LoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyThe days are longer, the weather's warming up, and we're all spending more time outdoors. I certainly am as my son begs to ride his bike to the playground every day after school now that the sun hasn't immediately set.
As we transition into these longer days, you might find yourself looking to solve a few problems for your outdoor-living lifestyle. Maybe you want to upgrade to a smart lock to make it easier to hang out in the neighborhood without needing to worry about your keys or locking the front door, or maybe you want some fun lighting that you don't need to manually turn on and off. Either way, those problems and many more can be solved by all kinds of outdoor smart home gadgets. Smart locks, smart lights, and more can upgrade your outdoor lounging and hosting experience from now until daylight savings sneaks up on us again.
But not every piece of smart home gear is easy on the eyes. If you're big on curb appeal, these are the gadgets I recommend grabbing to give your home some smarts without costing you in the style department.
Photograph: Nena FarrellPhotograph: Nena FarrellPhotograph: Nena FarrellChevronChevronSave to wishlistSave to wishlistLevel
I am obsessed with this smart lock. The Level Lock Pro is a full-lock replacement, but it looks like you kept the original front of your lock and only swapped out the backing (which is also an option! More on invisible swaps below.) The inside even looks normal, unlike the massive, bulky backing most smart locks have. The only one who will know it's smart is you.
Even with such a small form, it's not lacking in features. You'll get lots of unlocking options, including NFC and Apple Home Key, plus Matter compatibility and a long battery life. You'll want to add Level's Connect Wi-Fi Bridge ($79) if you want to control it from afar.
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When I think of a video doorbell I actually want on my home, the Nest Doorbell is the one I think of. The stylish form factor feels like a big upgrade from the bulky shapes of the Ring camera, and it comes in a handful of finishes to best match your home. It is still obvious what it is, but all video doorbells are; this one is the least amount of eyesore.
I tried the battery version, which does require you recharge it every couple of weeks, but the wired-in version is the top recommendation on our guide to the Best Video Doorbells.
Photograph: Kat MerckVideo: Kat MerckVideo: Kat MerckChevronChevronSave to wishlistSave to wishlistBirdfy
I had a new-to-me problem this spring: bird invasion. A little bird made a nest in my front-door wreath without us noticing. One evening, my sister opened the door, and the bird flew out of the nest and straight into our house. After a 30-minute battle to get it outside again (and keep my cat from eating it), it wasn't until we saw the bird fly off the door again the next day that we realized it was calling our home its home, too.
If this is a common problem at your house, our resident bird-gear tester Kat Merck has a solution: a smart nesting box. Birdfy makes a few different smart bird feeders we like for bird-watching, and the Nest Duo is a birdhouse that lets you watch the birds while they nest inside of it. It's a slim, attractive box that will add to your front yard's style while also packing two solar-powered cameras (one facing the entrance, one focused inside) so you can bird-watch from multiple angles. It comes with different hole sizes to appeal to different species, metal predator guards to prevent chewing around the hole, and a remote control to reset or recharge the camera without disturbing your feathered neighbors.
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I've liked Govee's smart outdoor string lights before, usually for my holiday decor, and have previously recommended something similar with a bistro-light-like look that happened to be smart. These clear bulb string lights are part of Govee's current lineup and have a contemporary twist with a triangle in the center instead of the wire filament. These are a fun option for outdoor lights you can enjoy on warm nights, and they can do every color and shade of white without looking as bulky as permanent outdoor lights. (Added bonus, these lights are also Matter compatible!)
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If you have light fixtures you want to remote-control, add an outdoor smart bulb. There are tons to choose from, and you can usually find one from any brand you already have at home. The only downside is that outdoor-rated smart bulbs are usually 4.75-inch-diameter PAR38-style bulbs, so they're best for downward-facing floodlights on your porch or balcony. They'll likely be too big to fit in a wall fixture as a replacement for a normal-sized bulb. Don't just grab any smart bulb—not all are outdoor-rated. Check for mentions of outdoor use and waterproof ratings to make sure they're safe to use. I'm a big fan of Cync bulbs, and the brand has an outdoor version of the Cync Full Color bulbs I like to use indoors. You'll be able to add fun colors as well as shades of white, so you can turn the porch a spooky orange or red for Halloween, pink for Valentine's Day, or the colors of your favorite sports team on game day.
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Photograph: AmazonSave to wishlistSave to wishlistChamberlain
If your garage is the centerpiece of your home's curb appeal, you can control it as easily as a smart door by adding a smart controller. You can do two different styles: I have the Chamberlain MyQ professionally installed smart garage opener, which means the device that controls my garage has these smarts built into it (plus a camera, but I find it doesn't work great with how far the device is from my Wi-Fi router), or you can get a smart garage controller that can add smart features onto an existing garage door. Both let you check whether the garage is open or closed and operate it remotely, and you can add a video keypad that doubles as a video doorbell and can let you open or close the garage without your phone.
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The front of my home faces west, so it's absolutely baking at the end of the day. What I need to add are some of our favorite smart shades to automate closing the shades on that side of the house at the right time of day. These also give your home a nice, cohesive look and immediate, controllable privacy from the outside world. WIRED reviewer Simon Hill recommends the SmartWings shades as his top picks, and Lutron's Caseta shades if you're looking for a more upgraded look.
Looking to add some smarts without touching your existing setup? These switch-ups can make your front door and yard smart without being visible.
Photograph: Nena FarrellCourtesy of YaleChevronChevronSave to wishlistSave to wishlistYale
This smart lock just swaps out the inner half of your front-door lock to make it smart without requiring a new key or changing your exterior hardware. You can also add on a keypad—or not, if you'd rather keep the smarts a complete secret.
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This outdoor plug is visible at the outlet itself, but if the outlet is covered by something or is around the corner from your front door, no one will know that your lights or other electrical devices are connected to this smart plug.
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