I have bought a lot of smart home gadgets over the years. Most of them ended up in a drawer. A few I use every single day. Here is which ones are actually worth the money and setup time.

Smart plugs — the one everyone should own

A smart plug costs about ten dollars. You plug it into a wall outlet, plug a device into it, and now you can turn that device on and off from your phone or with a voice command. No wiring, no installation, ten seconds to set up.

I use them for lamps, the coffee maker, a space heater, and the Christmas tree lights. The coffee maker one is the best — I set it to turn on five minutes before my alarm. Coffee is ready when I walk into the kitchen. That alone was worth ten dollars.

Smart plugs also let you schedule things to turn off. I have a space heater on a smart plug that shuts off automatically at midnight so I never leave it running all night by accident.

Smart lights — useful, but only in specific places

You do not need smart bulbs in every socket. Put them where you actually benefit: bedside lamps (turn off without getting out of bed), porch lights (schedule them for sunset to sunrise), and hard-to-reach fixtures like high ceiling lights.

A single smart bulb costs about eight dollars. I have three in my apartment and that is plenty. The color-changing ones are fun for about a week — then you will leave them on warm white forever. Save the five dollars and get the white-only version.

Smart thermostat — pays for itself

If you have central heating and air conditioning, a smart thermostat will save you money. It learns your schedule and adjusts the temperature when you are asleep or away. Most models claim to save 10-15% on heating and cooling bills, which for the average household is about a hundred dollars a year.

Installation is more involved than a smart plug — you have to connect wires to your HVAC system — but most thermostats come with clear instructions and the manufacturer’s support line will walk you through it.

What to skip

Smart refrigerators. A tablet glued to your fridge door is just a tablet. You already have a tablet. It is called your phone.

Smart toasters. Pressing a lever down is not hard. A smart toaster adds an app and a price tag for a problem that does not exist.

Smart speakers in every room. One in the kitchen or living room makes sense. One in every bedroom is overkill and makes your house feel like a surveillance state.

Start with a couple of smart plugs. If you use them, add a few bulbs. If you like those, consider a thermostat. Stop there. You have the useful stuff without the clutter.