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We put automated lights in the CNET Smart Home kid's room for smoother bed times

Handling the bed time and sleep schedules of young kids can be really rough. We install a system of smart lights in the kid's room at the CNET Smart Home to help the process along.

Brian Bennett
Brian Bennett is a former senior writer for the home and outdoor section at CNET.
Brian Bennett
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1 of 9 Chris Monroe/CNET

Enter the CNET Smart Home kid's room

We set up a model kid's room at the CNET Smart Home complete with cute furniture and decorations. What it really needs though is a system of smart lighting.

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2 of 9 Chris Monroe/CNET

Control every light

I was able to find and control every light in the room under the SmartThings mobile app.

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3 of 9 Chris Monroe/CNET

Smarts on the ceiling

Placing a smart bulb in the room's chandelier also brought it into the SmartThings universe of connected devices.

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4 of 9 Chris Monroe/CNET

Even the reading lamp can be smart

I also added a Philips Hue bulb to the reading lamp clamped to the bookshelf.

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5 of 9 Chris Monroe/CNET

Use a door sensor

The primary trigger for automated lighting actions is a door sensor mounted to the room's inside door frame.

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As the door opens

The SmartThings app knows the instant the bedroom door opens.

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7 of 9 Chris Monroe/CNET

When the door closes

When the app detects the door closes, the system will turn off lights outside and inside the room except for the night light.

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8 of 9 Chris Monroe/CNET

All lights can be night lights

With smart color-changing bulbs, all lights in the room can act as night lights.

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9 of 9 Chris Monroe/CNET

An inviting night time potty

A smart light above the toilet automatically turns on at night when the door opens.

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