Project: A True Smart Home Experience in Bishan - Resale HDB Family Setup

Type: 5-room Resale HDB Flat

Size: ~1250sqft

Location: Bishan, Central Singapore

Wiring: ✓ Neutral

This project was for a family of 3, with a helper and a dog, in a 5-room resale flat in Bishan. Before this setup, they already had smart devices, but the experience was not truly smart. Different apps, cloud subscriptions, and internet dependency made daily control inconsistent and frustrating.

They wanted one reliable system that could run the home naturally, without forcing everyone in the house to remember which app controls what. In short, they wanted a home that truly works together, not one that only looks smart on paper.

The Challenge

The biggest issue was not a total lack of devices. It was fragmentation.

• Too many separate apps for different devices
• Too much dependency on cloud services and internet connectivity, which is exactly why local control matters
• A "smart" setup that still felt manual and troublesome in day-to-day life

During implementation, we also had to solve electrical issues that were outside normal smart home programming scope.

• We traced a LED lighting issue to incorrect wiring and poor soldering work
• We identified another LED strip driver that was underpowered and overheating

That second issue was a real safety concern and had to be rectified properly before handover.

Our Solution

We rebuilt the home around Home Assistant as the central brain, so the family could manage everything from one system.

Main integrations in this project:

• Zigbee switches and lighting through local MQTT, following best-practice protocol planning
• Tuya devices through Tuya Local integration, instead of relying on cloud-only control
• Daikin air-con integration
• LG TV through webOS integration

Because this home has neutral wiring, we could deploy a more stable powered-device layer for switching and lighting control. If you are planning a renovation, this wiring decision makes a big difference, and we explain it in detail here: neutral vs no-neutral smart home wiring.

Key Features

• One-tap "Turn Off Everything" routine for leave-home moments, based on the same principles behind practical everyday automations
• TV viewing mode (day and night context): lights adjusted, LED strips dimmed to around 40%, blinds down in daytime, and cooling adjusted using fan or air-con depending on what is available
• Decoupled switch design for smart lighting points: where selected LED lighting remains smart and responsive while physical switches still work naturally
• Unified control flow for family and helper, reducing app hopping and confusion

Results

The outcome was straightforward and meaningful for daily life.

• A unified control experience instead of juggling multiple apps
• Much more reliable day-to-day operation and stability
• A setup that feels like one coordinated home system, not a collection of separate gadgets

This is the difference between owning smart devices and actually living in a true smart home.