We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
Connected homeLory Gil and Jeramy JohnsonSource: Jeramy Johnson / iMore
Amazon's Echo line of smart speakers can be used to control a plethora of different supported lights. If you have an Echo and supported smart lights (with the smart hub for those that need it), it's easy to get set up.
The guide
If you don't already have smart lighting that supports Alexa integration, Amazon has a full list of lighting options, but we're working with LIFX smart lights for this guide.
Once your smart lights are connected to your home wi-fi (follow the manufacturer's instructions), you're ready to connect your lights with your Echo so that you can ask Alexa to control them. Here's how.
How to group lights
Now your new light group will be available as a tile directly from the Devices tab of the Alexa app, and you can ask Alexa to "turn on the lounge" or whatever you decided to name your new group.
Our top equipment picks
The perfect pairing for your Smart home lighting setup using Alexa is an Echo speaker and LIFX smart lights.
The perfectly priced mid-range Alexa supported smart speaker
Amazon's basic model Echo is more than just a smart device, it's a decent speaker for its size. With Dolby support and 360-degree omnidirectional audio, you're getting the best speaker for the price.
Echo is the perfect smart home speaker for anyone hoping to get into the smart home market without spending too much money. Alexa is the widest supported virtual assistant for smart products across the board, and the Echo is the best speaker at a reasonable price. It's more expensive than the Dot but sounds much better.
Millions of colors!
LIFX bulbs are some of the best multi-colored lights available. Pick up a pack of four and leave that smart hub that other brands require behind.
LIFX bulbs work great with Amazon's Alexa smart voice assistant, and these particular lights support multiple dimming settings as well as 16 million color combinations. They don't require any sort of smart hub, so you can just plug them in, set them up in the app as we've show above, and you're ready to rock. Create the perfect mood lighting for any occassion. Oh, these also work with HomeKit too!
The most feature-rich and future-proof combo for Alexa supported smart light integration is an Echo and LIFX, but there are less-expensive alternatives that work great with limited features.
The least expensive Echo speaker that still works great as a smart home assistant.
Use your dumb lights with Alexa, no hub required. You can turn anything into a smart home appliance with a smart plug.
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
Light alternativesPhilips Hue may offer one of the best smart lighting systems on the market, but its light strips have some worthwhile competitors. Here's a look at the best alternatives to Philips Hue light strips!
Feel The BreezeAdding a HomeKit-enabled switch for your ceiling fan can is an easy way to keep your cool when things get a little too hot. Take control of your fan with the best switches that you can buy today.
Motion and moreReady to make HomeKit even more magical? Put the "auto" in "home automation" with the best HomeKit motion sensors!
Lory is a renaissance woman, writing news, reviews, and how-to guides for iMore. She also fancies herself a bit of a rock star in her town and spends too much time reading comic books.If she's not typing away at her keyboard, you can probably find her at Disneyland or watching Star Wars (or both).
Jeramy is proud to help Keep Austin Weird and loves hiking in the hill country of central Texas with a breakfast taco in each hand. When he's not writing about smart home gadgets and wearables, he's defending his relationship with his smart voice assistants to his family. You can follow him on Twitter at @jeramyutgw.
