Oct. 07, 2024
Enhancing your living room with innovative lighting ideas can significantly elevate its ambiance. One effective approach is to incorporate accent lighting, which is crafted to draw attention to specific features in the room, such as fireplaces or artworks. These accent lights serve not only as functional illumination but also as striking design elements.
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An excellent illustration of accent lighting is the Philips Hue Lightguide bulbs. These handblown bulbs, crafted from crystal-clear glass, are truly remarkable. The internal tube and unique coating create eye-catching reflections that enhance the bulb's shape. You can select from various styles, including small globe, large globe, ellipse, triangular, and the vintage Edison look. These bulbs integrate seamlessly into your existing table lamps—no shades needed! Alternatively, suspend them above your coffee table or reading nook using a coordinated fabric-wrapped cord for an elegant touch.
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Despite increasing competition, Philips Hue remains a top contender when it comes to smart lighting solutions. The fantastic news is that it’s now more affordable and user-friendly than ever to transform your living space with smart lighting.
Even before competitors like Nanoleaf, Govee, Lifx, and Ikea Trådfri entered the market, Signify (formerly Philips Lighting) was already offering a range of connected bulbs that could be conveniently controlled via a smartphone application. Since their initial launch, the selection has expanded significantly: Philips Hue Bluetooth bulbs now complement the existing Zigbee-powered Hue, which requires an external bridge.
However, creating a harmonious environment with Philips Hue bulbs can be somewhat of a challenge. Starting with a simple installation, such as screwing in a bulb, seems easy enough, yet the extensive variety of Philips Hue bulbs and accessories can be overwhelming. Interfacing with systems like Google Assistant, HomeKit, SmartThings, or Alexa adds another layer of complexity.
Moreover, we haven't even touched on what Matter implies for Philips Hue.
Fortunately, you won't need to navigate the intricate world of Philips Hue by yourself; we've done the groundwork for you. Continue reading for our detailed guide on setting up Philips Hue.
Update: This guide was originally published a few years ago but is consistently updated with the most current information regarding all things Hue. The latest revision includes updates from June and new features expected to roll out soon.
The traditional Philips Hue installation resembles that of most smart lighting systems, utilizing Wi-Fi and Zigbee technology to connect various smart devices—up to 50 in total—that you can control through either an app or a physical remote.
Once set up in your standard light sockets or plugged in, you'll have the ability to adjust brightness, colors, create schedules, and integrate with additional smart home technologies.
Thanks to devices from Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, you may find that using the app becomes unnecessary; rather, you can control your home's lighting purely through voice commands. We'll delve into this more in the sections to follow.
Another advantage is that a Hue Bridge or a third-party Zigbee hub like the Amazon Echo is no longer a necessity for operating your Hue smart lights. In 2019, Signify announced that all new bulbs would support Bluetooth, including popular models such as the Lightstrip Plus, Perifo, and Bloom.
If you prefer Bluetooth control, you'll manage everything directly through your smartphone, though functionality may be restricted (like being unable to control them outside of Bluetooth range). For more details, check our review of Hue Bluetooth.
It's essential to note that the current version of the Hue Bridge on sale is the second generation, while support for the original round version ended in April 2019. Rumors of a new third-generation Hue Bridge have circulated, though they've yet to materialize.
1. Connect the Hue Bridge to a power outlet and link it to your router with an Ethernet cable.
2. Proceed when the four lights on the Bridge illuminate.
3. Open the Philips Hue app, and navigate to Settings > My Hue System > +.
4. Follow the setup instructions accordingly.
1. Ensure the Philips Hue Bridge is properly set up.
2. Access Settings > Lights > +.
3. Click on Search or manually input the serial number on the bulb.
4. Follow the setup instructions, where you can name your light and categorize it by room.
A typical Philips Hue configuration involves a Hue Bridge and at least one Hue bulb.
While a Hue Bridge is not strictly necessary, using a Hue Dimmer switch or Bluetooth on the latest bulbs will limit you to basic dimming capabilities for up to ten bulbs—not exactly embracing the smart home revolution.
If you possess an Echo Hub, an Echo 4th-gen, or a newer Echo Show device, those can function as Zigbee hubs as well, eliminating the need for a Hue Bridge.
However, there is a caveat: while these Echo devices provide more functionality than a basic Dimmer switch, you won’t have access to all the extensive features of Hue. To unlock the full Philips Hue experience—quoting Signify—you still need a Bridge.
Operating without a Bridge means missing out on essential features like automated light activation, smart switches, sensor controls, wake and sleep routines, custom scenes, syncing lights with music or video, and third-party app access.
For in-depth instructions on various setup options, including relying on an Ikea gateway instead of a Hue Bridge, check our comprehensive guide.
Starter Kits provide a combination of the Bridge and various bulb types, with numerous options available. Pricing starts from $69.99 / £69.99 for a kit that includes the Bridge alongside two warm-white E26 bulbs.
Additional bundles are available, featuring GU10 bulbs, more bulbs, Hue buttons, and beyond.
At the higher end, you can obtain a Bridge and four multi-colored lights for $199.99, while in the UK, a pack of three bulbs alongside a Hue Dimmer switch can be found for £169.99.
Of course, you can purchase the Bridge independently for $59 / £49 and then add bulbs as needed, including non-Hue brands for additional economy.
The Philips Hue range includes over 100 different kits and devices for sale.
In the US and UK, Signify has an official Hue Store where you can procure the latest lighting products and accessories, often with ongoing promotions.
Here's a quick look at what you should focus on when selecting the best Philips Hue lights:
Start by identifying where you want your Philips Hue bulbs to be placed, and check the applicable fixtures. Hue bulbs fit into nearly all standard fittings or lamps across your home.
In the US, you can select from A21, E26, E12, BR30, and PAR16 screw-in bulbs, as well as GU10 for spotlights.
The UK offers slightly different naming, with equivalencies in E27 and E14 for screw sockets, GU10s for spotlight purposes, and older versions like the B22 bayonets.
Consider bulb shapes next—options include the traditional round bulbs, candle-shaped ones, flat bulbs for ceilings, and stylish curved ambiance shapes. A new addition is the smart filament bulbs, which sport the vintage exposed Edison style available in A19, ST19, and G25 sizes, adding an elegant touch to your decor.
Next, you'll confront the choice of color. The basic Hue bulbs come in variations of white, white ambiance, and white & color ambiance—the latter featuring up to 16 million colors and shades.
White ambiance bulbs provide varying shades and temperatures of white light (from 2200K to 6500K), while standard white bulbs are not adjustable but remain dimmable.
All Hue bulbs typically emit around 800 lumens, although the brightest white bulb, the A21 model, recently debuted at 1600 lumens in June 2021.
Filament bulbs provide 550 lumens at a fixed 2700K color temperature, functioning solely in a warm orange hue.
All Hue LED bulbs offer an impressive lifespan of 25,000 hours with an output of 9.5-10W maximum.
You can buy bulbs individually, in pairs, or in assorted multipacks depending on your location, with prices starting from $14.99 / £14.99 for a single white bulb up to $49.99 / £49.99 for a single color ambiance bulb.
Instead of modifying existing fixtures and lamps, you can opt for completely new smart lamps and fixtures designed to replace outdated lighting.
A wealth of styles is available—around 40 unique designs, although the UK may have a broader variety compared to the US.
From wall lights and table lamps to ceiling spotlights, many possibilities exist, with prices starting around $40 / £35 and ranging up to $350 / £350 based on aesthetic preferences.
One of the standout features of Philips Hue is the colored Lightstrips, which can be seamlessly concealed beneath cabinet edges, around furniture, or along baseboards, adding a futuristic flair to your home.
Outdoor versions are available too, perfect for festive decorations. They're waterproof and adhere using clips instead of sticky tape, allowing for placement outdoors.
Simply connect one end to a power socket, and you can extend 1m or 2m strips into a chain up to 10m long. If adjustments are necessary, these Lightstrips can be easily cut to fit your space.
The latest Bluetooth-enabled Lightstrip Plus, introduced in mid-2021, allows for easy customization—the ability to cut and reattach, giving you more flexibility than ever.
Philips Hue has significantly expanded its offerings in outdoor lighting since 2019, introducing a comprehensive range including wall-mounted lights, bulbs, spotlights, and the aforementioned Lightstrips. The Philips Hue Lily starter pack features three spotlights that enhance garden design, while the Philips Hue Calla (640 lumens) acts as path illumination, with a base pack that includes one bollard.
For wall-mounted fixtures, consider the Philips Hue Inara (800 lumens), Lucca (800 lumens), or Ludere (600 lumens). Additionally, Philips offers a dedicated outdoor bulb, the white PAR38, priced at $29.99 each or $49.99 for two, generating 1000 lumens.
Recent additions like the Daylo, Nyro, Impress, and Attract have expanded the outdoor-specific Hue collection to nearly 50 options.
While you can technically use a standard Hue bulb in a waterproof fixture, Signify advises against this practice.
Contact us to discuss your needs for philips hue indoor spotlight. Our skilled sales team can help find the options that best suit your requirements.
The Philips Hue Adore range is specifically designed for bathrooms. A centerpiece is the Adore White lighted mirror, featuring a ring of white LEDs that can be seamlessly controlled through Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple HomeKit. The mirror boasts IP44 dust and water resistance, ensuring durability amid humidity.
Additional offerings include the Adore Bathroom spotlight, the Adore Bathroom mirror light, and the Adore Bathroom ceiling light—all emphasize white lighting and chrome finishes with IP44 water resistance.
Once you possess the lights, you’ll require effective control options. The app is your paramount solution, though several physical controllers exist as well.
The Hue Dimmer switch was mentioned previously, but for a more advanced selection, consider the $50 / £50 Hue Tap Dial. This device operates on kinetic energy—no batteries needed—and enables you to select your favorite scenes with a button tap. It can be mounted on a wall or used as a remote.
For minimalistic control, consider the Hue smart button, which is simply a lone push button that can magnetically attach to fridges. Long presses can control additional features, priced at $19.99 / £19.99, making it an interesting alternative.
Motion sensors are available as well, allowing bulbs to activate based on movement. The indoor model costs $39.99 / £34.99, with the outdoor model priced $10 / £10 higher.
Both sensors feature a daylight sensor, enabling operational settings only when darkness falls. (Pro-tip: you could opt for budget-friendly motion sensors and trigger your Hue bulbs using Alexa routines, among others.)
Signify debuted the long-awaited Wall Switch Module in 2021. With this module integrated into an existing light switch, your smart bulbs remain usable regardless of the state of the switch.
The Philips Hue Wall Module is offered at $39.95 for one or $69.95 for a two-pack.
In 2020, Signify introduced the Philips Hue Sync App for Windows 10 and Mac, which syncs your Hue lights with the content being played, allowing for immersive experiences that match color and rhythm with the on-screen action.
This was suitable for desktop gaming, but for console or TV use, connecting through HDMI or Chromecast was necessary.
With the Hue Play Sync Box, those complications dissipate. It’s an HDMI pass-through that doubles as a Hue device, allowing you to connect multiple TV boxes and synchronize on-screen activity with your lighting.
The box supports HDMI CEC and HDMI 2.0, facilitating 4K HDR content at 60Hz, and connects to up to four devices, syncing with up to ten color-changing Hue lights.
The Philips Hue Play Gradient Light Tube integrates well into the entertainment section of Hue, succeeding the Gradient Lightstrip. This tubular model is easier to install and can be positioned above or beneath a TV.
Philips Hue has also infused Gradient technology into select lines, allowing lights to showcase multiple colors simultaneously rather than simply cycling through hues.
The Gradient versions of the Hue Signe table and floor lamps are priced at $199.99 (table) and $299.99 (floor).
In a partnership unveiled at CES, Signify and Samsung announced an app that allows Hue lights to mimic Ambilight effects without needing an external HDMI Sync Box.
Although some costs remain with a $130 / £115 price tag for the Philips Hue Sync TV app, a more appealing subscription model is available now for $2.99 / £2.69 monthly.
This app essentially replaces the external Hue Sync Box and operates from within your Samsung TV, providing a unique syncing experience with everything you watch or play.
The Hue app, while fantastic, has become less crucial, particularly due to the Philips Friends of Hue program. Hue has long partnered with platforms such as IFTTT, Logitech, and Xfinity, but now incorporates Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, and Amazon Alexa.
This integration facilitates not only voice control for lighting but also allows for enhanced security measures—like activating all lights if specific motion is detected.
Through voice commands or using IFTTT, creating elaborate scenes across all your devices becomes achievable. This may include setting your ideal temperature while simultaneously controlling lighting, closing blinds, and arming security alarms.
The potential is virtually limitless, as Hue easily ranks among the most supported smart home platforms, ensuring seamless compatibility with an array of connected devices.
Signify's integration with the Matter smart home standard presents exciting prospects, at least in theory. Pairing your Hue Bridge with a Matter controller capitalizes on the emerging smart home framework.
Currently, however, Hue users may not see significant advantages. As the Matter standard evolves in the future, the integration potential will expand.
To date, only the Bridge has attained Matter certification, meaning bulbs and lights are more truly integrated within a Matter system through the Bridge.
For now, the appeal of using Matter compared to utilizing an Echo Skill for syncing Hue bulbs within your smart home ecosystem chiefly lies in reducing reliance on cloud-based solutions, fostering a more localized experience.
In 2021, Spotify collaborated with Philips Hue to create "deep lighting and music integration." This engaging feature allows bulbs and light strips to pulse in harmony with music while applying color shades that match the ongoing track.
This is facilitated through the Hue app's access to Spotify's metadata, which encompasses details about the song's tempo, genre, mood, and beyond. Such information aids in accurately categorizing Spotify’s extensive array of playlists.
Unveiled at IFA 2021, Philips Hue has expanded into smart security with cameras and sensors.
Hue Secure cameras come in both battery-operated and wired variants, including a Floodlight Hue Secure camera. A key drawpoint of these cameras is that all footage processing occurs locally rather than in the cloud, ensuring end-to-end encryption.
All security features are managed through the new Security Center within the Philips Hue app. A Hue Bridge and account are required for initial setup.
Within the app, users can manually trigger alarms, flash Hue lights or sound the siren from their Secure camera, or alert police or family.
Having been around for several years, Philips Hue benefits from a wide array of additional functionalities beyond the primary app and ecosystem. There are over 700 third-party Hue applications available across Google Play and the App Store, although not all are high-quality.
Among the standout options are Hue Disco, which adds vibrancy to your parties, and OnSwitch, which unifies control over Hue and Lifx bulbs in one app. For more options, consult our guide to the best Philips Hue apps.
Did you know that you don't need Philips Hue bulbs to have a Philips Hue system? Due to compliance with the Zigbee Light Link standard protocol, other compatible Zigbee products and devices can also work with the Hue Bridge. Setting up bulbs from brands such as Ikea, GE, and Osram on your Hue system may take some effort, but it is definitely achievable. For assistance, check our guides on establishing Ikea Trådfri on Philips Hue or connecting Innr bulbs with Hue.
The Friends of Hue initiative allows you to link accessories, such as switches, that, while not officially Hue products, act in harmony with Hue systems.
These accessories can be added through the Hue app, connecting to your Hue Bridge via Zigbee.
Explore our guide to discover the best Friends of Hue switches for your Philips Hue system.
Here are a few more how-tos to assist you:
Should your bulbs or Bridge experience connectivity issues, a hard reset may be required. For bulbs, this can be accomplished via the app, but if you're not employing the Hue Bridge or app, use the applicable hub connected to your bulbs. For comprehensive instructions, refer here.
1. Ensure your Philips Hue light is powered on and ready to pair.
2. Install the Philips Hue Skill on your Alexa-enabled device.
3. Command Alexa to, “find my devices” and wait 45 seconds as she scans for any nearby devices.
4. Once a bulb is detected, connect it through the Alexa app for manual or voice control. Ensure it has an easy-to-pronounce name.
5. Whether a Bridge is present or not, you can control your bulbs with voice commands. For instance, attempt, “Alexa, set bedroom light to 50%.”
For more guidance on using Philips Hue with Alexa, check our complete instructions.
Whether seeking to enhance your living atmosphere or connect more with nature, one of the most exciting features of Hue is its capacity to simulate different weather conditions or sync with outdoor changes. It’s fairly straightforward to set up—learn how below.
As previously mentioned, another feature of the Hue Sync app includes the ability to immerse yourself in movies and games by having your Hue bulbs adjust according to the action on-screen. Click here for a full guide on this feature.
Friends of Hue switches allow you to control your Hue lights easily through the Hue app. It's convenient to set these up.
The Senic Friends of Hue Outdoor Switch is among our top recommendations in this category.
While Philips Hue leads in the smart lighting domain, numerous alternatives vie for attention.
Lifx, as a leading competitor, offers a bridge-free system and a more user-friendly app at competitive price points, boasting a growing catalog of bulbs and accessories. Keep a close watch on this brand; refer to our extensive Lifx guide for detailed insights.
Nanoleaf, initially recognized for its smart light panels, has diversified in recent years, introducing lightstrips, bulbs, and spotlights for a legitimate Hue alternative.
The Ikea Trådfri range emerged in early 2018, offering basic functionality. Although currently minimal, smart assistants, color capabilities, and improved compatibility breathe life into this platform; notably, Ikea’s affordable bulbs can be integrated into your Hue setup. For explorations, read our Ikea Trådfri review.
Additional contenders in this dynamic smart lighting space include Innr, Nanoleaf, Osram, Wemo, Hive, Wyze, Sengled, Govee, and Elgato. Check out our dedicated smart lighting hub for ongoing updates, reviews, and analyses.
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