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Living in an apartment doesn’t mean you have to give up on smart home automation. Whether you’re renting or just don’t want to deal with rewiring, smart lights are one of the easiest and most impactful upgrades you can make.
In this guide, we’ll cover the best smart lights for apartments in 2026, focusing on options that are easy to install, renter-friendly, and work without any electrical changes.
✅ Quick Answer (TL;DR)
If you want the best overall smart lighting experience for an apartment, Philips Hue is the top choice.
For a cheaper, no-hub option, TP-Link Kasa is excellent.
If you want colorful effects and the lowest price, Govee is hard to beat.
🔍 What to Look for in Apartment Smart Lights
Before buying smart lights for an apartment, make sure they are:
- No rewiring required (plug & play)
- Easy to remove when moving out
- Compatible with Alexa / Google Home
- Reliable Wi-Fi or hub-based connection
All the options below meet these criteria.
🥇 1. Philips Hue – Best Overall Smart Lights
Best for: Reliability, automation, and long-term use
Philips Hue is the gold standard in smart lighting. It uses a dedicated hub, which makes the system extremely stable — perfect if you want automations that just work.
Pros
- Very reliable connection
- Excellent app & automations
- Supports Alexa, Google, Apple Home
- Huge product ecosystem
Cons
- More expensive
- Requires a hub
👉 Check price & availability:
Affiliate link: /go/philips-hue
🥈 2. TP-Link Kasa – Best Budget Smart Lights
Best for: Simple setup, no hub, affordable pricing
TP-Link Kasa smart bulbs connect directly to Wi-Fi, making them ideal for beginners who want smart lighting without extra hardware.
Pros
- No hub required
- Affordable
- Easy app setup
- Reliable brand
Cons
- Fewer advanced automations
- Wi-Fi dependent
👉 Check price & availability:
Affiliate link: /go/tp-link-kasa
🥉 3. Govee – Best for Colors & Effects
Best for: RGB lighting, mood lighting, gaming rooms
Govee is very popular for colorful lighting and visual effects. It’s perfect for apartments where you want ambiance without spending a lot.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Bright colors
- Great for decorative lighting
- No hub required
Cons
- App is less polished
- Not ideal for complex automations
👉 Check price & availability:
Affiliate link: /go/govee-smart-light
🤔 Do Smart Lights Increase Electricity Bills?
No — in fact, they often reduce energy usage.
Smart LED bulbs use very little power and allow you to:
- Schedule lights
- Turn them off remotely
- Automate based on routines
This helps avoid lights being left on accidentally.
🏠 Are Smart Lights Renter-Friendly?
Yes. All the options above:
- Screw into standard sockets
- Can be removed in seconds
- Leave no permanent changes
Perfect for apartments and rentals.
✅ Final Recommendation
- Best overall: Philips Hue
- Best value: TP-Link Kasa
- Best budget & colors: Govee
No matter which one you choose, smart lights are one of the easiest ways to upgrade your apartment without rewiring or landlord approval.