Philips Hue on Smart Home? Sure — But Secure!

Home Assistant A-Z: M is for MQTT – The Invisible Glue of Your Smart Home

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the A-Z Series: M is for MQTT

In today’s episode of our Home Assistant A-Z Series, we’re diving into a topic that works quietly in the background and yet is absolutely essential: MQTT! It’s the invisible glue that brings almost any device into your smart home. Without MQTT, my smart home would grind to a halt in many places – but why is that?

Today I’ll explain in simple terms (promise: no complicated technical jargon!) what MQTT is, why it matters so much, and how I’ve integrated 52 devices with it in my Home Assistant setup.

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What Is MQTT? 30 Seconds of Theory, Jargon-Free

Let me explain MQTT so simply that anyone can understand it – even if you’re not deeply technical.

The Problem Without MQTT

Normally, Home Assistant has to talk directly to every device. That means:

Home Assistant needs to know how to control the device
What data the device sends
In what units the data arrives
What interface the device uses

For every single device, Home Assistant needs its own dedicated integration. That’s a lot of work and limits the number of supported devices.

The Solution: MQTT as a Middleman

MQTT steps in between and simplifies everything dramatically:

Home Assistant only needs to know how to read from an MQTT server
The device only needs to know how to post its data to MQTT
The MQTT Broker (server) mediates between the two

The Brilliant Advantage

This has a huge advantage:

✅ The device can support MQTT and doesn’t care whether you’re using Home Assistant, OpenHAB, or any other smart home solution

✅ Home Assistant doesn’t care which device you have – as long as it speaks MQTT

MQTT is therefore a supremely universal solution for integrating as many devices as possible into Home Assistant, without Home Assistant needing to explicitly support each device!

In the video, I explain this even more clearly with a diagram!

A Live Look: 52 Devices via MQTT in My Smart Home

Enough theory! Let’s look at a real smart home and see everything I’ve integrated with MQTT.

In my MQTT integration in Home Assistant, I can see: 52 devices connected via MQTT. That’s more than half of all my devices! Without MQTT, my smart home would be capable of considerably less.

Let’s look at some concrete examples:

Aqara Motion Sensors via Zigbee2MQTT

I have several Aqara motion sensors distributed throughout my smart home – in the hallway, bathroom, storage room, and other areas.

How are they integrated?

The sensors speak Zigbee (a wireless protocol)
I use Zigbee2MQTT – the universal gateway for Zigbee devices
Zigbee2MQTT translates Zigbee signals into MQTT messages
Home Assistant reads these MQTT messages

The brilliant part: Zigbee2MQTT supports hundreds of different Zigbee devices from a wide variety of manufacturers. Set it up once, and everything works through the same pipeline!

In the video you can see the motion sensors live in the dashboard!

Philips Hue Lights via Zigbee2MQTT

My Philips Hue lights also run via MQTT – likewise through Zigbee2MQTT!

Why not the official Philips Hue Bridge?

Good question! The Hue Bridge would certainly work too, but:

✅ With Zigbee2MQTT I skip the need for an extra bridge ✅ Everything runs through the same infrastructure (one Zigbee stick) ✅ Completely local – no Philips cloud required ✅ Cheaper (no expensive Hue Bridge needed)

Hue lights also speak Zigbee, so they can communicate with Zigbee2MQTT just as easily as the Aqara sensors!

Where I use Hue lights:

Bedroom (for the wake-up light)
Terrace (for evening lighting)

In the video I’ll show you what the Hue lights look like in the MQTT dashboard!

Sonoff Devices with TASMOTA Firmware

Another great example: Sonoff devices. These are smart relays and sensors – similar to Shelly modules.

My configuration:

I’ve flashed most of my Sonoff devices with TASMOTA firmware. This is an open-source, alternative firmware that:

✅ Works completely locally (no cloud)
✅ Natively supports MQTT
✅ Is far more flexible than the stock firmware
✅ Is more secure (open source, no backdoors)

The Sonoff devices communicate via Wi-Fi (not Zigbee!) and send their data directly to the MQTT Broker.

Examples in my setup:

Smart plugs
Relays for light control
Temperature sensors

In the video I go into more detail on TASMOTA and show you what the devices look like!

Xiaomi Light Sensors for Automations

I have two Xiaomi light sensors mounted on the outside of the building. They continuously measure brightness and help me with various automations.

What I use them for:

Automatic lighting (e.g., terrace lights at dusk)
Blind control (automatically closing when the sun is intense)
Energy management (cloud cover = lower PV output)

These sensors also speak Zigbee and run via Zigbee2MQTT through MQTT into Home Assistant.

In the video I show you the live sensor readings!

Wallbox via EVCC

A particularly cool example: my wallbox for the EV is also integrated via MQTT!

How does that work?

I use EVCC (Electric Vehicle Charge Controller) – intelligent software for managing the wallbox. EVCC can:

PV surplus charging (only charge when the solar system produces enough power)
Use dynamic electricity prices (charge when power is cheap)
Monitor all values (charging power, battery level, costs)

EVCC publishes all these values to MQTT, making them available in Home Assistant.

What I get via MQTT:

Current charging power (in kW)
Total energy meter (total amount charged)
Current charging price (for dynamic tariffs)
Grid price and electricity rates
EV state of charge (in %)

All this data can be used in automations or displayed on dashboards!

More on EVCC is available in my dedicated video – link in the video and description above!

In the video I show you the wallbox entities live in the MQTT dashboard!

Why MQTT Is So Important

After all these examples, it’s clear: MQTT is the backbone of my smart home!

The Advantages at a Glance

Universal: Almost any device can speak MQTT
Vendor-independent: Whether Aqara, Philips, Sonoff, or Xiaomi – they all use MQTT
Protocol-agnostic: Zigbee, Wi-Fi, even Ethernet – everything ends up at MQTT
Future-proof: New device? If it speaks MQTT, it works
Local: No cloud required, everything stays on your own network

In the video I go even deeper into these advantages!

Installation: How to Get MQTT Into Home Assistant

Convinced and ready to use MQTT? No problem – the installation is surprisingly easy!

Option 1: Home Assistant OS (recommended for beginners)

If you’re running Home Assistant OS, MQTT is just one click away:

Step 1: Go to Settings → Add-ons

Step 2: Search for “Mosquitto broker” (this is the MQTT server)

Step 3: Install the add-on and start it

Step 4: Home Assistant automatically detects the Broker and suggests the integration

That’s it! No complex configuration needed. The Broker is running and ready to use immediately.

Option 2: Home Assistant Core / Docker

If you run Home Assistant Core and manage everything via Docker, you can start the Mosquitto Broker as a separate container:

Docker Compose example:

mosquitto:
  image: eclipse-mosquitto:latest
  ports:
    - "1883:1883"
  volumes:
    - ./mosquitto/config:/mosquitto/config
    - ./mosquitto/data:/mosquitto/data

Then add the MQTT integration in Home Assistant and provide the IP address and port (1883) of the Mosquitto container.

In the video I show you both installation methods!

Configuration: Almost None Required!

The beauty of MQTT: it requires almost no configuration!

The default port (1883) works out of the box
No complex settings
Ready to use immediately

Of course, for added security you can also:

Set up a username and password
Enable TLS encryption
Configure Access Control Lists (ACLs)

But for getting started, the default configuration is perfectly sufficient!

Connecting Devices to MQTT

You now have an MQTT Broker running – but how do devices connect to it?

Zigbee Devices: Zigbee2MQTT

For all Zigbee devices, I recommend Zigbee2MQTT:

What you need:

A Zigbee USB stick (e.g., ConBee II, Sonoff Zigbee 3.0)
The Zigbee2MQTT software (as an add-on or Docker container)

Setup:

Plug in the Zigbee stick
Install Zigbee2MQTT
Enter the MQTT Broker details (usually done automatically)
Pair devices (put them into pairing mode)

Done! All Zigbee devices appear automatically in Home Assistant.

Wi-Fi Devices: Native MQTT Support or TASMOTA

Some devices (e.g., Shelly, ESPHome devices) natively support MQTT. Simply enter the MQTT Broker IP in their settings – done!

Other devices (e.g., Sonoff) can be flashed with TASMOTA and then have MQTT enabled.

In the video I walk through concrete examples!

Software Integrations: EVCC and Others

Many software tools like EVCC can publish their data to MQTT. In the respective configuration, you enable MQTT and provide the Broker details – and the data flows straight into Home Assistant!

Creative Use Cases for MQTT

Beyond plain device data, you can also use MQTT for creative purposes:

Build Your Own Sensors

With ESPHome or TASMOTA you can build custom sensors and integrate them via MQTT:

Temperature and humidity sensors in the garden
Water level sensors for plants or cisterns
Door contacts in unusual locations
PIR sensors for motion detection

Exchange Data Between Systems

MQTT is perfect for sharing data between different systems:

Home Assistant → Node-RED → MQTT
MQTT → Grafana (for beautiful dashboards)
MQTT → InfluxDB (for long-term data analysis)

Trigger External Automations

You can trigger external tools via MQTT messages:

Start the 3D printer when the solar system has enough surplus
Activate the irrigation system when soil moisture is low
Arm security systems based on presence

The possibilities are endless!

Pitfalls and Tips

To wrap up, here are a few important tips from my own experience:

Tip 1: Plan Your Topic Structure Early

MQTT uses Topics for organization. Think through a sensible hierarchy from the start:

1
2
3

home/living-room/temperature
home/living-room/humidity
home/bedroom/temperature

Not:

1
2
3

temp_living-room
humidity_living-room
temperature_bedroom

A clear structure will save you a lot of headaches later!

Tip 2: Use Retained Messages

For status values, you should enable Retained Messages. This way the Broker stores the last known value – even if a client restarts.

Tip 3: Understand Quality of Service (QoS)

MQTT defines three QoS levels:

QoS 0: Fire and forget (fast, but unreliable)
QoS 1: Delivered at least once
QoS 2: Delivered exactly once

For smart home purposes, QoS 1 is usually sufficient.

Tip 4: Use Discovery

Many tools (e.g., Zigbee2MQTT, TASMOTA) support MQTT Discovery. This means devices register themselves automatically with Home Assistant – no manual configuration needed!

In the video I go into these tips in more detail!

Conclusion: MQTT Is Indispensable

After all of this, it’s clear: MQTT is absolutely indispensable for my smart home!

What I wouldn’t have without MQTT:

52 fewer devices
No Zigbee devices
No flexible wallbox integration
Far fewer options for custom projects

MQTT makes a smart home flexible, open, and future-proof. It’s one of the reasons I value Home Assistant so highly!

Make sure to watch the video – there you’ll see everything in action live!

Your Experiences?

What do you integrate with MQTT?

Let me know in the comments:

Which devices do you use over MQTT?
Do you have creative use cases?
Are you using Zigbee2MQTT or other gateways?
What questions do you have about MQTT?

Home Assistant A-Z: L is for Light – From Simple to Creative

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the A-Z Series: L is for Light

In today’s episode of the Home Assistant A-Z Series we’re tackling the absolute classic for beginners: light! For many people, their first lighting automation is the magical moment when an idea becomes a real smart home. But there’s so much more to it than just on and off!

Today I’ll show you how I use light in my smart home – from simple motion-sensor automations to gentle wake-up lights and creative visual reminders. Let yourself be inspired!

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How I Control My Lights: The Hardware

Before we get to the exciting automations, let me show you which hardware I use for my lighting control. Spoiler: it’s a colourful mix – and that’s exactly what makes Home Assistant so flexible!

Shelly Modules: The In-Wall Solution

The bulk of my lighting runs through Shelly modules that I’ve fitted behind existing wall switches. There are several advantages:

✅ The existing wall switch still works
✅ Additional control via Home Assistant
✅ Completely local, no cloud required
✅ Affordable retrofit for existing lamps

In my home these cover, among others:

Guest bathroom
Hallway
Bathroom
Dressing room
Storage room

The Shellys are integrated directly into Home Assistant via the Shelly integration and respond instantly – whether I use the physical switch or trigger an automation.

In the video I show you exactly what that looks like in the dashboard!

Philips Hue: Colour and Flexibility

I also have some Philips Hue lights in use, which I control via Zigbee2MQTT. The advantage: no Philips Hue Bridge needed – everything runs through my Zigbee stick!

Where I use Philips Hue:

Bedroom – for the gentle wake-up light (more on that in a moment!)
Terrace – for atmospheric evening lighting

Depending on the model, Hue lights can:

Change white tones (from cool white to warm white)
Display full RGB colours
Dim softly over long periods

In the video you’ll see the difference between the various Hue models live in the dashboard!

ESPHome LED Strip: The DIY Project

My personal highlight is a custom-built LED lamp in the hallway, made from an LED strip with individually addressable LEDs. Control is handled by an ESP32 microcontroller running ESPHome.

What makes it special: the lamp consists of several rings that I can address individually with different colours. I use this for creative automations – more on that shortly!

Make sure to watch the lamp in action in the video – the effects are impressive!

What Can I Do With the Different Lights?

Now it gets interesting: what are the possibilities of the different light types?

Shelly: Simple but Reliable

The Shelly-controlled lights are the simplest in my setup. They can:

✅ Switch on and off

Sounds underwhelming? It is – but that’s exactly what makes them so reliable and fast. For rooms like the bathroom, hallway, or storage room, I don’t need anything more. The main thing is that the light comes on when I need it!

Philips Hue: The Colour Artists

With the Hue lights things get considerably more interesting. Depending on the model they can:

Warm white / cool white lights:

Change colour temperature (from cosy warm white to energising cool white)
Dim brightness continuously
Smooth transitions over minutes or even hours

RGB lights:

Display any colour in the RGB spectrum
Colour-change animations
Combinations of colour and brightness

In the video I show you both variants live in the dashboard – the difference is striking!

ESPHome LED Strip: The All-Rounder

My custom-built LED lamp can do everything Hue can – and more:

Full RGB display for every individual LED
Individual control of separate rings with different colours
Special effects such as running lights, rainbow, or pulsing
Dynamic displays for smart home status

I use this flexibility for the most creative automations – more on that shortly!

The Interesting Automations

Now for the exciting part: what do I actually do with all these lights? Here are my favourite automations!

Motion Sensor + Shelly: The Classic

The simplest and simultaneously most useful automation: light comes on automatically when I enter a room.

How does it work?

Motion sensors distributed throughout the rooms
Trigger: Motion detected
Action: Switch on Shelly light
Timeout: Automatically switch off after X minutes without motion

Where I use this:

Hallway
Storage room
Dressing room
Guest bathroom

Sounds trivial, but it’s incredibly practical! You come in from the car with your hands full and don’t have to feel for a light switch. The light is simply already on.

In the video I show you the automation and how it responds live!

Wake-Up Light: A Gentle Start to the Day

This is where it gets more interesting: my Philips Hue lights in the bedroom serve as a gentle wake-up light.

The problem: A normal alarm clock tears you brutally out of sleep. With light, it’s so much gentler!

How I implement it:

Trigger: Wake-up time (weekdays only)
Action: Gradually dim lights up over 20 minutes
Starting point: Very warm, dimmed light (simulates morning sun)
End point: Bright, cooler light (gently wakes you up)

The trick: Home Assistant can slowly brighten lights using a transition parameter. This means the light continuously changes brightness and colour temperature over 20 minutes!

Additional feature: At the same time I also switch on the radio and slowly increase the volume. The perfect start to the day!

Make sure to look at the automation code in the video – I’ll show you the transition parameter!

I use the custom-built LED lamp in the hallway as an intelligent night light:

The idea: When someone needs to use the bathroom at night, the hallway should be subtly lit – but not so bright that you’re fully awake.

How it works:

Motion sensor detects movement in the hallway
Condition: It is between 22:00 and 06:00
Action: LED lamp switches on with very low brightness and warm light
Timeout: Automatically switches off after 2 minutes

The brilliant part: the lamp is bright enough to navigate by, but not so harsh that it wakes you up completely. The perfect compromise!

Bin-Day Reminder: Never Forget Visually Again

Now it gets really creative: I use the individually addressable rings of my LED lamp as a visual reminder for bin collection!

The problem: I regularly forget to put the bin out in time.

The solution: The lamp shows me in colour which bin is being collected tomorrow!

How it works:

Trigger: Afternoon at 16:00
Condition: Check whether a bin is being collected tomorrow
Action: Show a coloured ring on the LED lamp
- 🟢 Green = Food/garden waste bin
- 🟡 Yellow = Recycling/yellow bag
- 🔵 Blue = Paper bin
- ⚫ Black = General waste

Every time I walk through the hallway I see the coloured ring and am reminded. Better than any push notification!

In the video I show you the complete automation and what the lamp looks like when multiple bins need to go out at the same time!

By the way: how I integrate bin collection schedules into Home Assistant is covered in a dedicated article about the bin collection integration. Definitely check it out if you’re interested in that topic!

More Creative Ideas for Light in Home Assistant

You can see: light is so much more than just on and off! Here are a few more ideas I haven’t implemented myself, but which might be interesting for you:

Presence Simulation While on Holiday

Use your smart lights to simulate presence when you’re away:

Lights come on and go off at random times
Different rooms are lit in sequence
Timings oriented around realistic patterns (living room in the evening, bedroom at night)

Alarm Visualisation

If movement is detected in the garden or a window opens while you’re away, lights can:

Flash red as a warning
Alert you acoustically and visually
Act as a deterrent to intruders

Mood Modes

Create different scenes for different situations:

🎬 Movie mode: Dimmed, warm light
🍽️ Dinner mode: Bright, cosy light over the dining table
🎉 Party mode: Colourful colour changes
📚 Reading mode: Bright, neutral white light

Daylight Adaptation

Automatically adjust the colour temperature of your lights to the time of day:

Morning: Cool, energising light
Midday: Neutral white
Evening: Warm, relaxing light (supports your natural sleep rhythm)

Why Light Is the Perfect Entry Point into Home Assistant

If you’re new to Home Assistant: light is the ideal starting point!

Reasons:

Immediate feedback – you see straight away whether your automation is working
Not critical infrastructure – if something goes wrong, it’s not a disaster
Many hardware options – from affordable (Shelly) to comfortable (Hue)
Simple automations – perfect for learning the basics
Plenty of room for creativity – once the basics are in place, you can experiment

In the video I give you even more tips for beginners!

Hardware Recommendations

Want to get started smart? Here are my hardware recommendations based on my own experience:

For Wall Switches: Shelly

Shelly 1 or Shelly 1PM for simple on/off lights
Works with existing switches
Completely locally controllable
Affordable to purchase

For Colour and Comfort: Philips Hue

Zigbee2MQTT instead of a Hue Bridge (saves money and increases flexibility)
White Ambiance for colour temperature control
White and Colour for full RGB control

For Makers: ESPHome

WLED-compatible LED strips with WS2812B LEDs
ESP32 or ESP8266 as controller
ESPHome for easy integration into Home Assistant

Affiliate links to recommended hardware can be found in the video description!

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

From my experience there are a few typical mistakes when getting started with lighting control:

Mistake 1: Too Many Automations for One Light

When multiple automations control the same light, they can conflict with each other. Example: a motion sensor switches the light on, but at the same time another automation wants to switch it off.

Solution: Use conditions in your automations or central logic helpers.

Mistake 2: No Manual Override

It’s annoying when an automation switches the light off while you’re still in the room!

Solution: Build in manual override options, for example via an Input Boolean.

Mistake 3: Motion Sensor in the Wrong Spot

A poorly positioned motion sensor detects you too late – the light stays off.

Solution: Test different positions and pay attention to the detection range of your sensor.

In the video I go into these pitfalls in more detail!

Watch the Video!

I’ve told you a lot, but you’ll understand it best when you see it! In the video I show you:

✅ All lights live in the dashboard
✅ The automations in detail
✅ The custom-built LED lamp in action
✅ What the bin-day reminders look like
✅ The code for the wake-up light

Click the video above and watch it now!

Further Articles and Videos

If you’re interested in the topic of lights and automations:

Never forget the bins again – How I use the bin collection integration
Installing Shelly roller blinds – If you want to learn more about Shelly modules
Blueprints – How to easily import automations

The complete A-Z Series can be found here: Home Assistant A-Z Overview

Philips Hue on Smart Home? Sure — But Secure!

Home Assistant A-Z: M is for MQTT – The Invisible Glue of Your Smart Home

Welcome to the A-Z Series: M is for MQTT

What Is MQTT? 30 Seconds of Theory, Jargon-Free

The Problem Without MQTT

The Solution: MQTT as a Middleman

The Brilliant Advantage

A Live Look: 52 Devices via MQTT in My Smart Home

Aqara Motion Sensors via Zigbee2MQTT

Philips Hue Lights via Zigbee2MQTT

Sonoff Devices with TASMOTA Firmware

Xiaomi Light Sensors for Automations

Wallbox via EVCC

Why MQTT Is So Important

The Advantages at a Glance

Installation: How to Get MQTT Into Home Assistant

Option 1: Home Assistant OS (recommended for beginners)

Option 2: Home Assistant Core / Docker

Configuration: Almost None Required!

Connecting Devices to MQTT

Zigbee Devices: Zigbee2MQTT

Wi-Fi Devices: Native MQTT Support or TASMOTA

Software Integrations: EVCC and Others

Creative Use Cases for MQTT

Build Your Own Sensors

Exchange Data Between Systems

Trigger External Automations

Pitfalls and Tips

Tip 1: Plan Your Topic Structure Early

Tip 2: Use Retained Messages

Tip 3: Understand Quality of Service (QoS)

Tip 4: Use Discovery

Conclusion: MQTT Is Indispensable

Your Experiences?

Further Reading and Videos

Home Assistant A-Z: L is for Light – From Simple to Creative

Welcome to the A-Z Series: L is for Light

How I Control My Lights: The Hardware

Shelly Modules: The In-Wall Solution

Philips Hue: Colour and Flexibility

ESPHome LED Strip: The DIY Project

What Can I Do With the Different Lights?

Shelly: Simple but Reliable

Philips Hue: The Colour Artists

ESPHome LED Strip: The All-Rounder

The Interesting Automations

Motion Sensor + Shelly: The Classic

Wake-Up Light: A Gentle Start to the Day

Night Light Mode: Navigation Without Glare

Bin-Day Reminder: Never Forget Visually Again

More Creative Ideas for Light in Home Assistant

Presence Simulation While on Holiday

Alarm Visualisation

Mood Modes

Daylight Adaptation

Why Light Is the Perfect Entry Point into Home Assistant

Reasons:

Hardware Recommendations

For Wall Switches: Shelly

For Colour and Comfort: Philips Hue

For Makers: ESPHome

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Mistake 1: Too Many Automations for One Light

Mistake 2: No Manual Override

Mistake 3: Motion Sensor in the Wrong Spot

Watch the Video!

Further Articles and Videos