Control
Turn off a light from your phone without leaving the sofa.
For beginners
A smarter home.
One step at a time.
Explore your options and connect your first light with Home Assistant. Visual steps, at your pace.
Start with a light or a sensorMore everyday comfort ↗
At my home
Inside my smart home.
Explore the equipment I use at home: Home Assistant OS on a mini-PC, WLED and Philips Hue lighting, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and an ESP32-S3 display with ESPHome. Original photos and details of the installed setup.
Explore my setup (Portuguese) →My photographs
My installation in photos.
These photographs show equipment I use at home. Open a photo to see it in full, or follow my installation report for details.
01 / One step at a time
What is a smart home?
Connected devices help with everyday tasks. Control them by phone or voice, or let an automation act for you.
Automate
Turn on the hallway light when someone walks by.
Check
Check whether a window was left open before going out.
Start with one need, one light or one sensor. There is no need to automate the whole house.
Explore the connected home
One touch.
A different atmosphere.
Tap a room on the plan or use the buttons to turn its light on and off. Try the ready-made scenes, too.
Choose a room to begin.
House lights
16 / 16 onVisual simulation: clicks only change this floor plan’s lighting. Your choices are saved in this browser, including when switching PT/EN.
Examples to explore
Small devices.
Big possibilities.
Pick an everyday task. Then find the right device.
12 devices to explore
ZigbeeSmart bulbs
Color for atmosphere. Warm or cool white for every moment.
What to check
RGBCCT combines RGB with adjustable white color temperature. Check the features exposed by the model in ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT.
Read the guide ↗
WLED · ESPHomeLED strips
Indirect light, color and scenes that follow your day.
What to check
Addressable and analog strips need different controllers. Match strip type, voltage, power supply and controller.
Read the guide ↗
Zigbee · Wi-FiSmart relays
Discreet automation that keeps your existing wall switch.
What to check
Check neutral, voltage, load rating and wall-box space. Mains installation requires a qualified electrician.
Read the guide ↗
Zigbee · Wi-Fi · MatterSmart plugs
Control appliances and, with supported models, track energy use.
What to check
Check plug type, current rating and energy metering. Matter does not guarantee every feature of the vendor app.
Read the guide ↗
mmWave · PIRPresence sensors
Light follows room occupancy without a button press.
What to check
PIR responds to motion; mmWave radar can detect smaller movements. Position, zones and sensitivity need tuning.
Read the guide ↗
Zigbee · ThreadDoor & window sensors
Know what is open and use that state in your automations.
What to check
Align both parts within the manufacturer’s specified gap. A contact detects opening; it does not confirm the door is locked.
Read the guide ↗
Zigbee · ESPHomeTemperature & humidity
Understand each room’s comfort with measurements throughout the day.
What to check
Avoid direct sunlight and heat sources. Check accuracy, update interval and calibration support.
Read the guide ↗
Dashboard · ESP32Smart panels
Lights, climate and scenes on a screen everyone can reach.
What to check
A tablet can display a Home Assistant dashboard. ESP32 panels use their own interfaces, for example ESPHome with LVGL.
Read the guide ↗
Wi-Fi · EthernetSmart TVs
Bring your TV into movie scenes and living-room controls.
What to check
Integration depends on the manufacturer and model. Network power-on may need Wake-on-LAN or a standby setting.
Read the guide ↗
Echo · AssistAlexa & voice
Voice commands for scenes and everyday tasks.
What to check
Alexa relies on online services. Nabu Casa simplifies Home Assistant integration; Assist offers alternatives, including local options.
Read the guide ↗
Zigbee · Matter · Wi-FiSmart locks
Check lock status and organize access to your home.
What to check
Check door fit, emergency access, batteries and model integration. Local operation varies by product.
Read the guide ↗
ESPHome · Wi-FiESP32 projects
Build sensors, controls and devices around your own ideas.
What to check
Choose a supported board and components. Start with a low-voltage project and follow the ESPHome documentation.
Read the guide ↗See diagrams and product references 3 diagrams
Original diagrams illustrate concepts, not commercial models. Consult manufacturers for compatibility and local availability.
September 2026 release. Continuous 360° lighting; availability varies by region.
Product reference: Signify / Philips Hue ↗
Released in 2025, with two-way audio and Alexa.
Product reference: Amazon ↗
Generation 4 with energy metering. The reference is the US 120 V model; check local electrical standards.
Product reference: Shelly ↗02 / One step at a time
Which platform brings it together?
These platforms can coexist. Here, Home Assistant is the hub; other systems can complement it.
Our guide’s focus
Home Assistant
A hub that brings devices and automations from different brands together.
- Advantages
- Local control, choice and flexible automations.
- Limitations
- Needs an always-on hub, initial setup and maintenance.
Platform
Alexa
Amazon’s ecosystem, known for Echo devices and voice commands.
- Advantages
- Convenient voice control and simple routines with supported devices.
- Limitations
- Many features use the cloud; radios and capabilities vary by Echo model.
Platform
Google Home
Google’s app and ecosystem for organizing and controlling your home.
- Advantages
- Combines controls, voice and supported Matter devices.
- Limitations
- Matter needs a compatible hub; remote access and online services need internet.
Platform
Apple Home / HomeKit
The Home app connects supported accessories to iPhone and Siri.
- Advantages
- Fits Apple devices and Home app automations.
- Limitations
- Remote access and automations need an Apple home hub; check accessory support.
Platform
Samsung SmartThings
An app for Samsung devices and other supported brands.
- Advantages
- Visual routines; some can run locally on a compatible hub.
- Limitations
- Not every routine is local. Features and protocols depend on devices and the hub.
Platform
Tuya / Smart Life
A platform used by many brands, often through the Smart Life app.
- Advantages
- Easy phone-based setup and many device categories.
- Limitations
- Features and quality vary; many functions use the cloud, although some hubs run local scenes.
Our learning path: Home Assistant OS with local Zigbee. An Alexa or Smart Life badge alone does not guarantee direct Home Assistant support: check the exact model.
03 / One step at a time
Home Assistant: the center of your home.
Free, open-source software that brings controls, sensors and automations onto one screen. It runs on an always-on device at home.
You use buttons and menus.
The screen shows the lights, temperatures and devices you add. Start by opening a device, naming it and assigning a room.
With local devices and integrations, automations work without internet. The hub and local network must stay on; cloud services still need internet.
Understand Home Assistant →
04 / One step at a time
Choose your home’s hub.
HAOS needs an always-on computer at home. Choose from the ready-to-use Green to more capable mini PCs.
For an easy start, choose Green. For more headroom, consider an N150 with 16 GB.
Easiest first step
Home Assistant Green
4 GB RAM · 32 GB eMMC
- Advantages
- HAOS preinstalled, silent and energy efficient. Just connect power and Ethernet.
- Trade-offs
- Fixed internal memory and storage. Less suited to camera recording and demanding tasks.
Price checkCheck with suppliersConfirm shipping and import taxes.
For hands-on beginners
Raspberry Pi 5
8 GB RAM · SSD NVMe 500 GB / 1 TB
- Advantages
- Compact, well documented and capable of home automation. An SSD provides more space and write endurance than a basic memory card.
- Trade-offs
- Add a suitable power supply, cooling, case and M.2 HAT adapter. Assembly and NVMe boot need preparation; a full kit can cost as much as a mini PC.
Price checkGet a full kit quoteBoard, SSD, case, cooling, power supply and M.2 adapter.
A balanced HAOS choice
Mini-PC Intel N150
16 GB RAM · 500 GB or 1 TB SSD/NVMe
- Advantages
- Balances performance, size and power use. Has room for HAOS, ZHA and several Apps.
- Trade-offs
- Requires HAOS installation. Choose 32 GB only when the PC manufacturer confirms support: Intel specifies up to 16 GB.
Price checkCheck availability and priceNTC 14N150-1103 · 16 GB / 512 GB · listing sold out with no price on 21 October 2026.
Room to grow
Mini-PC Ryzen 5
16 or 32 GB RAM · 500 GB or 1 TB SSD/NVMe
- Advantages
- Headroom for more Apps and simultaneous tasks. Many models allow RAM and SSD upgrades.
- Trade-offs
- May use more power and have an audible fan. CPU generation matters: not every Ryzen 5 is recent or upgradeable.
Price checkCheck the model’s priceChoose the model and confirm CPU, RAM and SSD.
For more demanding plans
Mini-PC Ryzen 7
16 or 32 GB RAM · 500 GB or 1 TB SSD/NVMe
- Advantages
- Recent models offer plenty of performance to grow into. Makes sense when you already have specific plans for demanding workloads.
- Trade-offs
- Higher cost and more performance than basic ZHA needs. Power use, heat and noise vary widely by model.
Price checkSee offers by modelK6 and K8 Plus have different configurations and prices; see the sources below.
Price check, configurations and sources · 21/10/2026
Checked on 21 October 2026. The advertised prices below apply to specific models and payment methods. Request a quote for the other options; generic searches only help locate suppliers.
- Green · 4 GB / 32 GB: Check with suppliers; confirm shipping and import taxes. Official specifications · Find suppliers on Mercado Livre.
- Pi 5 · 8 GB / NVMe 500 GB or 1 TB: Get a quote for a full kit: board, SSD, case, cooling, power supply and M.2 adapter. Official specifications · Find kits on Mercado Livre.
- N150 · NTC 14N150-1103 · 16 GB / 512 GB: Listing sold out with no price when checked; confirm availability and price. KaBuM! / Gigantec. The form-factor reference is GMKtec.
- Ryzen 5: Check the selected model’s price; confirm CPU, RAM and SSD. Models such as 3550H and 7430U do not share a single quote. Find models on Mercado Livre.
- GMKtec K6 · Ryzen 7 7840HS · 16 GB DDR5 / SSD 1 TB: R$ 4,971.65 via Pix; regular advertised price: R$ 5,849.00. Eletrowix K6.
- GMKtec K8 Plus · Ryzen 7 8845HS · 32 GB DDR5 / NVMe 1 TB: R$ 6,909.65 via Pix; regular advertised price: R$ 8,129.00. Eletrowix K8 Plus.
Advertised prices, checked on 21 October 2026. The K6 and K8 Plus pages showed available stock and free shipping within Brazil; check the shipping policy. Confirm terms, taxes and availability before buying. The offers do not itemize taxes.
Compare the final total including shipping, taxes, warranty and payment method. Prices exclude ZBT-2. Other configurations need their own quote. Mini PC diagrams illustrate the category, not every listed offer; confirm RAM, SSD type and upgrade options on the exact model.
Specifications: Green · Raspberry Pi 5 · Intel N150. About the diagrams.
05 / One step at a time
Start with Home Assistant OS.
HAOS manages Home Assistant, updates and Apps. It is the only installation used in our beginner path.
01 / Ready to connectHome Assistant Green
Connect Ethernet and power. Create your account and add ZBT-2 on screen.Step-by-step installation (PT) →02 / Build your hubRaspberry Pi 5 + NVMe
Choose a board, case and SSD. Prepare NVMe on a Mac or PC and install HAOS.Step-by-step installation (PT) →03 / Intel or AMDMini-PC x86-64
Prepare a USB stick and write HAOS to the internal SSD with visual instructions.Step-by-step installation (PT) →Choose your hardware guide. Each covers first access, ZBT-2 with ZHA and your first backup. See the installation overview.
06 / One step at a time
Zigbee: our first network.
Zigbee is a wireless connection for lights, buttons and sensors. It uses its own network rather than adding every device to Wi-Fi.
Why start with Zigbee?
A wide device selection, low-power battery sensors and local control through ZHA. Suitable mains-powered devices can relay the signal.
What to check
Needs a coordinator such as ZBT-2. Walls and 2.4 GHz interference affect reception. Battery sensors usually do not relay signals; check each model’s support.
What about Thread?
Another low-power network, often used by Matter devices. It connects through a Thread border router. Useful, but it adds that requirement and needs compatibility checks.
ZBT-2 uses Zigbee or Thread, one at a time. This path keeps it on Zigbee.
Understand Zigbee →07 / One step at a time
Matter: a shared language for brands.
Matter is a standard for connecting supported devices to different platforms. It can use Wi-Fi, Ethernet or Thread. Matter and Thread are different things.
Benefit: it can make one device available to multiple ecosystems. Limitation: feature support varies; Matter-over-Thread devices need a Thread border router and a Matter controller. You can start with Zigbee and explore Matter later.
Understand Matter and Thread (PT) →08 / One step at a time
ZBT-2 + ZHA: connect your first device.
ZBT-2 is the USB adapter that speaks Zigbee. ZHA is Home Assistant’s built-in integration for managing that network.
- Connect ZBT-2 to the hub with its USB cable, away from your router and metal objects.
- Under Settings → Devices & services, add the discovered ZBT-2.
- Choose “Use as Zigbee adapter” and “Recommended installation”. The wizard sets up ZHA.
- In ZHA, choose Add device, then put your light or sensor into pairing mode following its manual.
Zigbee2MQTT (Z2M) is another option, covered in further learning (PT).
09 / One step at a time
Your first automation, without code.
Let’s switch on a light at sunset. Choose what starts the automation and what it does.
- Open Settings → Automations & scenes → Create automation.
- Under When, add Sun → Sunset.
- Under Then do, choose Light → Turn on and select your light.
- Save it with a name such as “Evening light”.
10 / One step at a time
Working well? Add one thing at a time.
These features are optional. You do not need them for your first light with ZHA.
You have the essentials
One working light is a great start.
Keep the learning path handy and revisit each step when you need it.
Open the step-by-step path →When you are ready
Further learning, for later.
The beginner path ends here. Return to the topics below when you have a reason to explore.
See advanced topics and references
Alternative installations, Zigbee2MQTT, servers, AI cameras and additional features.
Open further learning (PT) →References
Good links.
Fresh ideas.
Official projects and communities to help you learn.
Open the useful links directory
20 links to explore
CasaOSA dashboard for files and Docker apps on your server.
umbrelOSAn operating system for your own home cloud.
Umbrel App StoreExplore apps to install on umbrelOS.
ZimaOSExplore the CasaOS ecosystem’s evolution, focused on NAS.
Home AssistantThe starting point: platform, documentation and news.
Nabu CasaOptional Cloud, remote access and Alexa integration.
ESPHomeBuild sensors, controls and displays with microcontrollers.
Zigbee2MQTTDocumentation and compatible Zigbee device catalog.
WLED installerInstall WLED on a supported board through your browser.
WLED documentationControllers, LED strips, effects and integrations.
Home Assistant BrasilProjects, questions and discussions in Portuguese.
Home Assistant CommunityInternational forum with tutorials and community projects.
Home Assistant on GitHubSource code, repositories and project development.
Home Assistant · WikipediaAn overview of the history and ecosystem, in English.
Home Assistant integrationsCheck how to connect brands, services and devices.
AssistExplore Home Assistant’s voice options.
ESPHome devicesRecipes and configurations for different devices.
Matter in Home AssistantUnderstand requirements, Thread, Wi-Fi and compatibility.
ScryptedCamera and video integration for the smart home.
Open Home FoundationPrivacy, choice and sustainability for the connected home.
External links open in a new tab. SmartHome-AI is an independent project, not officially affiliated with the brands mentioned.
Behind SmartHome-AI
Curiosity that makes
a better home.
I’m Álvaro Menezes, a technology and home automation enthusiast sharing what I learn about smart homes.
About the project ↗