Looking for renter-friendly smart home ideas? These easy, removable smart home devices for renters automate lighting, cleaning, sleep routines, and security—perfect for apartments and rental homes.
One of the areas where I think technology is really so amazing is in the smart home department. I love automating things that are repetitive – like turning on light switches – and any way I can make this happen in the background or using my voice saves me mental space.
To me, smart home technology is really about automation that works quietly in the background—lights that turn on when the sun sets, a vacuum that runs while you’re out, or a bedtime routine that starts without you thinking about it.
When you’re renting, you can’t exactly swap out thermostats or rewire lighting, but there are so many easy, removable smart home devices that give you the same cozy, automated feel. The best part? You can unplug them and take them with you when you move.
Here are some of my favorite smart home devices (or general tech that makes life easier) for renters that make everyday life a little more seamless.
Smart Home Devices for Renters
Alexa Smart Plugs
Smart plugs might be the easiest entry point to smart home automation. I’ve had them for years, and they are inexpensive! I have Amazon Smart Plugs connected to lamps in both my living room and bedroom. They’re voice activated through Alexa, but the real magic is the timers. My living room lights automatically turn on at sunset and turn off around bedtime, which makes the house feel cozy without me having to think about it.
If you’re renting and can’t install smart switches, plugs are the perfect workaround. Just plug them in, connect them to your Alexa app, plug in anything you want to automate, and suddenly your lamps are on autopilot.
GlowRight Lights
I also love adding mood lighting around the house, especially during the darker winter months. As you know, in a rental you can’t exactly just call an electrician to install lighting, and under cabinet lights are one of my favorite ways to elevate a kitchen. I’ve been using GlowRight Everywhere Lights under my cabinets and in the pantry and the Halo Lux spotlights for ambient lighting, and they’re such a fun upgrade with no electrician required!
They’re easy to stick under cabinets, in closets, or along shelves to create that cozy glow. You can control the color and brightness and they are all applied with a sturdy, adhesive backing and removed on and off the wall with magnets to charge.
These lights are:
- Wireless – they stick on with strong adhesive
- Rechargeable – with a USB-C cord
- Vary in color temperature – from white to yellow
- Have multiple ways to turn on and off: motion, door, hand wave
- Different formats: they come in sconces, bars, and strips!
If you want to see more pics, check out my post about them here: Glow Right Lights.
Hatch Restore
My evening routine is peaceful and zen thanks to my Hatch Restore Sunrise Alarm Clock. Around bedtime, I tap it to start a wind-down routine with sunset lighting and relaxing sound baths. After that, it seamlessly transitions into white noise for sleeping. I don’t have to touch a thing—it just rolls right into the next stage. And then it’s my alarm clock in the morning with a sunrise light and the music of flutes and birds.
If you’re someone who likes routines but struggles to stick to them, this is such a great way to let technology handle the structure. You can read my full review here: Hatch Restore 3.
Alexa Echo Show
When I moved into my townhouse, I got the Amazon Echo Show to be the main Alexa device on my first floor. I use it constantly throughout the day—mostly for music (I have my Apple Music connected). The speaker gets surprisingly loud, which is great for filling the room while I’m cooking or tidying up.
I also love having the screen. It’s helpful for seeing the weather, checking what song is playing, setting timers, and controlling other smart devices around the house.
Bonus: mine came bundled with a free doorbell camera, which brings me to the next renter-friendly gadget.
Amazon Blink Doorbell
I installed the Amazon Blink Video Doorbell myself, and I was very proud of that moment!
You can install it with existing wiring (so the house doorbell rings) or use the battery setup, which makes it very renter friendly and just pings your phone when the doorbell button is pushed. It connects to the Blink app so I can see who’s at the door when it rings on video. Because I live in a townhouse where I can’t easily see the front door, it’s especially helpful for checking deliveries or seeing who stopped by.
Shark Robot Vacuum
If I had to choose one smart home product that’s truly life-changing, it might be my Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop. (Note I have an older model, but this is the one I would get today!) I’ve had mine for about three years now, and it runs every day at 10am automatically. It picks up so much of the dust and crumb buildup that you don’t notice until suddenly it’s everywhere.
My older model vacuums and mops, but you have to manually switch the mop head. The newer versions let you toggle between dry and wet modes much more easily, which is exactly the kind of automation I love—the less I have to think about it, the better. If you have a pet that sheds, this is a MUST HAVE.
Here’s my blog post all about it: Shark Robot Vacuum.
Fire TV with Art
I bought my Amazon Fire TV specifically for the Ambient Experience feature. It displays rotating art when the TV isn’t in use, which gives it the same feel as a Frame TV – but the art is free. (Major win!)
It also turns on automatically when you walk into the room and powers down when you leave, which helps save energy. You can mount it like a frame on the wall, but mine is perfectly happy just resting on the console. And of course it’s a total smart TV with all the apps and things.
SimpliSafe Security System
If you’re renting and want a home security system, SimpliSafe Home Security System is hands-down my top recommendation. Everything is wireless and Wi-Fi based, so there’s no complicated installation. You can add door sensors, cameras, smoke detectors, and more depending on your setup.
The monitoring plan is about $30/month with app access (or $14 for a basic plan), and I’ve used SimpliSafe at two different homes now. The app is great for checking cameras and turning the alarm on and off. And of course you can automate that on a daily schedule too. I don’t know why anyone would ever install a hard-wire system again.
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At the end of the day, my definition of a smart home is simple: technology that quietly makes life easier in the background.
For renters especially, these kinds of plug-and-play devices are the sweet spot. They give you the convenience and automation of a fully smart house without making permanent changes. And when you move, everything comes with you!
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