In the blink of an eye, the once young tinkerer who struggled with HomeBridge in the dormitory to connect a light bulb to Apple HomeKit has now moved into a nearly 100 square meter, fully renovated apartment in a community. The evolution from a single device in a few square meters of dormitory space to a complete smart home system in a three-bedroom, two-living room home requires more than just thinking about where to place those devices — after all, "home" is, from another perspective, the sum of my living habits. How to make these devices work in harmony with my life is far more important than the product level.

Faced with a fully furnished apartment that I can move into with just my luggage, I don't have the opportunity to start from scratch to create my ideal smart home, which also means that I can only "dance in chains" in a certain sense. Fortunately, years of moving and renovation experience have laid the groundwork, making this construction much more comfortable: with the support of old friends like Aqara devices, avoiding common pitfalls, and clarifying the logic of renovating a fully furnished apartment, step by step, I slowly repair it into the desired shape in my heart.

Advertisement

This is my guide to transforming a fully furnished apartment into a smart home with the Apple ecosystem. Although it is built according to the blueprint in my heart, perhaps the experience in it is also applicable to you.

Exploration before the renovation

Understanding the power and network layout

The first step in the whole-house smart transformation is not to immediately think about what smart home devices to buy and then find a place for them, but to ask about the "foundation" that supports these devices — whether the power and network have a good layout and support.

The so-called power refers to the strong electrical equipment in the home that uses 220V alternating current. First, check how many circuits the developer has divided the main electrical box into, and then take a closer look at how many switches, sockets, light bulbs, and possible electrical appliances are connected from the main electrical box to each room, so that we can have a basis when selecting smart home devices. For example, if I plan to set up an electric towel warmer in the bathroom or install electric curtains in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, it will require a reserved 220V socket panel; otherwise, it can only become a decoration or have to "travel a long distance" with exposed wires, affecting aesthetics.

The importance of the network is self-evident. It not only affects how fast you surf the internet but also affects the upper limit of the number of smart home devices and the response speed of some devices. Many smart home devices rely on Wi-Fi to connect to the network; if there is a problem with Wi-Fi coverage and speed, even the best smart home devices will become sluggish, and their response can easily drive you crazy.

If you also want to set up a whole-house smart system, laying this foundation is an indispensable prerequisite.Fortunately, the electrical conditions in my home are quite good. In terms of strong electricity, the developer has categorized the lighting, sockets, and air conditioning circuits for different rooms with sufficient detail, so there is no need to frequently pull the main switch when replacing equipment, and there is also enough space reserved for panel positions. As for weak electricity, it is even better, not only has it pre-embedded Category 6 cables to meet the needs of my whole-house 2.5G internal network, but it has also reserved network cables and panel outlets for every room except the kitchen and bathroom, so network coverage is naturally not a problem.

It must be acknowledged that many older buildings may not have such conditions. However, do not worry, multiple circuits and a reasonable panel layout are just the icing on the cake, not the key factors affecting the layout of a whole-house smart home. As mentioned earlier, running exposed wires, although not aesthetically pleasing, can still be done as long as some subjective difficulties are overcome. Compared to strong electricity, the layout of weak electricity is actually more important. If there are no network cables running throughout the house, using enough routers to form a wireless Mesh network can also provide good network coverage throughout the house, but it is also important to pay attention to the stability of the network.

Check if there is a neutral wire reserved in the switch panel

In the past, it was very reasonable to only leave a live wire and a control wire in the switch panel, which was simple and fast. However, in the era of smart homes, devices that can be installed on 86 panels are also electrical devices, and the importance of the neutral wire is self-evident.

To clarify this issue, we need to start with the basic principles of single-pole and zero-fire switches.

The smart switch itself is actually an electrical appliance that must be continuously powered to maintain its connection with the smart network. The zero-fire switch, with a complete neutral and live wire connection, can directly draw power from the power grid without passing through the electrical appliance. The single-pole switch, due to the lack of a neutral wire connection, must always keep the lamp powered to obtain power supply. In simple terms, the "off" of the zero-fire switch is to truly cut off the power supply to the electrical appliance, while the "off" of the single-pole switch cannot truly cut off the power supply to the electrical appliance. It is also because of this reason that single-pole switches have a minimum power requirement for lamps, otherwise, due to the large current in the switch, there will be problems such as flickering or dim light (ghost fire) after the lamp is turned off.

To find out if there is a reserved neutral wire in the home switch, you can open the switch and check the color of the wires in the 86 base box. Generally speaking, in three-phase electricity, the live wires have three colors: yellow, green, and red (Wang Lee Hom), and in household 220V alternating current, the red wire is the live wire, the blue wire is the neutral wire, and the yellow and green intersecting wire is the ground wire, and other colored wires are the control wires of the electrical appliance.

Secondly, you can also judge based on the number of keys connected to the switch and the number of wires connected. Assuming the number of switch keys is a, then:

If the number of wires connected to the switch is a+1, it is highly likely that there is no neutral wire;If the number of wires connected to the switch is a+2 or more, there might be a neutral wire, and further inquiry with the developer or an electrician is required for confirmation. It is important to note that some electricians may twist two wires into the same terminal hole, which is counted as only one wire.

For example, this is a three-wire connection in a double-switch box, without a neutral wire.

If you are really confused, hiring a professional electrician to take a look is the best choice. However, if you remove the panel and find that the colors of the cables are all the same, you must ask the developer for the reason, and even consider asserting your rights.

Only after determining the internal wiring situation of the box can you choose the corresponding switch. If there is a neutral wire reserved, choose a zero-fire switch; if there is none or you are unsure whether a neutral wire is reserved, choose a single-fire switch. However, if possible, it is still best to choose a zero-fire switch, or ask an electrician to pull a neutral wire. After all, zero-fire switches are superior to single-fire switches in terms of price, available types, stability, response speed, and functionality.

It is worth noting that in some series of panels, there might be a neutral wire in the adjacent box, while the switch panel is single-fire. In this case, you need to determine whether they belong to the same electrical grid; forcing electricity can cause the leakage switch or air switch to trip, or even lead to leakage during maintenance. For example, next to the switch in my bathroom is a zero-fire smart switch reserved by the developer, but although the neutral wire is close at hand, it cannot be shared because the former belongs to the bathroom's electrical grid, while the latter belongs to the living room's electrical grid.

Specific models or configurations of home appliances

If it is a fully furnished house equipped with home appliances, it is recommended to understand the specific models or configurations of the home appliances provided by the developer, and also consider the size of the home appliances you will add and replace in the future. The purpose of this is to clarify which devices you need to connect and the subsequent connection methods. To put it bluntly, if these pre-installed home appliances happen to have problems, the after-sales service is often not the developer, and knowing the device model in advance can also help improve the efficiency of repairs.

The intelligentization of home appliances is significantly different from smart home categories such as switches, sockets, and lighting fixtures. As the most intelligent among the "old white goods," air conditioners have various connection methods. Some air conditioners have undergone a complete transformation and are equipped with intelligence from the factory, allowing control with their own app; while some older but still robust air conditioners need not worry, as an air conditioner companion or a smart speaker with infrared control can give them a new lease on life.

Central air conditioning is the same.

However, for other white goods, the process of intelligentization is obviously more sluggish. But it's hard to say who should take the blame for this, because to be honest, they really don't have the need to connect. For example, my refrigerator and washing machine are "smart appliances" that can connect to Wi-Fi, but I choose to exclude them from the network: they are the type that I use on the spot, and by the time I need them to work, I am already in front of them, so controlling them with a phone would be unnecessary. Moreover, I really don't need the refrigerator to recommend recipes to me.Intelligence is not necessarily about forcing remote control onto every device; perhaps a better option is to assign some "shallow intelligence" to these devices. For instance, adding a door/window sensor to the refrigerator door to alert you when it's not closed properly; or equipping the coffee machine and water heater with smart plugs that automatically heat the boiler when you wake up in the morning and prepare hot water before you return home in the evening.

However, television holds a special place for me. Although today's TVs have essentially become a part of the smart home ecosystem, allowing most operations to be performed on a smartphone, even older TVs can mimic air conditioners by switching to infrared control. But since I use an Apple TV that takes over all aspects of its intelligence, and the TV itself supports full HDMI CEC and eARC functions, it has also become one of the smart appliances that I've exiled.

Anticipated Automation

Contrary to traditional home devices that require you to physically interact with them, smart home remote control and multi-device networking enable them to automate control and operations based on certain conditions. From the most basic automation of turning off lights during the day and turning them on at sunset, to complex multi-device linkage for a fully automated bathroom, it is these capabilities that are the core reasons I decided to use smart homes — to achieve a harmonious synchronization between the home and my lifestyle through the tacit cooperation of devices.

Reflect on your daily home habits, understand the principles of smart home automation, and consider what automated features you want to achieve. This can help you choose products more effectively. Although the number of devices will determine the richness of automation, there is no need to insist on having everything at once. After all, a smart home is a dynamic system, and some products may become obsolete over time, while others may be updated and acquire brand new functions. Moreover, the setup and use of automation will also evolve with changes in your devices and habits; nothing remains static. But in summary, selecting the best within your budget according to your current needs will always be the right choice.

Platform and Brand?

Now that you have a basic understanding of your home and personal situation, don't rush to start just yet. Before that, there is one more thing you need to know: which platform and brand to choose.

There are not many mainstream smart home platforms

Currently, there are not many mainstream smart home platforms in China, and they also basically represent different protocols. However, each has its own strengths and advantages, and there is no need to rank them. But there is one thing to pay special attention to: the current smart home platforms are highly integrated with the hardware and software ecosystem of mobile phones. To consider device interconnectivity and unified access, it is preferable to choose products from the same platform and brand.Despite the current push for multi-platform compatibility by the Matter protocol, it remains a pie in the sky that we don't know when we'll be able to enjoy, and many domestic smart home ecosystems have an indifferent attitude towards Matter, so it's not something to pin our hopes on in the short term. However, this does not mean that we can give up on Matter. For me, among the same devices, those with Matter support (even if it's just a promise) and those without, I would definitely choose the former to become a member of my home.

Of course, these suggestions are aimed at ordinary users. If you are a geek user who knows how to tinker with platforms like Home Assistant, then feel free to ignore these rules.

My choice: HomeKit with Aqara

As a user who has purchased the full range of Apple products including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, HomePod, and has subscribed to services like Apple Music and iCloud, choosing Apple HomeKit is a foregone conclusion. Aqara, which has the deepest cooperation with Apple HomeKit in China, offers the most product categories, and actively responds to the new Matter protocol, has undoubtedly caught my attention.

According to data released by Aqara, Aqara's smart home family now has more than 30 categories and over 1000 products, with more than 280 of them already integrated with Apple HomeKit, which more than meets my needs. Moreover, Aqara's product design has always been on point, with many switches and panel devices offering black and gray options, which better fit the minimalist style of my new home.

At the same time, Aqara's rich automation and linkage options and its proactive attitude towards new things are also highlights that I can't help but praise.

In the automation features of the Aqara App, the trigger and response options for each device are almost 'dizzying' - of course, this is a compliment. For example, a human presence sensor FP2 actually includes 21 automation trigger options, covering everything you can think of and even things you might not have thought of, Aqara has thought of and achieved it for you.

Secondly, Aqara always adapts to the new features of HomeKit in the first place, such as the A100 Pro and D200 being the only two door locks in China that support Apple Home Key, and the smart video doorbell G4 being the only one in China that supports HomeKit security video. With the arrival of 'special guest access permissions' and 'seamless unlocking' in iOS 18, I believe Aqara will also adapt in the first place, bringing a better user experience.

By the way, Aqara's support for Matter cannot be overlooked. It can be said that Aqara is currently the most proactive manufacturer in China to embrace the Matter protocol. Not only can many of its devices seamlessly support Matter through free software updates, but the recent update also supports the connection of some third-party Matter devices, which can achieve scene linkage and automation in the Aqara App. This proactive attitude of embracing openness is not only commendable, but also allows us to more realistically look forward to a future where smart homes are no longer fragmented within their own App.Aqara Smart Video Doorbell G4

Product Selection and Actual Installation

Finally, after overcoming various obstacles and taking one step at a time, we have reached the stage of equipment selection, procurement, and installation.

The choice of equipment, as mentioned earlier, should consider your remote and automation needs, and then follow the principle of a unified platform and brand, trying to choose products from the same manufacturer. During the procurement phase, online shopping is a good method, and you can take advantage of some shopping festivals to get some discounts. If the wide variety of SKUs leaves you a bit confused, you can read the product introduction pages more carefully, ask customer service or technical support personnel for any questions you don't understand, and then determine whether it is suitable for you. If you buy the wrong product, don't worry, as there is always the option to return it, but remember to keep the original packaging and not to affect the product's resale.

Offline purchasing is also an option. However, I would like to remind you that some products may not be sold offline, and many brands do not have physical stores.

As for installation, if you have certain hands-on abilities like me, and you understand the basic use of hardware tools, electrical knowledge, and electrical safety, of course, you can do it yourself. But if you don't have such experience, I 100% recommend that you find an electrician to help you with the strong electrical part, as life safety is always the top priority.

Reading this, you should not find it difficult to realize that the planning, selection, installation, and subsequent setup and maintenance of a whole-house smart system is actually a significant project. The guide I have written is just an abstract summary of some rules that may be universally applicable from my experience, to provide you with some reference for building a fully Apple smart home in the future. It will inevitably not cover all individual differences. If you still feel overwhelmed after reading this article, don't worry, Aqara also has a professional service team and offline stores. They will definitely have more experience than me and can tailor an exclusive plan that fits your needs, and help you with installation and subsequent debugging, and after-sales service — just like riding a fast horse, taking you across these twists and turns.

My Apple Smart Home Solution

Actions speak louder than words. Below is a list of some of my whole-house smart devices for your reference:

GatewayThe Aqara Ark Hub M3, placed in the living room, is responsible for connecting devices in the living room, kitchen, bathroom, and second bedroom;

The two little black boxes work in perfect harmony.

The Aqara E1 gateway, placed in the master bedroom, is responsible for connecting devices in the more distant master bedroom and studio.

Thermostat devices

The central air conditioning in the living room is controlled by infrared through the Aqara Ark Hub M3 and connected to Apple Home using Matter;

The air conditioners in the master bedroom, second bedroom, and studio support Wi-Fi connection and are integrated into HomeKit through a Home Assistant plugin.

Switches, lighting, and sockets

Three switch positions in the living room are pre-wired with neutral wires, replaced with Aqara Smart Switch S1E, connecting all the lights in the living room and kitchen;

The switch in the bathroom is only pre-wired with a single live wire, and I chose the Kanon Smart Switch Z1 dual-button version. It can automatically adapt to both single and neutral wire environments and supports single wire power extraction under low load, so it is used to connect the mirror heating and shower room lighting, and it has been stable without any 'ghost fire' issues to date;

The Kanon Switch Z1 and Smart Switch S1E are installed side by side.The studio's switch also has only a single live wire connection, by pulling a neutral wire from the light bulb position, an Aqara Smart Control Switch S1E was installed to enable the connection of the studio spotlights;

A corridor was equipped with an Aqara Smart Control Knob V1, which not only connects to the balcony light but also controls the living room's light strip and curtain adjustment;

A dual-button wireless switch was placed in the kitchen, which can control the kitchen light and air cooler connected via S1E;

The master bedroom and the second bedroom each have a single-button wireless switch, which, with the help of Home Assistant, allows for single-click to turn on the light, double-click to activate the morning wake-up, and long press to enter night-time sleep assistance;

Next to the sofa in the living room, a smart wall socket H2 was installed. The 20W USB-C port can charge mobile phones, while the USB-A port is used to power a small fan. At the same time, to meet the charging needs of visiting friends, a 4-port 100W gallium nitride fast charger was arranged on the two-hole socket, and the three-prong socket is used to connect various small appliances on the counter, while the power consumption can be viewed in the Aqara App.

Curtains

The studio, master bedroom, and second bedroom use 4 Aqara Smart Curtain Companions E1 to achieve curtain control without changing the track, and can automatically open and close in conjunction with the light sensors of the curtain companions.

SecurityThe living room is equipped with an Aqara Smart Camera E1 for capturing nocturnal feline suspects of crime and preventing them from running out the door (which is also why there are no curtains in the living room);

The front door is fitted with an Aqara Smart Video Doorbell G4, which, when pressed, causes all 5 HomePods in the house to chime together, ensuring there's no chance of missing it due to not hearing it...

Sensors

A Aqara Door and Window Sensor E1 is installed in the shower room to trigger automation during bathing;

The front door also has an Aqara Door and Window Sensor E1 that will send a reminder if the door is left open for more than 3 minutes;

A Aqara Temperature and Humidity Sensor is placed in the living room, balcony, second bedroom, and studio to control the air conditioning based on the presence of people;

The master bedroom's bathroom has an Aqara Human Presence Sensor FP1, the second bedroom's bathroom has an AI Smart Presence Sensor FP1E, and the studio has a Human Scene Sensor FP2;

Human Scene Sensor FP2

A Aqara Human Sensor E1 is placed in the entrance hall, which turns on the entrance light when the brightness is insufficient and turns it off after 3 minutes.

Automated LinkagesIn fact, in the list above, I have already mentioned some automated scenarios, and you can roughly see the interplay between some devices. Automation is something that really tests your living habits, as it strictly follows the logic of "if A (and/or B), then perform C." Therefore, learning to break down your habits and setting them up as visible and controllable automations is the key to letting devices command other devices, serving you and your family silently and invisibly.

For the automation of private spaces, you can certainly follow your preferences. For example, my life is more about being comfortable (too lazy to do otherwise), with irregular waking, eating, and sleeping times, so automations based on time or sunrise and sunset are not very suitable for me. Instead, automations triggered by human presence, motion, or door and window sensors that activate when there is "someone" or "movement" are more appropriate.

The automation of public spaces needs to consider scenarios for both single and multiple people. For instance, when I sit on the sofa, it might just be because I'm feeling lazy and want to lounge around, but when I sit on the sofa with friends, we might want to turn on the TV and watch a movie together. Clearly, using a human presence sensor as the trigger for automation in this scenario is not suitable; instead, the TV's power switch should be the trigger—so, automation is not entirely dependent on a specific sensor but could also be other devices that are linked when a certain device is turned on/off or reaches a certain point in its operation.

In summary, automation is not something that can be completed overnight. Keeping up with the living needs of yourself or your cohabitants by adding, deleting, or modifying is the key to making them more useful. Below, I will give a few examples from my home, which can be seen as a modest proposal, hoping it will help you understand and set up automation.

When someone enters the hallway and the brightness is low, automatically turn on the hallway light and turn it off after 3 minutes.

This is a relatively simple automation. Initially, I considered using a door or window sensor to achieve this, so that when the front door opens, the hallway light would automatically turn on for 3 minutes. However, the problem with this approach is that when I leave the house, the hallway light would also turn on for three minutes, which would be a waste of electricity and serve no purpose. Based on my habit of dawdling in front of the hallway mirror for a few minutes before leaving the house, I chose to install a human sensor with light detection at the end of the hallway corridor. When someone enters the hallway and the external brightness is too low, the hallway light is turned on, avoiding energy waste.

Fully automated kitchen and bathroom

With the help of human presence sensors, we can easily achieve the automation of "lights on when someone is present, lights off when no one is there." However, with more advanced features, they can become like this:Bedroom Automation

While it is feasible to detect lying down and getting up using pressure sensors, for me, lying in bed does not necessarily mean sleeping. Therefore, for bedroom automation, I choose to place an Aqara single-button wireless switch at the head of the bed to trigger:

- A single click turns on the ambient lighting in the bedroom;

- A double click activates the morning wake-up, with the HomePod playing a morning music playlist and the curtains opening to 50%;

- A long press enters the night sleep aid mode, with the HomePod playing a sleep aid music playlist, the curtains closing, the lights gradually dimming over 15 minutes, and the electric mosquito repellent turning on.

At the same time, by supplementing with a human presence sensor, it is possible to achieve automation that automatically turns off the ambient lighting, air conditioning, electric mosquito repellent, and opens the curtains when a person leaves.

Evolving Smart Home Experience

The devices and protocols of smart homes are constantly improving over time, but we cannot simply "renew" these devices like changing a mobile phone. Just like now, my smart home devices include Zigbee devices purchased six years ago, as well as recently released Aqara AI smart presence sensor FP1E and the Magic Control Knob V1. Fortunately, with the support of HomeKit and Aqara, devices from six years ago can also connect to the most powerful central gateway M3, making all devices work seamlessly together, building a convenient smart life for me at present.

As one of the first players in China to try HomeKit, the ecosystem today is not comparable to the past. A rich selection of devices, convenient access and binding, and more affordable prices have made the once unattainable HomeKit whole-house intelligence truly enter ordinary homes. And with AI increasingly empowering our lives, integrating AI into family life has also become the next major direction for the development of smart homes.Aqara, naturally, did not miss out on this trend. Just now, Aqara officially announced the AI large model-powered functional module—Aqara Copilot. Aqara Copilot can not only control home devices like traditional voice assistants but also proactively recommend automation to you based on your equipment and spatial conditions. It can even troubleshoot device issues and offer solutions, among other things.

As a long-time user of Aqara and HomeKit for nearly 7 years, from its infancy to the current comprehensive and excellent experience, innovation is an indispensable part. Although there were some stumbling blocks in the early years, over time, the innovation and cooperation between Aqara and Apple have indeed provided me with a more mature and stable smart home experience. Aqara has become the first choice for many users building an Apple smart home.

Perhaps in the future, with the support of Apple's intelligence and Aqara Copilot in smart homes, our definition of smart homes will no longer be limited to our passive operation and setting of devices. Instead, like a true intelligent assistant, they will attempt to learn about our lives and offer automated choices based on our habits. Coupled with the widespread adoption of the inclusive Matter protocol, such a future seems no longer far away.