12 essential Christmas smart home gadgets: The smart lights, plugs, and speakers I use to turn my home into a winter wonderland

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Decorating for the holidays doesn’t have to be a hassle with the right smart home gadgets

A collage of smart home products for the holidays
(Image credit: Govee, Ring, TP-Link, Google)

The best smart home devices deliver more than just convenience — they provide a bit of sanity during the busiest time of the year. Whether it’s checking a security camera or a video doorbell for a package or killing the lights with a single tap, a well-tuned smart home is worth every penny when the holiday rush hits.

My own smart home journey started small, but it’s evolved into a festive powerhouse. From smart speakers and a mailbox sensor to the smart plugs that instantly modernize my last few "dumb" holiday decorations, every device plays a vital role.

My setup manages everything from lighting up my six Christmas trees (yes, three are full-sized) to notifying me when my son’s letter to Santa has finally been picked up. But for that magic to happen, you need a rock-solid foundation. That’s why I’ve included one of the best mesh Wi-Fi systems I personally swear by. It ensures a strong connection for outdoor lights while letting me easily set up a guest network for visitors or enable parental controls for those brand-new Christmas morning tablets.

From year-round exterior lighting to the smart display I use to play cozy fireplace videos in the kitchen, these are my all-time favorite smart home devices — including a few new ones I’ve added to the mix this holiday season.

Anthony Spadafora
Anthony Spadafora
Managing Editor Security and Home Office

Anthony Spadafora is the managing editor for security and home office furniture at Tom’s Guide where he covers everything from data breaches to password managers and the best way to cover your whole home or business with Wi-Fi. He also reviews standing desks, office chairs and other home office accessories with a penchant for building desk setups. Before joining the team, Anthony wrote for ITProPortal while living in Korea and later for TechRadar Pro after moving back to the US. Based in Houston, Texas, when he’s not writing Anthony can be found tinkering with PCs and game consoles, managing cables and upgrading his smart home. 

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