The most important concept to understand is the hub. Think of the hub as the translator and traffic controller for your smart home. Individual devices like light bulbs, plugs and sensors do not usually talk directly to your phone or to each other. They connect to a hub, which manages communication and lets everything work together. Ikea’s DIRIGERA hub handles this role in the background. You plug it into your router, install the Ikea Home smart app and the hub takes care of pairing devices and keeping them in sync. The benefit of a hub-based system is reliability. Commands are faster and more consistent than Wi-Fi-only devices, and you are not overloading your home network with dozens of individual connections.

Once the hub is in place, the next decision is whether to use smart light bulbs or smart plugs. Smart bulbs replace your existing bulbs and give you control over brightness, schedules and, in some cases, color. They are ideal for lamps and fixtures you use frequently, like living room or bedroom lights. The drawback is that the wall switch needs to stay on. If someone flips it off, the bulb loses power until it is turned back on.

Smart plugs take a different approach. You plug a lamp or small appliance into the smart plug, then plug that into the wall. This works well for floor lamps, table lamps or seasonal lighting. Smart plugs are usually less expensive than smart bulbs and are more flexible because you can move them from one device to another. The limitation is that you only get on and off control. There is no dimming or color adjustment.

Ikea’s Home smart app is where you add devices, group them by room and set schedules. You can create simple routines, such as turning lights on at sunset or switching them off automatically at bedtime. Where the app really helps beginners is visibility. You can see exactly what devices you have, whether they are online and how they are set up.

Physical controls can be convenient when your phone is out of reach. Ikea offers small remotes and buttons that let you control lights without opening an app or talking to a voice assistant. These are especially useful in shared spaces or for guests. It also avoids the problem of someone turning off a wall switch and interrupting the smart setup.

A basic starter configuration is straightforward. Begin with the DIRIGERA hub, one or two smart bulbs for the rooms you use most and a smart plug for a lamp. Add a remote or button for the main living area. Setup is mostly guided. You plug in the hub, download the app, then add each device by following on-screen prompts. Pairing typically involves holding a device near the hub or pressing a pairing button. From there, you assign rooms and test controls.

One reason Ikea’s system is worth attention is its support for Matter. Matter is a standard designed to make smart home devices work across brands and platforms. If you already use Amazon Alexa, Google Home or Apple HomeKit, Ikea devices can integrate into those environments. You can start with Ikea’s app and controls, then later decide to use voice commands or a different platform without replacing your lights and plugs.

There are trade-offs to consider. Ikea’s smart home products focus on the basics. You will not find advanced automation rules or fancy customization inside the app. Cost is another advantage.

The smartest part of this approach is how forgiving it is. You can begin with one room and see how it fits into your daily routine. If you enjoy the convenience of lights turning on automatically or shutting everything down with one button, you can expand gradually. If not, you have still improved a small part of your home without a major investment.

Smart homes do not have to be all or nothing. A modest setup that solves a few everyday annoyances is often enough. Ikea’s system shows that getting started can be simple, affordable and flexible, with plenty of room to grow as your comfort increases.

Leslie Meredith has been writing about technology for more than a decade. As a mom of four, value, usefulness and online safety take priority. Have a question? Email Leslie at asklesliemeredith@gmail.com