So I turned my bedroom into a Smart Bedroom in this quarantine

How a smart speaker, a Google Chromecast, and a smart light bulb are collaborating in my bedroom.

Image created by the author.

So I bought myself a Google Home a few months ago — the new model, 2nd generation, now with a new nomenclature: it’s the Google Nest Mini. Funny thing though: I have never used Siri on my iPhone — I don’t feel comfortable talking out loud to my phone while walking down the street or doing something that occupies both of my hands. But I do enjoy the smart suggestions and insights that Siri brings me, working along with my Apple Watch, my iOS Calendar, among other apps — I just do not enjoy that much the talking out loud part.

With that in mind, why the hell would I buy a smart speaker? Well, the quarantine, plus the isolation due to the #WorkFromHome thing made me think “Huh, it might be fun” — and it sure has been so far. After that, it turns out I got engaged by an Amazon ad on Instagram Stories and decided to buy a smart lamp as well — colored, wi-fi connection, and I made sure it worked with Google Home devices. Furthermore, the Internet of Things has always been a matter that strongly caught my attention. So, here we go.

Adding these new gadgets to my old reliable Chromecast — not to mention the IFTTT app that I have constantly used to create smart automation and effectively organize my digital life — , I've got myself a pretty solid pack of smart devices to finally turn my bedroom officially into a Smart Bedroom.

My Chromecast has always been my reliable tool to ‘smartize’ the non-smart TV hanged on my bedroom wall. The arrival of my new Google Home has made it much easier to watch Netflix or listen to Spotify without the trouble of 1) opening the app, 2) searching for what I want, and 3) connecting to the Chromecast — it does save a few minutes every time.

With the arrival of a smart light bulb, things began to get interesting. I studied every way that the IFTTT app could work with smart lamps to understand what could be automatized in my bedroom and here’s what I’ve done:

The Good Morning Routine:

Let’s start with the dawn. As I wake up, I’ll say “Ok Google, good morning” to activate the Good Morning Routine I have set on my Google device:

1. Before anything else, it automatically adjusts the volume to 50% — just in case it was previously adjusted to too loud or too low and I don’t have the trouble of setting it back to a normal volume for when you've just woke up;
2. It tells me today’s weather forecast, including the minimum and maximum possible temperatures;
3. It reminds me of all of my today's Google Calendar appointments and meetings, and which time they’ll take place;
4. It tells me today’s most important news from last night or the fresh news just released in the morning;
5. To conclude, it plays morning bird songs, for about 30min (directly from a Spotify playlist) — enough time for me to actually get up from my bed and get dressed for the new day ahead;
6. Oh, almost forgot: and it wishes me a lovely day.

The Light Automation:

As the day goes by, my smart lamp has already a programmed schedule to turn on and off automatically. Of course, I can change the color, set a new level of brightness, turn it on, turn it off, do anything with it despite the programmed automation. But if I do nothing to interfere, this is how the Light Automation goes daily:

1. At 5:15 pm, the light is automatically turned on, with dark blue tones and its brightness set to 100% — on weekdays, I'm usually working at this time, so it's important to support the lightness in my bedroom as the sun sets;
2. Exactly at 10 pm, the brightness is dropped to the level of 1% only — this is planned to help me get ready to bed, regardless of what I'm doing at the moment of the automation, or maybe even help me to fall asleep if I am already in bed at the time;
3. At 11:45 pm, the light is automatically turned off — simple as that.

The dark blue tones in the background make a perfect scenario to watch a movie — in the right, the programmed schedule set for the smart lamp for every day.

The TV Automation:

I do not watch TV as often as most people do, but I do have my favorite TV shows and movies — most of them found on Netflix, Disney+, or any other streaming service. So, when the time comes — maybe a new episode of Marvel's WandaVision or a new animated film from Pixar/Disney — , I do have my small process to watch it properly. Not a lot, but this how I have set my TV Automation:

1. Please note that the TV cannot be turned on automatically by voice, as it is not a smart TV — it needs the Chromecast to work smartly and the device is also turned off when the TV is off. So okay, a little manual labor: I pick up the remote and turn it on;
2. As the Chromecast gets started, the smart lamp brightness is set to 100%, regardless of the time — remember that it arises with dark blue tones by my own default set on the Light Automation, which is pretty nice to have as a background light when you just want to chill and watch a movie;
3. When I'm done, or if I'm not watching it anymore, all I need to do is ask Google to turn the TV and the light off — and it's done.

Note: Please remark that the Light Automation continues its programmed schedule to turn the light off by 11:45 pm if I don't say anything.

The Good Night Routine:

As I get ready to sleep and lay on my bed, all I have to say is “Ok Google, good night” to get the Good Night Routine started:

1. First of all, it automatically adjusts the volume to 33% — similar to the morning routine, it's just in case it was previously adjusted to too loud and I don't get a sudden scare that pulls me out of my slumber;
2. It tells me tomorrow's weather forecast, including the minimum and maximum possible temperatures;
3. It reminds me of all of my tomorrow's Google Calendar appointments and meetings, and which time they’ll take place;
4. It asks me what time should I set my alarm clock for tomorrow;
5. It turns off both my smart lamp and my TV automatically and simultaneously;
6. To conclude, it starts playing rainforest rain sounds for 5 hours non-stop — assuming my sleep hours are about 6 hours not only on weekdays but on most days, it's enough for me to fall asleep peacefully.
7. As the rainforest rain sounds begin, it wishes me a good night.

Okay, that’s not a lot, but it is something already. Maybe an update soon when I get more used to my smart things? Let's get it done.

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