Best Smart Lighting Solutions for Modern Homes in 2025

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Person controlling smart home lighting with smartphone app in modern living room, ambient light setup
Image by Freepik

Imagine walking into a living room where the lights gently shift to a warm glow as the sun sets, or waking up to a soft, energising “sunrise” in your bedroom. In 2025, smart lighting is not just a novelty — it’s the smart way to merge comfort, efficiency, and style in your home.

Let’s explore the top trends in smart lighting this year and the best products you’ll actually want to use.


Matter & interoperability: More devices now support Matter, making it easier to mix brands and ensure seamless control via Alexa, Google Home, or HomeKit.

Human-centric lighting: Tunable white LEDs that adjust colour temperature throughout the day (cooler in the morning, warmer in the evening) are growing in popularity.

Modular / panel systems: Light panels (e.g. Nanoleaf-style) you can shape on walls or ceilings are still trending for their aesthetic appeal.

Accent and ambient lighting: LED strips under cabinets, behind TVs, and along shelves offer mood lighting and a clean design edge.

AI / smart scene automation: Philips Hue is rolling out a generative AI assistant to suggest or create scenes; see the official UK press info here.

These trends mean that it’s not just about brightness anymore — it’s about ambiance, intelligence, and aesthetic integration.


Here are 6 smart lighting products currently among bestsellers or highly rated — each useful in different parts of your home:

1️⃣ Philips Hue Play Light Bar (Double Pack) — Immersive Ambient Lighting

If you love ambient light but want something smarter and more dynamic, the next option takes your setup beyond simple LED strips.

Philips Hue Play smart light bar

Philips Hue Play

A compact light bar for ambient lighting behind TVs, desks or walls — works with Hue ecosystem.

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2️⃣ Nanoleaf Essentials B22 Bulb — Smart, Colourful, Affordable

While smart bulbs are great for flexibility, modular lighting panels bring creativity and wow-factor into any modern space.

Nanoleaf Essentials smart bulbs B22 (3-pack)

Nanoleaf Essentials B22 (3-pack)

Versatile smart bulbs with full RGB + tunable white. Great for smart homes with Matter support.

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3️⃣ Govee Glide Hexa Light Panels — Creative, Customisable Wall Lighting

For those who prefer something subtle yet powerful, LED strip lights remain one of the most versatile and affordable smart lighting options.

Govee Glide Hexa Light Panels

Govee Glide Hexa Light Panels

Modular hexagon light panels that sync with music and adapt to your mood lighting needs.

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4️⃣ iNextStation LED Tape Light — Versatile and Budget-Friendly

If you’re building a connected smart home ecosystem, the next product blends premium quality with deep smart-home integration.

iNextStation LED Tape Light 5m

iNextStation LED Tape Light 5m

High brightness LED tape, dimmable, waterproof — great for cove lighting or under cabinets.

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5️⃣ Philips Hue Gradient Lightstrip Base Kit — Premium Smart Lighting Control

And finally, for those who appreciate vintage aesthetics with modern control, this last option adds timeless style to your smart setup.

Philips Hue Gradient Lightstrip

Philips Hue Gradient Lightstrip

A versatile gradient strip compatible with Philips Hue’s ecosystem for immersive ambient lighting.

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6️⃣ INNR Zigbee Filament Bulb E27 — Vintage Style Meets Smart Tech

Each of these smart lighting options adds its own flair — from ambient strips to statement panels — helping you create a home that’s truly connected, stylish, and energy-efficient.

INNR Zigbee Filament Bulb E27 (2-pack)

INNR Zigbee Filament Bulb E27 (2-pack)

Stylish filament smart bulbs with Zigbee support — ideal for decorative lighting in smart homes.

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Here are some standout picks:

  • Philips Hue Gradient Lightstrip Extension – Perfect for ambient lighting behind TVs, staircases, or shelving. Hue’s ecosystem is strong and this strip supports smooth gradients and transitions.
  • Philips Hue Play Pack – A compact light bar you can place behind monitors or TVs for immersive ambient light.
  • Philips Hue Bloom gen4 – Ideal as a decorative accent or desk lamp creating indirect ambient glows.
  • Philips Hue Iris gen4 – A stylish lamp that distributes light upward and outward; great in lounge areas.
  • Govee Mini Light Panels Kit – Modular hexagon panels you can arrange in creative patterns; sync with music or games.
  • Aqara LED Strip T1 – A cost-efficient yet reliable RGB + tunable white strip, good for ambient lighting behind cabinets.
  • Xiaomi Smart Lightstrip Extension – Useful as an add-on extension strip to expand your lighting layout.
  • Hombli Smart Wall Light – A stylish wall-mounted accent light for corridors or hallways.

🛒 How to Choose the Right Smart Lighting Setup

Here are key considerations to guide your choices:

1. Compatibility & Protocols

Check whether the devices use Matter, Zigbee, Wi-Fi, or Thread. Devices that support Matter or Thread will be more future-proof in mixed ecosystems. Aqara LLC

2. Brightness & Color Range

  • Brightness is measured in lumens (not watts).
  • If color features are important, go for bulbs or strips with full RGB + white support.
  • For general lighting, tunable white (warm — cool shifting) is ideal.

3. Scenes & Automation

The ability to define lighting routines (sunrise wake, movie mode, night mode) is where smart lighting shines. Philips Hue’s upcoming AI assistant is an example of the next-level automation. The Verge

4. Aesthetic & Placement

Accent lighting and decorative panels are becoming as important as functional lighting. Choose lighting that complements your room design rather than just existing lighting fixtures. InStyle LED Ltd+2WIRED+2


✨ Lifestyle Uses & Ideas

  • Cinematic Mode: Dim the strip and cast color accents behind the TV when watching movies.
  • Morning Light: Use gradual warm-to-cool transitions to simulate sunrise (helps wake you gently).
  • Gaming Ambience: Sync modular panels (like Govee) to in-game action for immersive visuals.
  • Reading Light: Use tunable white on “cool” settings to reduce eye strain in book corners.
  • Dinner Ambience: Warm hue dimming for plates and spaces — perfect for cozy dinners.

✅ Final Thoughts

Smart lighting in 2025 is all about marrying style, function, and intelligence. The products above offer excellent entry points depending on your room and mood.

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