DIY smart home

Build your own sensors, LED controllers and wall displays, and give them a casing that looks like a finished product.

Updated November 2026

DIY smart home DIY projects In the toolbox 3D printing & enclosures

What you can build

Most DIY smart home devices start with a cheap Wi-Fi microcontroller, a sensor or LED strip, and free open-source firmware. Your hub then sees it like any other device.

Sensors

An ESP32 board with a sensor for temperature, humidity, CO₂, light or mmWave presence, running open firmware such as ESPHome or Tasmota.

LED controllers

Addressable LED strips driven by an ESP32 running WLED, with effects, presets and control from your hub or phone.

Wall displays

An old or low-cost tablet on a printed wall mount, used as a dashboard or scene controller for your hub.

Buttons and remotes

Battery-powered buttons, knobs and scene switches in a casing you design yourself.

Can I build this?

Every DIY project on this site opens with the same quick check, so you can decide in seconds whether to build it yourself or buy a ready-made device.

Estimated costParts only, at typical web-shop prices
Build timeFrom unpacking the parts to a working device
DifficultyBeginner, Intermediate or Advanced
ToolsWhat you need on the workbench
SolderingYes or no, and how much
3D printingWhether the casing is printed, and with which filament

Build it or buy it?

Build it when…

  • No product does exactly what you want
  • You want everything to run locally, without a cloud account
  • You enjoy tinkering and can fix it yourself if it stops working

Buy it when…

  • It switches mains voltage or is safety-related (smoke, locks, heating)
  • A certified product costs about the same as the parts
  • Other people in the house need it to just work

See our Best Buys →

Start buildingDIY projectsReal projects with tutorials and source code → Next3D printing & enclosuresWhere to find casings, which filament to use and how to design your own →

Safety first: keep DIY builds to low voltage (USB or battery). Anything connected to mains power belongs in a certified product or should be installed by a qualified electrician.