New Year’s Automations: Ideas to Start 2026 Off Right

Kick off 2026 with small, high‑impact automations that make your days smoother, save energy, and nudge better habits. These ideas are intentionally practical—easy to set up, easy to adjust, and easy to keep.

Morning jumpstart

• Brighten lights gradually 10–15 minutes before your alarm. Pair presence or phone‑charging sensors to avoid false positives.
• Announce the day’s weather + first calendar event on motion in the kitchen.
• If you’re starting from scratch, Home Assistant Green is a great hub to begin.

Energy savings, made boring (that’s good)

• Turn off idle outlets after bedtime; auto‑restore only when presence returns. A simple smart plug like Kasa Smart Plug works well for lamps and chargers.
• Auto‑adjust thermostat based on occupancy (e.g., phone geofencing + door sensors). Use gentle setpoint changes to avoid spikes.

Wellness nudges

• “Hydration light” turns blue on the hour in the kitchen; tap to acknowledge and reset.
• If step count is low by 6pm, announce a short walk scene and dim office lights.

Chore helpers

• Dishwasher done? Flash sink light once; then set a reminder card on your dashboard until the door opens.
• Laundry finished? Announce once on the nearest speaker; snooze reminders after you open the lid.

Arrival & departure routines

• Arrive after sunset: porch lights to warm white, hallway to 40%, favorite playlist at low volume.
• Leave home: arm security, set HVAC to eco, turn off non‑essential outlets, and close scenes.

Security sanity checks

• “Night lock” scene: confirm doors closed, windows shut, garage down; prompt only for exceptions.
• Motion‑based “patio watch”: record clips and notify only if motion persists >30s.

Party‑ready scene

• One‑tap “guests” scene: front lights brighter, kitchen/couch to warm white, TV bias lighting on, music preset.
• Optional: pause automations that would otherwise dim or turn off lights during gatherings.

Wind‑down & sleep hygiene

• After 9pm: reduce blue content in key rooms; encourage lamp lighting rather than overhead.
• If TVs or consoles stay on past midnight, fade outlets over 5 minutes using Kasa Smart Plug .

Travel mode

• Randomize evening lights and suppress non‑critical notifications.
• Keep external cameras “on,” but gate alerts to sustained motion to reduce noise.

Hardware tips for a reliable 2026

• Starting a DIY hub? A Raspberry Pi 4 (4GB) with USB‑C 5V/3A Power Supply and 128GB microSD (A2) is a solid baseline. Prefer SSD boot with USB 3.0 SSD + Enclosure for longevity.
• Expand device support: a Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle covers bulbs/sensors; Z‑Wave 700 USB Stick is great for locks and in‑wall switches.

Photo credits: Unsplash contributors

Setup notes

• Use scenes for “look & feel,” automations for “when & why.” Keep triggers simple: presence, time, sun, motion, device state.
• Build guardrails: time ranges, sun elevation, do‑not‑disturb windows, and presence checks reduce false triggers.
• Name for clarity: “Kitchen—Hydration,” “Night—Lock Check,” “Guests—Lighting.”

Happy New Year—ship one small automation at a time, and let the wins stack up.