.
"The result is the ability to create striking shapes and patterns highlighted by whatever colour you choose, which is projected onto the wall or surface behind rather than via an illuminated panel.
"I've got them set up in my desk bringing some much needed light and colour into my workspace at home. The shape of the elements offers great flexibility when it comes to installation, and means you can fit them into almost any space." Tried and tested by Affiliate Operations Editor Adam Binnie.
Our review:
Pros
- Flexible shape design
- Dynamic scenes look impressive
Cons
- Concentrated light output
![Nanoleaf Elements](https://images.bauerhosting.com/affiliates/sites/8/2023/08/nanoleaf-elements.webp?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
nanoleaf.me
This one's a little different, formed of hexagonal lighting panels (nothing unusual there) but instead of having a white or black surface when they're switched off, the Elements set has a wood finish. In practice this means they look a lot more natural and low-tech when you're not using them. In use they display a glowing range of colours from cold white to warm orange, so they're not as flexible as the more colourful panels.
"I've got the Elements kit in my living room where I wanted some extra lighting flair but with a more subtle look when deactivated. Until you turn it on, this product blends in with the wooden shelves and furniture, rather than standing out like Nanoleaf's more high-tech panels.
"The trade off for this is a lack of colours to choose from, Elements ranges from cool white to warm orange, but in a living room setting this is generally the spectrum we'd be after anyway.
"On a cold evening it gently flickers like a wood fire, making the room feel a lot warmer and more cosy, while in the summer it provides sunset tones to match what's going on outside the window." Tried and tested by Affiliate Operations Editor Adam Binnie.
Pros
- Look great on or off
- Brings added visual warmth
- Works as a Thread border router
Cons
- Limited colour range
![Nanoleaf Canvas Start Pack](https://images.bauerhosting.com/affiliates/sites/8/2023/08/nanoleaf-canvas.webp?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
nanoleaf.me
Nine LED integrated, colour-changing, touch-sensitive square panels that are modular and easy to use. Install on any flat surface using the included mounting system. We've got a more in-depth Nanoleaf Canvas review after getting our hands on a set to test out.
Phillips Hue
![Phillips Hue](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/6070/86a8/9a13/ab76/8e4c/eed7/PhilipsHUE.png?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
One of the first smart light solutions and still one of the best, Phillips’ Hue system predates most of the others on this list. It’s been around for ages so features the largest range of bulbs and fixtures, and it also comes with the app support you’d expect from a company like Phillips.
The lights come in various sockets and fittings, so they’ll work in the majority of houses – and their functionality varies. Some bulbs range from dimmable warm white to standard white, while other more exotic bulbs, lightbars and LED strips with give you a range of colours. You only pay for the functionality you need.
Its age comes with other benefits: the Hue system is compatible with the big three assistants: Google Home, Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. If you want to invest even more, a Sync Box will match your living room colours to what’s on your screen.
LIFX
![LIFX](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/6070/8669/2c76/0a4f/3af6/1d22/LIFXLIGHTS.png?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
One of the newer systems of the list, LIFX takes the smart lighting formula and turns it up to eleven. While, like Phillips Hue, LIFX is great for painting with light, this system is also designed to be seen.
Special light bars can be hung on the wall and formed into different shapes and then customised depending on your mood. But LIFX’s strips, beams and bulbs can also be hidden underneath beds or in alcoves for a more subtle, diffusing effect.
One more thing: LIFX bars are also polychromatic, so one bar can display a number of colours – and even pulse, cycle, or strobe through them. They’re ideal for a party or gaming room – but they are pricey, and the app takes some getting used to as well.
Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit support is available, but like Phillips Hue, you can’t get as much customisation as in the native app.
Ikea smart lighting
![Ikea smart lighting](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/6070/859d/aef5/1565/8a91/7258/IKEASMARTLIGHTS.png?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Ikea is one of the largest, most influential interior design companies in the world, so of course it has its own range of smart lights. They’re cheap and obviously compatible with pretty much all of the Swedish giant’s furniture, but unlike some other products on this list they don’t give you the groovy colours and effects people sometimes associate with smart lights.
Think ‘making life easier,’ rather than ‘turn your living room into a nightclub,’ and you’re pretty much there. Throw in other accessories such as motion sensors, wall-mounted dimmers and remote controls, and Ikea system ticks all the key boxes.
If you’re not too bothered about exotic light effects and just want easy, dimmable lights that you can control either via voice or an app, then these are a very sensible option.
View the extensive Ikea smart lighting range here, including integrated lighting, wireless LED bulbs and LED panels.
Hive
![Hive](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/6070/85e4/b7bb/e4e9/e730/529f/HIVESMARTLIGHTS.png?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Originally known for its smart gas and heating services, Hive now wants to illuminate your house. It’s not the most extensive system – you’ll only really find standard dimmable lights here – but the way Hive works with other gadgets such as smart motion sensors, plugs and heating thermostats means it’s still worth investigating. Well, if you’re already a Hive customer, of course.