Reviewed by the HomeSmartSetup team · Last reviewed June 2026. These are the automations we actually run every day — the ones that justify the hardware. HomeSmartSetup may earn a commission from links on this page — it never changes what we recommend.
Buying smart devices and controlling them by voice is step one. The payoff is automation — routines and scenes that fire on a schedule, a sensor, or your location, so the house runs itself and you stop touching apps. Here are the ten routines worth setting up today, the devices each needs, and how to build them on Alexa, Google, or HomeKit.
The morning and night routines (start here)
- “Good morning” — lights brighten gradually, thermostat warms, news/weather plays. Needs smart bulbs + a thermostat + an Echo/Nest.
- “Good night” — all lights off, doors lock, thermostat drops, cameras arm. Needs smart bulbs, a smart lock, a thermostat, cameras. This is the single most-used routine in most homes.
The location-based ones (no button at all)
- “Leaving home” (geofence) — when your phone leaves, lights off, lock engages, thermostat goes to Away. Saves energy automatically.
- “Arriving home” — porch light on, door unlocks, thermostat returns to comfort as you pull in.
The sensor-triggered ones
- Motion-lit hallway/stairs — a motion sensor turns lights on at low brightness at night. Prevents falls.
- Sunset lighting — porch and living-room lights follow actual sunset times, no schedule editing.
- Leak shutoff alert — a Govee leak sensor triggers a phone alarm (and, with a smart valve, shuts the water).
The “scenes” you trigger by voice
- “Movie night” — dim to 20%, warm color, TV backlight on.
- “Focus/work” — bright cool light, desk lamp on.
- “Dinner” — warm dining lights, everything else off.
What each routine needs
| Routine | Devices | Trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Good night | Bulbs, lock, thermostat, cameras | Voice / schedule |
| Leaving home | Bulbs, lock, thermostat | Geofence (phone) |
| Motion stairs | Motion sensor + bulbs | Motion + night |
| Sunset lights | Bulbs/plugs | Sunset time |
| Movie night | Bulbs + light strip | Voice scene |
How to build them (any platform)
All three platforms use the same idea: open the app (Alexa Routines, Google Home Automations, or the Apple Home Automation tab), pick a trigger (voice phrase, time, location, or sensor), then add the actions. Start with “good night” — it’s the one you’ll use nightly and it instantly proves why you bought the devices.
A real scenario
One evening of setup pays off daily. Build “good night” (one phrase locks up, kills lights, drops heat to 65°F, arms cameras), a geofenced “leaving home” (auto energy-save when you go), and motion-lit stairs (no more dark-hallway falls). Three routines, ~20 minutes in the app, and the house starts handling itself — which is the entire point of a smart home over a pile of app-controlled gadgets.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the most useful smart home routine?
“Good night” — one trigger turns off lights, locks doors, lowers the thermostat, and arms cameras. It’s the routine almost everyone uses every day.
Do routines need a special hub?
No — Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home all build routines/automations in their free apps. You just need the devices and a controller (Echo, Nest, or Apple TV/HomePod).
What are geofenced routines?
Automations triggered by your phone’s location — “leaving home” and “arriving home” fire automatically as you come and go, with no button to press.
More: see our room-by-room ideas and energy-saving automations.
