Smart home beginner's guide: where to start?

A smart home sounds futuristic, but it's accessible to everyone these days. Whether you want to control your lighting with your voice, vacuum automatically or monitor your energy usage — the possibilities are endless. But it's precisely that abundance of options that makes it hard to get started.

In this beginner's guide, we walk you through it step by step. You'll learn which categories of smart home products exist, where to start and which pitfalls to avoid.

What is a smart home?

A smart home is a house where devices are connected to each other and to the internet. This allows you to control them remotely, automate them and make them work together. Think of:

• Lights that turn on automatically at sunset
• A robot vacuum cleaner that cleans the house every day at 10:00
• A thermostat that learns when you're home
• A doorbell that sends a notification to your phone

The great thing is: you don't have to buy everything at once. Start small and expand step by step.

Step 1: Choose your platform

Before you start buying products, it's wise to choose an ecosystem. The three major platforms are:

Google Home

Works with Google Nest speakers and displays. Strong in voice recognition and integration with Google services. Supports a wide range of smart home devices.

Amazon Alexa

Popular with Echo speakers. Has the largest number of compatible devices (skills). Strong in entertainment and shopping integrations.

Apple HomeKit

The best choice if you already use Apple products. Smaller product range, but excellent privacy protection and a sleek interface via the Home app.

Matter: the universal standard

Since 2023, Matter is the new standard that connects all platforms. Products with Matter support work with Google, Alexa and Apple. Preferably choose products that support Matter — that way, you're flexible for the future.

Platform	Strengths	Drawbacks
Google Home	Voice recognition, wide range	Privacy concerns
Amazon Alexa	Largest app selection	Less popular in NL
Apple HomeKit	Privacy, Apple integration	Smaller product range
Matter	Universal, future-proof	Not all products yet

Step 2: Start with a smart speaker

A smart speaker is the ideal starting point for your smart home. It acts as the brain of your system: you control other devices with your voice and get useful information on demand.

What can you do with a smart speaker?

• Play and stream music
• Set timers and reminders
• Check the weather and news
• Control other smart home devices
• Intercom between rooms (with multiple speakers)

Check out our speakers category for an overview of the best smart speakers.

Our recommendation

Start with an affordable speaker like the Google Nest Mini or Amazon Echo Dot. These cost between 30 and 60 euros and give you a good sense of what a smart home can do.

Step 3: Smart lighting

After a smart speaker, smart lighting is the most logical next step. It's relatively cheap, easy to install and the effect is immediately noticeable.

Popular options

• Philips Hue: The best-known brand. Extensive range, reliable, but on the pricier side. Requires a Hue Bridge.
• IKEA DIRIGERA: Affordable entry-level system. Less extensive, but perfectly fine for the basics.
• WiZ: Works without a bridge via wifi (zie ook best router & wifi 2026). Well-priced and compatible with all major platforms.

What can you do with it?

• Turn lights on and off with your voice or phone
• Adjust colours and brightness to suit your mood
• Set automatic schedules (e.g. dim lights at 22:00)
• Holiday mode: simulate presence when you're away from home

Tip: Start with the living room or bedroom. Two to three smart bulbs are enough to feel the difference.

Step 4: Robot vacuum cleaner

A robot vacuum cleaner is one of the most practical smart home devices. Once set up, you barely need to think about it — it does its job while you do something else.

What to look for when buying?

• Navigation: Models with LiDAR navigation (laser navigation) work more efficiently than models with random navigation.
• Suction power: Measured in Pascal (Pa). For households with pets, a minimum of 3000 Pa is recommended.
• Mopping function: Many modern robot vacuum cleaners can also mop. Handy for hard floors.
• Self-emptying bin: Top models empty themselves into a base station, so you don't have to do anything for weeks.

Check out our range in the vacuum cleaners category and compare prices.

Budget needed?

Type	Price range	Suitable for
Basic (random navigation)	150–250 euros	Small apartments
Mid-range (LiDAR)	300–500 euros	Average household
Premium (LiDAR + mop + self-emptying)	500–900 euros	Large home, pets

Step 5: Smartwatch as an extension

A smartwatch isn't just a fitness tracker — it's also a handy extension of your smart home. With a smartwatch, you can:

• Receive notifications from your smart doorbell
• Control lighting from your wrist
• Start your robot vacuum cleaner
• Control music on your smart speaker

Popular options include the Apple Watch (for iPhone users), Samsung Galaxy Watch (for Android) and Garmin (for sports enthusiasts).

Common beginner mistakes

1. Buying too much at once: Start small. A speaker and a few smart bulbs are enough to get started.
2. Mixing platforms without Matter: If you combine products from different ecosystems without Matter support, you'll run into compatibility issues.
3. Underestimating wifi: Smart home devices put a load on your wifi network. With more than 10 devices, a mesh wifi system is recommended.
4. Forgetting security: Change default passwords, keep firmware up to date and use two-factor authentication where possible.

Starter budget: what do you need?

Product	Estimated cost
Smart speaker	30–60 euros
3x smart bulb	40–90 euros
Robot vacuum cleaner (mid-range)	300–500 euros
Smartwatch (optional)	150–400 euros
Total (basic)	370–650 euros

You can start for less than 100 euros with a speaker and lighting. Add the robot vacuum cleaner and smartwatch later when your budget allows.

Summary

Starting a smart home doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Choose a platform, start with a smart speaker and smart lighting, and build from there step by step. Always compare prices on Productvraag to find the sharpest deals.

Check out our categories for more inspiration:

• Speakers
• Vacuum cleaners
• Smartwatches
• Smartphones

Frequently asked questions

Do I need fast internet for a smart home? A standard internet connection of 50 Mbps is sufficient for most smart home devices. More important than speed is a stable wifi signal in every room. Consider a mesh wifi system if your signal is weak in certain areas.

Can I combine smart home products from different brands? Yes, provided they support the same platform (Google Home, Alexa or Apple HomeKit) or use the Matter standard. Always check compatibility before purchasing. Products with Matter support work with all major platforms.

Is a smart home secure? As long as you take basic security measures, a smart home is just as safe as a traditional house. Use strong passwords, keep firmware up to date, enable two-factor authentication and only buy products from well-known brands that release regular updates.