Some home automation ideas to get you thinking

Sunset Lighting
Automatically turn on outdoor or indoor lights at sunset, and off at sunrise.
Morning Routine
Gradually brighten bedroom lights, start coffee machine, and play news or music when you wake up.
Presence-Based Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning
Adjust heating/cooling based on whether anyone is home—saving energy when the house is empty.
Motion-Activated Lights
Turn on hallway or laundry lights when motion is detected, especially useful in dark areas.
Sleep Mode Trigger
When your phone starts charging at night, dim lights, arm alarm, and lower thermostat.

Remote control
Automatically, or remotely, switch off high energy devices when not in use
Notifications
Get a notification when a heater or other device is left on.
Capitalise on your solar
Only run appliances when there is enough solar i.e. spa or pool heaters. Turn off appliances when solar level drops.
Create dashboards that show your energy use & cost in real time.

Door ajar?
Get an alert when exterior doors are not closed.
Garage Door Alerts
Notify if the garage door is left open for more than 10 minutes.
Smoke/CO Alarm Response
If an alarm is triggered, send notifications, turn on lights, and announce alerts via speakers.
Vacation Mode Simulation
Randomly turn lights on/off to simulate occupancy while you're away.
Automatically lock doors at night
Lock the doors, set alarm into home mode at a set time or when everyone is tucked in for the night.

Movie Mode
When media starts playing, dim lights and adjust blinds for a theatre like experience.
Gaming Setup
Turn on projector, switch AV input, and set ambient lighting when a console is powered on.
Doorbell Interrupt
Pause music or media playback when someone rings the doorbell.
Spotify Mood Scenes
Trigger playlists and lighting scenes based on time of day or activity.

Laundry Notifications
Alert when washer or dryer finishes—based on power usage or vibration sensors.
Smart Irrigation
Skip watering if rain is forecast or soil moisture is sufficient.
Energy Monitoring Alerts
Notify if power usage spikes or if devices are left on too long.
Rubbish Bin Reminder
Send a notification the night before bin collection—customized for recycling weeks.

Welcome Home Scene
When your phone connects to Wi-Fi or GPS detects arrival, unlock door, turn on lights, and play music.
Leaving Home Shutdown
When everyone leaves, turn off lights, lower thermostat, arm alarm, and lock doors.