The Evolution of Smart Plugs: From Simple On/Off to Home Automation Powerhouses

Remember when smart plugs were just glorified remote-controlled light switches? Those early days of clunky apps and basic functionality seem like ancient history now. Today’s smart plugs have evolved into sophisticated home automation tools that can transform your entire living space.

I’ve been testing smart home devices for years, and the progression of these humble plugs has been nothing short of remarkable. What started as simple remote controls have become gateways to comprehensive home automation systems. Modern smart plugs offer scheduling capabilities, energy monitoring, integration with voice assistants, and even advanced routines that can interact with other smart devices throughout your home.

My colleagues at CNET and I have discovered countless creative ways to put these devices to work. We’ve transformed ordinary coffee makers into smart appliances, converted basic lamps into automated lighting systems, and even used them to enhance our home security setups. The beauty of smart plugs lies in their versatility—they can make almost any plug-in device “smart” in just minutes.

Here are some of our favorite smart plug applications that might inspire you to rethink how you use these devices in your own home:

Wake Up to a Better Morning

Starting your day on the right foot is easier when your home works with you. Smart plugs can transform your morning routine by automating multiple devices simultaneously.

For coffee lovers, imagine waking up to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee without lifting a finger. Simply fill your coffee maker the night before, plug it into a smart outlet, and schedule it to start brewing just before your alarm goes off. It’s like having a personal barista waiting for you each morning.

But coffee is just the beginning. Program your curling iron to heat up automatically 20 minutes after you wake up, or schedule your radiant heater to warm your office before you even get out of bed. You can even use smart plugs to manage electronic toothbrush charging—these devices typically only need a few minutes of charging daily, so why waste energy keeping them plugged in all the time?

Voice Control Your Lighting

One of the most satisfying smart plug applications is voice-controlled lighting. Most modern smart plugs integrate seamlessly with popular voice assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, and even Siri (though Siri compatibility is less common).

Instead of fumbling for your phone in the dark or walking across the room to flip a switch, simply say, “Hey Alexa, turn off the dining room lights,” or “Hey Google, run my bedtime routine.” This is particularly useful for lamps that don’t have built-in smart capabilities, holiday light strings, or other plug-in devices that you’d rather not replace entirely.

For night owls who need some light to navigate, smart plugs can manage nightlights perfectly—keeping them off during sleep hours but easily accessible with a voice command when needed. Just remember to name your smart plugs clearly so your voice assistant knows exactly which device to control.

Advanced Home Automation with Routines

This is where smart plugs truly shine. Many models support IFTTT (If This Then That) capabilities or integrate with broader smart home platforms, allowing you to create sophisticated automation routines.

Imagine your fan automatically turning on when your thermostat detects rising temperatures, then shutting off when things cool down again. Or picture your outdoor lights illuminating automatically when your security camera detects motion in the backyard. You can even set lamps to turn on at sunset and off at sunrise without any manual intervention.

These routines aren’t just convenient—they’re also energy-efficient and can enhance your home security by making it appear occupied even when you’re away.

Entertainment for the Whole Family

Some of our favorite smart plug applications at CNET involve entertaining kids. While adults understand the technology behind these devices, to children, they seem like pure magic.

Try this: have your smart plug app ready, then dramatically announce your ability to control the lights with your mind. Use a countdown or the classic “abracadabra” to build suspense, then tap the button in your app. Your kids will be absolutely captivated.

The real fun begins when you let them take control. Teach them a specific word or gesture, then use your phone to make the lights respond accordingly. Fair warning: this game may get old for you long before it does for them. Be prepared with excuses like “the batteries died” or “it’s broken today.”

For households with constant light-switching, you can also configure voice assistants to recognize and respond only to specific voices, preventing endless on-off cycles.

Culinary Convenience

While I have some reservations about food safety, many busy cooks swear by using smart plugs for meal preparation. The idea is simple: start your slow cooker, sous-vide machine, or other cooking appliance before you leave for work, so dinner is ready when you arrive home.

My concern here is food safety—how long is uncooked food sitting out before the cooking process begins? If you do try this, be extremely mindful of foodborne illness risks and follow safe food handling guidelines.

That said, smart plugs are fantastic for other kitchen tasks. Schedule your electric kettle to start heating water when you’re busy around the house, or set up a warming bowl for dips while you’re watching game highlights. These applications are convenient without the food safety concerns.

Outdoor Living Made Smarter

Outdoor lighting can transform your exterior spaces, but managing it shouldn’t be a hassle. Smart plugs make it easy to control everything from string lights to fans to decorative accessories.

Set your outdoor lights to turn on automatically at dusk and off at dawn, saving energy while maintaining security and ambiance. During the holidays, use smart plugs to manage your Christmas tree lights on a schedule, eliminating the need to plug and unplug daily.

The same principle works for outdoor fans, water features, or any other plug-in outdoor accessories you want to automate.

Pet-Friendly Automation

I discovered an unexpected smart plug application while testing various devices: managing pet fountains. Many modern pet fountains are designed to operate silently, but occasionally the water flow can become disrupted, creating annoying trickling sounds.

Instead of getting up to unplug the fountain manually, you can use voice commands to turn it off until you have time to fix the issue. This works with any plug-in fountain that occasionally acts up, making your home more peaceful without compromising your pet’s access to fresh water.

Enhanced Home Security

Smart plugs can bolster your home security in several ways. One particularly clever application involves garage door motors. Many homes have garage doors that are 20-30 years old and lack modern security features.

If you’re concerned about someone spoofing your garage door remote or using code-grabbing techniques to gain entry, consider plugging your garage door motor into a smart plug. When you’re away for extended periods, you can turn the power off completely, ensuring the motor won’t respond even if someone has your remote or knows the frequency.

Simply use your app to restore power when you return home. This adds an extra layer of security for vacations and other extended absences.

Router Management Made Easy

Even the best Wi-Fi routers can benefit from smart plug integration. Routers are often placed in inconvenient locations—on high shelves, in closets, or in other hard-to-reach spots. When you need to restart your router, accessing it can be a challenge.

By plugging your router into a smart plug, you can perform remote restarts with just a tap on your phone. Simply cut power for about 30 seconds, then restore it to effectively reboot your router. Note that this won’t work if your router has a battery backup, but in that case, you’d need to remove the batteries anyway.

This is particularly useful for routers located on different floors or in awkward positions that make manual restarts difficult.

Evening Wind-Down Routines

Smart plugs can help you end your day as smoothly as they help you start it. Imagine climbing into a pre-warmed bed during cold winter nights. Simply plug your electric blanket into a smart plug and schedule it to start heating 15-20 minutes before bedtime.

The same principle works for bedside lamps. How many times have you fallen asleep reading only to wake up hours later with the light still on? Not only does this waste energy, but it can also disturb anyone else trying to sleep. Set your smart plug to turn off the lamp automatically after a certain time, or give your partner the ability to turn it off without getting out of bed.

Television viewing before bed is another area where smart plugs shine. While most TVs have sleep timers, accessing these settings can be cumbersome, especially if you’re using a streaming device remote that lacks the necessary buttons. A smart plug provides a simple alternative for ensuring your TV doesn’t stay on all night.

Tags: #SmartHome #HomeAutomation #SmartPlugs #VoiceControl #EnergyEfficiency #HomeSecurity #KitchenTech #OutdoorLiving #PetTech #WiFiTips #MorningRoutine #EveningRoutine #FamilyTech #DIYSmarthome

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