Smart Home: 14 Backyard and Patio Ideas & Tips

Smart home gadgets aren’t just for inside the house anymore. You can bring automation outside and make your backyard or patio just as smart and convenient as your indoor spaces.

Here are 14 ways to boost your outdoor living with smart technology.

Automate Your Yard Work

Every homeowner loves a well-kept, green lawn — but not everyone enjoys doing the work. Luckily, smart tech can take care of a lot of it for you.

1. Smart Irrigation Systems

Did you know the EPA says up to 50% of outdoor water use is wasted? Smart irrigation systems help fix that by watering only when needed — saving water and cutting costs.

Traditional sprinklers can be set on timers, but smart systems go a step further. For example, the Rachio 3 smart sprinkler tracks the weather, so it won’t water during rain or when it’s been hot and dry. You can pick from four, eight, or sixteen zones to make sure each part of your yard gets just the right amount of water. Plus, the app shows exactly how much water you’re saving.

2. Robot Lawn Mowers

Why spend your weekend mowing when a robot can do it for you? Robot lawn mowers work like Roombas for your grass — handling 90% of the mowing, leaving only edges for you to tidy up.

We recommend the Husqvarna Automatic Lawn Mower — it’s cordless and can be controlled with your phone, Alexa, or Google Home.

Bring Smart Lighting Outdoors

Good lighting changes everything inside — and the same goes outside.

3. Outdoor Smart Lighting

You can swap your regular bulbs for Philips Hue smart bulbs or install smart fixtures like the Hue Lucca. Philips Hue is a leader in smart lighting, indoors and outdoors. Their Hue Bridge connects all your lights, so you control them through the app, Alexa, or Google Home.

Landscape Lighting
Nighttime can make your garden disappear — smart lights bring it back to life. Philips Hue’s Lily Outdoor spotlights beautifully highlight your garden or any outdoor feature you want to stand out.

Want a smarter walkway? Try Philips Hue’s Calla pathway lights to boost both style and safety.

Smart Light Strips
Light strips and string lights go almost anywhere — along the roofline for holidays or on fences for year-round glow.

Favorites include:

• Philips Hue Outdoor Light Strip (16 feet, works with Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit)
• Govee Outdoor Light Strips, which sync multiple strips for easy control.

Automate Your Backyard BBQ

Summer and BBQs go hand in hand. Smart devices help you spend more time with friends and less time on the grill.

4. Smart Grills

Don’t miss out on the party because you’re stuck cooking. The Traeger Grill with WiFIRE connects to your phone, letting you monitor grill and food temps remotely through the Traeger app.

WiFIRE is available on:

• Traeger Pro 575
• Traeger Ironwood 650
• Traeger Timberline 850

5. Smart Fire Pits

Fire pits add warmth and ambiance to cool summer nights. But smoke can be a hassle — enter the BioLite Smokeless Fire Pit. It runs up to 30 hours per charge, flames controlled via phone, and uses airflow and a fan system to keep smoke in check.

If you’re handy with electricity, you can build a smart fire pit with:

• Natural gas fire pit
• GE Smart Switch
• Packard 24V Transformer
• PVC piping for wiring
• Waterproof electrical box

6. Smart Coolers

No more digging through icy water for drinks. The Dometic CFX3 75DZ cooler keeps drinks cold with two temperature zones, a simple interface, and even a USB charger.

7. Smart Speakers

A party isn’t complete without tunes. The Bose SoundLink Revolve+ is water-resistant, delivers 360° sound, lasts up to 17 hours on a charge, and works with Alexa for voice control.

Bring the Indoors Outside with Smart Tech

8. Nebula Projector

Skip the outdoor smart TV — project movies onto your house or garage instead! The Nebula Capsule is portable, streams apps from the Nebula app, and supports AirPlay and screen mirroring from your phone.

9. Smart Coffee Tables

A patio needs a coffee table, so why not a smart one? Depending on the model, these tables can charge your phone, light up your space, play music, and even keep snacks cool with refrigerated drawers. Best for covered patios, though.

10. Automated Awnings

Forget the hassle of manually pulling down and rolling up awnings. Automated awnings cover patios with just a button press on the included remote. One model covers an 8’x7’ area — perfect for big or small backyards.

Automate Your Pool Maintenance

Pools are fun but require a lot of upkeep. Smart pool gear lets you enjoy more and worry less.

11. Smart Pool Monitor

How often do you test pool water? Once a week? The iopool Smart Water Monitor connects to your phone and tells you exactly how much chlorine to add, so no more guesswork or test strips.

Going on vacation? Share app access with a neighbor to keep your pool sparkling while you’re away.

12. Smart Pool Vacuum

Love your Roomba? You’ll love a pool vacuum that works just as well. The Polaris Sport Robotic Vacuum Cleaner cleans pool floors, walls, and waterlines. Schedule cleanings via the app or ask Alexa to start. Need to get it out? Use the app’s “Lift” function and watch it climb the pool wall for easy retrieval.

Secure the Outdoors

Worried about package theft or leaving the lights off? Smart security gear has you covered.

13. Smart Security Cameras

Smart cameras and video doorbells keep your home safe. The Ring Video Doorbell and Ring Spotlight Cam add security and lighting. Ring works with Alexa so you can view live or recorded footage on your smart TV or Echo device anytime.

14. Outdoor Motion Sensors

Ever had to use your phone’s flashlight to find your way in the dark? With a motion sensor paired with smart bulbs, your outdoor lights come on automatically when you step outside.

Our favorite is the Philips Hue Outdoor Motion Sensor. You just need the Hue Bridge and Hue bulbs, then everything syncs in the Hue app.

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Related Questions

How Can I Get Wi-Fi in My Backyard?
Try:

• Moving your router
• Adding a Wi-Fi extender
• Using an access point with your mesh system

If those aren’t options, switch to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi instead of 5 GHz for a wider signal.

Can I Use Smart Bulbs in Exterior Fixtures?
Yes, as long as the bulbs are rated for outdoor use.

Do I Need a Smart Hub for Backyard Devices?
It depends on the device. Always check the product info before buying.