Best Smart Lights for Renters

The problem this solves

Rentals usually come with one ceiling light per room on a single switch, and you are not allowed to change the wiring. Smart lighting gets around that. It gives you dimming, schedules and warm evening light without touching a wire, and all of it leaves with you.

Try this before you buy anything

Move the lamps you already own and change their bulbs first. Our guide to brightening a dark apartment without rewiring shows how to light a room at three heights. Smart lighting then adds control, not light.

What to look for

• The right fitting. Screw (E26) in the US; bayonet (B22) or screw (E27) in the UK. Check before you order.
• Matter. A Matter bulb works with Apple Home, Google Home and Alexa, so it survives a change of phone or speaker. Our guide to what Matter is explains how it works.
• Wi-Fi or Thread. Wi-Fi bulbs connect straight to your router. Thread bulbs need a Thread border router, which some smart speakers include.
• Brightness in lumens. A smart bulb is still a bulb: about 800 lumens replaces a 60-watt bulb.

The one thing that catches renters out

A smart bulb only works while the wall switch is on. If housemates or guests flick it off, the bulb goes offline. Either put a strip of tape and a note on the switch, or use a smart plug on a lamp instead, which avoids the problem entirely.

Our picks at a glance

The picks in detail

For ceiling lights and lamps: a Matter smart bulb

For shelves and worktops: a smart LED strip

Test the adhesive on a hidden spot first, because some strips lift paint when removed.

For lamps you already own: a smart plug

The cheapest smart light is an ordinary lamp on a smart plug. It works whatever the wall switch is doing. Smart plugs for beginners explains setup.

How we chose

These are research-based recommendations: we compared published specifications, maker documentation and the features that matter in a small home. We have not tested them hands-on. Most picks are types of product rather than single models, so the buttons open the retailer's results; compare a few listings before you buy, in your own country's store.

Mistakes to avoid

• Mixing too many apps. Pick one system, such as Apple Home, Google Home or Alexa, and check each light works with it. Matter makes this easier.
• Buying the wrong fitting. Check the base type on your existing bulbs before ordering.
• Leaving the original bulbs in a drawer you forget. Label them and keep them with your move-out paperwork.
• Skipping security basics. Use a strong, unique password for each account and turn on two-factor sign-in.

A simple routine to start with

Set the main living-room lamp to switch on at sunset and off at bedtime. Set a warm, dim scene for the evening and a brighter, cooler one for work in the morning. Two or three routines that solve a real annoyance are better than a dozen you never use.

Getting the most from smart lights

Set scenes rather than adjusting bulbs one by one: a bright "cleaning" scene, a warm "evening" scene and a dim "night" scene for trips to the bathroom. Schedule a gradual brightening in the morning if you wake before it is light. Keep the wall switch on, or fit a stick-on smart switch over it, because a bulb switched off at the wall cannot be controlled by app or voice.

When you move out

Put the landlord's original bulbs back, remove the bulbs from your app, and take yours with you. They will work in the next home if the fitting matches; check for screw or bayonet fittings before buying more.

The bottom line

Start with a smart plug on your main lamp. Add Matter bulbs where you want dimming in fittings you use daily, and a strip where a shelf or worktop is dark. For the bigger picture, see the smart home starter guide.