Smart outdoor lighting gives you the added convenience of remotely customizing color, brightness and more with a WiFi or Bluetooth connection. (BestReviews)

The smart-home technology industry has seen many advances over the years, and smart lighting, in particular, has grown into something truly extraordinary. Gone are the days when you had to spend a fortune to build an intuitive, smart-home setup. Now, anyone can have smart indoor and outdoor lighting in no time.

When selecting the best smart outdoor lighting setup for your home, there are two primary things to consider: the desired effect and your budget.

Today, there are plenty of smart outdoor lighting options, from remote-controlled lights to color schemes. You can even invest in solar-powered options. Here’s what you need to know about smart outdoor lighting if you want to update your backyard.

You're probably familiar with some at-home smart devices like video doorbells or thermostats. These devices offer you the ease of customizing your home environment to fit your needs. If you wish, you can build an entire smart-home ecosystem to run in your house. Smart lights are just another component of this customization.

Smart lights are lightbulbs you can remotely control or program to operate in a certain way. They usually operate through a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection. These lights are energy-efficient and seamlessly connect with other smart-home devices.

Smart lights have both entertainment and practical uses. Some examples of more practical use include timing your lights to turn on while you’re out of town or setting them to turn off while you’re away at work. While smart lighting inside your home has many benefits, smart outdoor lighting can be particularly helpful as well.

There are several kinds of smart outdoor lighting products available. So it entirely depends on your setup, budget and space you want to light.

For more indirect and decorative lighting, you might want to consider string lights or market lights. If you need to light a specific area, you’ll want to consider spotlights or floodlights. If you have a pathway, you can try strip lights or path lights.

Before purchasing smart outdoor lighting, be sure to take a look at your space and existing hardware. The last thing you want is to purchase your lights only to find they’re not compatible with your home.

The same is true when it comes to matching with any existing smart-home technology you have. Some devices only connect with specific brands. Be sure to check that your outdoor lights will work with any other smart-home devices you have.

You also should take time to inspect your home’s electrical setup before purchasing smart outdoor lighting. Be sure you have the right sockets and power strips for your setup so you don’t waste any time creating your outdoor space.

If security is your main concern, you might want to look into motion-activated lights. These utilize motion sensors to bring attention to a specific area when movement is detected. You could also try outdoor lighting that stays on throughout the night to dissuade intruders.

Here are some of the best security-related options in smart lighting:

Ring Solar Floodlight: available at Amazon

This is a great option for driveways and backyards. It’s motion-activated and solar-powered, making it very cost-effective.

Ring Solar Steplight: available at Amazon

A good choice for walkways, stairs and steps on your property. It’s also energy-efficient since it only turns on when it detects motion.

Sengled Motion Sensor Flood Lights: available at Amazon

These easy-to-use, motion-activated security lamps are great for most outdoor needs and spaces. Perfect for dusk to dawn security.

Philips Hue Discover Outdoor White & Color Ambiance Smart Floodlight: available at Amazon

Great security light that covers larger areas and also offers color options, so you can customize the look of your property at night.

While security is important, you might be thinking more about design and decor for your outdoor lighting. Here are some smart outdoor lighting options that will help your property shine.

Atomi smart Wi-Fi LED Pathway Lights: available at Amazon

A beautiful, sleek option that will bring light and style to your pathways.

Innr Zigbee Smart Color Outdoor Spot Light: available at Amazon

You can select from any number of colors and brightness to highlight your property as you see fit.

Govee RGBIC Outdoor LED Strip Lights: available at Amazon

Great for featuring interesting architectural details with light. Useful for holidays and year-round use.

You may want different lighting setups for different occasions. Here are some smart outdoor lighting options for creating a lovely space to entertain.

Rising Tech LED RGB Color Changing, Outdoor Smart Floodlights: available at Amazon

Easy to install, this extremely versatile option is great for any backyard or patio.

Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance Econic Outdoor Smart Light: available at Amazon

These offer a beautiful design that is both decorative and practical for most outdoor spaces.

Govee Bluetooth 48-Foot RGBW Outdoor String Lights: available at Amazon

Quite the upgrade to the traditional string lights. These patio lights offer all the usual charm with color customization.

While smart lights are easier to manage, some lights might not be worth the extra expense. If you don’t plan on using them on a regular basis, or don’t have any security concerns in your neighborhood, they may not be necessary for your home.

But don’t assume smart lights are expensive. Nowadays, there are plenty of budget-friendly options for smart outdoor lighting. With the proper setup, you can have an effective, well-lit backyard in no time.

Ivonne Spinoza is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.

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