Setting up festive lighting is one of the most fun parts of decorating for the holiday season. But it can also be frustrating, especially for outdoor lighting. Limited outlets makes placement tricky, inclement weather makes outdoor power bars risky, and having to go outside to turn lights on and off is a pain. In each case, smart plugs or smart strips can really help here, just as they can when setting up for other occasions like Halloween. Here's how they can simplify and improve your holiday lighting, both inside and out.
Get smart plugs with multiple outlets, power strip
The best way to maximize a single power outlet is to get one of the best outdoor smart plugs with several outlets, so you can plug in more than one string of lights into it. If you have two power outlets on your porch, for example, getting two smart plugs that have two outlets each will turn that into four so you can plug in more lights, as well as things like holiday inflatables.
For the inside or a covered porch area where the weather is seasonal but not extreme, a power strip will make it easy to plug in multiple items at once, all of which can not only be controlled by a smartphone app but also a manual switch. Did you know there are also smart power strips? Yep, these are super cool because anything you plug into them instantly becomes smart and controllable by an app. These are ideal for holiday lighting since oftentimes, you'll want to activate or deactive your decorations all at once instead of one by one.
Two for one
TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Plug
$20 at Amazon $20 at Best Buy $30 at Home Depot
Turn one into two
Turn one outdoor outlet into two with this weather-resistant smart plug, which also lets you control whatever is plugged into it from your phone.
You've got the power
Meross Smart Power Strip
Control it all
Plug up to three AC and four USB devices into this power strip, then control everything by voice using Alexa, Google, Siri, or the app.
Set up schedules
Once you've set up smart lights, or regular lights connected to smart plugs, use the companion app to set up schedules for the lights to go on and off automatically. For example, you might want your outdoor lights to kick in at 6 or 7 p.m., depending on when the sun goes down in your area, then remain on until midnight – or through to 6 a.m. if you want passers-by to enjoy the show throughout the night.
For inside, use the app to manually turn on the lights – even the tree – while you're lounging on the couch or making dinner in the kitchen. If the smart plug works with voice assistants, which many do, you can even give a command like "Hey Google, turn on the Christmas lights."
Control by voice
Govee Smart Plug – 2-Pack
State your commands
Plug holiday lights into these smart plugs, then simply use Google or Alexa voice commands to turn them on and the app to set them on a schedule.
Add them to scenes
Go the extra mile and add the smart plugs to various scenes you set up with the companion app. Control them so holiday music comes on at the same time the lights are illuminated in the evening, for example, while your outdoor security camera kicks in. Then, set a morning scene where the lights turn off, music comes back on, the thermostat goes down while you'll be away for the day, and the smart coffee maker kicks in to get your java fuel ready for the morning.
Trusted brand
Wemo Smart Plug
$25 at Amazon $25 at Best Buy $25 at Walmart
Set the scene
Grab a few of these smart plugs for holiday lights, music, small appliances, and more, and create a holiday scene to set the mood.
Get outdoor-friendly plugs
Chances are, the bulk of your holiday lighting (except for the tree) will be outside. So, make sure to get smart plugs that are outdoor-friendly and don't require a hub to work. These should be rugged in design and waterproof to withstand water splashes from the rain or snow. They should also be able to operate in extreme temperatures.
Some outdoor plugs even have built-in port covers to keep them protected from dust, debris, or sneaky animals when you don't have anything plugged into them. Once the holiday season is over, you can use them to power up security cameras and landscape lights or move them to the backyard for summer tech like a swimming pool pump.
Tackle the weather
HBN Outdoor Smart Plug
Safe for outdoors
This smart plug can work safely outdoors, regardless of weather, thanks to its heavy-duty design; plus, the three grounded sockets will come in handy.
Covered ports
D-Link Wi-Fi Smart Outdoor Plug
All year 'round
Keep this smart plug outside without fear, thanks to the weather-resistant design and built-in port covers that keep them protected when not in use.
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