Smart Apartment: 5 Devices to Get Started

You have heard that technology can help you live better and make your home smart, but what is the first step to automating your apartment?

In this post, you will get to know 5 devices to automate your apartment simply and efficiently.

First of all, you need a high-performance Wi-Fi system. Without it, not only automation but all your internet access suffers.

Watch this video to understand how to create a good-quality Wi-Fi network:

In an apartment, your neighbors' networks compete for the same channels as yours. WiFiman, a free app from Ubiquiti, shows the busiest channels around you, so you can pick the clearest one on your router.

Now that you know how to have great Wi-Fi, let's automate the apartment.

Full HD Wi-Fi camera with audio

Anyone with a pet or a baby at home will love this camera. It records footage to the cloud and to a micro-SD card. The wide-angle lens lets you see what is happening in the room without having to move the camera.

It has a motion sensor that can send a notification or start recording, making it easier to review the recordings.

You can share access with your family, and everyone can monitor what is happening there, and even talk to whoever is there.

Wi-Fi smart plug

A smart plug works for equipment that can stay in the "always on" position. It is not ideal if you have to press a button to turn the equipment on, since it only controls the power to the outlet.

The best use for it is automating the table lamps in the living room and bedroom on a schedule.

You will never have to turn the lamps on or off again, and you will feel like the house runs itself.

Wi-Fi infrared controller

This is the key device, because it copies the codes from your remote controls and can therefore automate the TV, the cable box, the air conditioner and other home theater equipment.

You do not have to stop using the remotes, but you can use automation to turn everything on and off with a single command. It sounds simple, but this kind of scene is really enjoyable.

To do this, after setting up the device (which requires some technical knowledge), create a routine with the command "Alexa, movie time" to turn on the TV, the cable box and the receiver and adjust the lighting.

Another useful routine is "Alexa, bedtime", to have her turn off all the equipment.

Wi-Fi touch switch

Besides the elegance of replacing plastic switches with a glass touch model, you can control the lights through Alexa and include the lighting in the movie scene.

You will get used to automated lighting and probably will not want plastic switches anymore. This device is perfect for automating your apartment.

Before buying, check whether the switch box has a neutral wire: many models need one to work. If you are unsure whether to replace the switch or install a module behind your current switch, see smart switch or automation module.

Amazon Echo Dot

The Amazon Echo line has quality sound, a modern design and lots of features, and it is the foundation for automating your apartment.

The reminder, voice shopping and alarm clock features are great. You can also listen to audiobooks, recipes and, of course, lots of music!

And on top of that, you can control your home by voice. If you do not have an Echo yet, start with the Echo Dot and have fun!

Alexa is also changing: in 2025, Amazon announced Alexa+, a version with generative artificial intelligence that promises to understand requests made naturally, without memorized commands. According to Amazon, as of July 2026 it was in early access in Brazil.

How to automate a small apartment

In a small apartment, an IR hub in each room with a TV or air conditioner, a smart plug on the table lamp, smart switches on the main circuits and an Echo Dot already automate the essentials, with no construction work. Start with the scenes you will use every day, such as arriving home, leaving, watching a movie and going to sleep, and add the rest little by little.

If the apartment is rented, choose devices that can move with you, such as the smart plug, the IR hub, the camera and the Echo Dot, and keep the original switches so you can put them back when you move out.

Add-ons for automating your apartment

You can add a smart lock, motorized curtains, multiroom audio systems and much more: it will depend on your needs and how much you plan to invest. It is also worth including presence sensors, which turn on the lights automatically, and door and window sensors, which alert your phone when something happens while you are away.

An important tip is to hire a professional to do your project. Although you can do it yourself using these plug-and-play devices, there are many tricks that make the experience much better, such as creating scenes, configuring the Wi-Fi, proper electrical installation and the use of dimmer and relay modules.