Automation Examples

This guide provides practical, real-world automation examples you can implement with We Love Lights. Each example includes the scenario, implementation steps, and customization tips.

Morning Routines

Gradual Wake-Up Lighting

Scenario: Gentle lighting progression to wake naturally.

Implementation: macOS Shortcuts

Setup:

Create three scenes:
- "Wake Start": 5% warm white
- "Wake Mid": 30% neutral white
- "Wake Full": 80% cool white
Create Shortcut "Wake Up":
- 7:00 AM: Activate "Wake Start"
- Wait 5 minutes
- 7:05 AM: Activate "Wake Mid"
- Wait 10 minutes
- 7:15 AM: Activate "Wake Full"
Set automation trigger for 7:00 AM weekdays

Customization:

Adjust timing for your schedule
Change color temperatures to preference
Add coffee maker (smart plug) at final step

Weekend vs Weekday Mornings

Scenario: Different routines for workdays and weekends.

Implementation: Shortcuts with conditionals

Setup:

Create Shortcut "Morning Routine":

Get Day of Week
If day is Monday-Friday
    Activate Scene "Work Morning" (bright, energizing)
    Wait 30 minutes
    Activate Scene "Focus Mode"
Otherwise (Weekend)
    Activate Scene "Relaxed Morning" (warm, gentle)
End If

Trigger at same time every day
Logic handles the difference

Benefits:

Single shortcut to maintain
Appropriate lighting for context
Can add more weekend-specific actions

Evening and Bedtime

Sunset-Triggered Evening Mode

Scenario: Automatically shift to evening lighting at sunset.

Implementation: Shortcuts + Time trigger

Setup:

Create scene "Evening Ambiance" (warm, medium brightness)
Create automation:
- Trigger: Sunset time (or fixed time like 6 PM)
- Action: Activate "Evening Ambiance"
macOS Shortcuts can use sunset time if configured with location

Alternative: Fixed time trigger (6-7 PM) if sunset automation unavailable

Progressive Bedtime Dimming

Scenario: Gradually dim lights leading to bedtime.

Implementation: Multiple Shortcuts or single complex one

Setup:

Create scenes:
- "Evening" (60% warm)
- "Pre-Bed" (30% warm)
- "Bedtime" (10% very warm/amber)
Set automations:
- 9:00 PM: "Evening"
- 10:00 PM: "Pre-Bed"
- 10:30 PM: "Bedtime"

Advanced: Single shortcut with delays (may be interrupted if Mac sleeps)

Goodnight Routine

Scenario: One command to prepare house for sleep.

Implementation: Scene + Shortcut + Voice command

Setup:

Create Shortcut "Good Night":
- Turn off all lights except bedroom
- Activate "Bedroom Nightlight" (2% warm)
- Turn on bedroom fan (smart plug)
- Turn off entertainment devices (smart plugs)
Add Siri phrase: "Good Night"
Trigger:
- Voice: "Hey Siri, good night"
- Physical: Bedside switch long-press
- Manual: Click shortcut

Result: Complete house shutdown with one command

Motion-Based Automation

Smart Hallway Lighting

Scenario: Lights turn on when entering dark hallway.

Implementation: Motion sensor rules (native to bridge)

Setup:

Place motion sensor in hallway
Configure time-based rules:

Daytime (6 AM - 10 PM):
- Trigger: Motion
- Condition: Light level < 50 lux
- Action: Turn on 60% neutral
- Timeout: 2 minutes
Nighttime (10 PM - 6 AM):
- Trigger: Motion
- Condition: Always
- Action: Turn on 5% warm amber
- Timeout: 3 minutes

Customization:

Adjust lux thresholds for your hallway
Change nighttime brightness to preference
Longer timeout if needed

Bathroom Night Mode

Scenario: Bathroom light adapts to time of day automatically.

Implementation: Motion sensor with time-based rules

Setup:

Motion sensor in bathroom
Rules:

Day (6 AM - 9 PM):
- Motion: Turn on 80% cool white
- Condition: Light < 100 lux
- Timeout: 5 minutes
Night (9 PM - 6 AM):
- Motion: Turn on 10% red or warm amber
- Condition: Always
- Timeout: 3 minutes

Why it works:

Day: Bright task lighting when needed
Night: Minimal disruption, preserves night vision
No manual switching required

Multi-Room Path Lighting

Scenario: Light path from bedroom to bathroom at night.

Implementation: Multiple sensors + complex rules

Setup:

Sensors: Bedroom doorway, hallway, bathroom
Rule logic:
- Any sensor triggers in night mode (11 PM - 6 AM)
- Turn on: Bedroom doorway light (5%)
- Turn on: Hallway lights (5%)
- Turn on: Bathroom light (10%)
- Timeout: 5 minutes after last motion
Configure each sensor to activate same scene

Result: Safe path without blinding brightness

Work and Focus

Focus Mode Integration

Scenario: Lighting changes with macOS Focus modes.

Implementation: Shortcuts + Focus automation

Setup:

Create scenes:
- "Deep Focus" (bright cool white, desk only)
- "Normal Work" (bright neutral, full office)
- "Break Time" (medium warm)
Create automations:

When "Work" Focus activates:
- Activate "Normal Work"
- Turn off non-office lights
When "Do Not Disturb" activates:
- Activate "Deep Focus"
- Minimize all distractions
When Focus deactivates:
- Activate "Normal" lighting

Benefits:

Automatic environment matching
Visual focus cue
Supports concentration

Meeting Dimmer

Scenario: Dim lights during video calls.

Implementation: Calendar-based Shortcut

Setup:

Create Shortcut "Meeting Mode":

Get Current Brightness
Store to "Original Brightness"
Set Brightness to 40%
Show Notification "Meeting mode active"

Create Shortcut "Meeting End":
```
Set Brightness to "Original Brightness"
```
Manual trigger: Run when meeting starts/ends

Automatic (advanced):

Calendar automation when event contains "Meeting"
Requires Shortcuts automation setup
May need manual trigger for reliability

Pomodoro Work Sessions

Scenario: 25-minute work, 5-minute break lighting cycles.

Implementation: Timer-based Shortcut

Setup:

Create scenes:
- "Focus Work" (bright cool)
- "Short Break" (medium warm)

Create Shortcut "Pomodoro":

Repeat 4 times:
    Activate "Focus Work"
    Wait 25 minutes
    Show notification "Break time!"
    Activate "Short Break"
    Wait 5 minutes
    Show notification "Work time!"
End Repeat
Activate "Long Break"

Trigger manually when starting work session

Note: Shortcut must remain active (Mac doesn't sleep) for full duration

Arrival and Departure

Welcome Home Lighting

Scenario: Lights turn on when arriving home.

Implementation: Location-based Shortcut

Setup:

Create Shortcut "Arrive Home":

Get Current Time
If time is after sunset OR before sunrise
    If time is before 11 PM
        Activate "Welcome Home Evening"
    Otherwise
        Activate "Welcome Home Night" (dim)
    End If
Otherwise
    Do nothing (daytime, enough light)
End If

Automation trigger: Arrive at Home location
Ensure location services enabled

Customization:

Adjust time thresholds
Different scenes for different times
Turn on specific path lights

Leaving Home Security

Scenario: Ensure lights off when leaving, except security lights.

Implementation: Location + Scene

Setup:

Create scene "Away Mode":
- All interior lights off
- Exterior entry light on (30%)
- Or random simulation lights
Create Shortcut "Leave Home":
- Activate "Away Mode"
- Turn off all smart plugs (optional)
- Show notification "Secured"
Trigger: Leave Home location

Security Addition:

Random light simulation via complex Shortcut
Timed exterior lights (on at sunset, off at sunrise)

Seasonal and Special Occasions

Holiday Lighting Automation

Scenario: Automatic holiday light control.

Implementation: Smart plug + time schedule

Setup:

Plug holiday lights into smart plug
Create Shortcut "Holiday Lights On":
- Turn on holiday lights plug
- Optionally activate themed scene
Create Shortcut "Holiday Lights Off":
- Turn off holiday lights plug
Schedule:
- On: Sunset (or 5 PM)
- Off: 11 PM or midnight
Manual control also available

Benefits:

No forgetting to turn on/off
Energy savings
Consistent schedule

Season-Based Temperature Shifts

Scenario: Warmer lights in winter, cooler in summer.

Implementation: Manual seasonal scene switching

Setup:

Create seasonal scene variations:
- "Living Room - Summer" (cooler tones)
- "Living Room - Winter" (warmer tones)
Update shortcuts seasonally:
- Spring/Summer: Use cooler versions
- Fall/Winter: Use warmer versions

Automatic (advanced):

Date-based conditionals in Shortcuts
Switch scenes based on month
Complex but possible

Party Mode

Scenario: Transform home for entertaining.

Implementation: Scene + optional color loop

Setup:

Create "Party" scene:
- Bright, colorful lights
- Or color loop effect
- Accent areas highlighted
Create Shortcut "Party Mode":
- Activate "Party" scene (main bridge)
- Activate "Party Outdoor" (if second bridge)
- Turn on accent lighting (smart plugs)
Voice command: "Hey Siri, party mode"

End party:

"Hey Siri, normal mode" or similar
Restores regular lighting

Energy Saving

Occupancy-Based Room Shutdown

Scenario: Turn off rooms when unoccupied.

Implementation: Motion sensors with reasonable timeouts

Setup:

Motion sensors in each room
Configure rules:
- Motion detected: Turn on lights
- No motion for 10-30 minutes: Turn off lights
Adjust timeouts per room:
- High traffic (hallway): 2-3 minutes
- Active use (office): 10-15 minutes
- Relaxation (bedroom): 30+ minutes

Result: Lights only on when needed

Daylight Harvesting

Scenario: Don't turn on lights when natural light sufficient.

Implementation: Motion sensors with light-level conditions

Setup:

Motion sensors with light sensors
Rules:
- Trigger: Motion detected
- Condition: Light level < threshold (e.g., 50 lux)
- Action: Turn on lights

Result:

Lights only on when actually dark
Energy savings during daytime
Automatic adaptation to weather

Night Mode Power Saving

Scenario: Minimize power usage late at night.

Implementation: Time-based scene + smart plugs

Setup:

Create "Night Minimum" scene:
- Only essential lights (nightlights)
- Very low brightness
Create Shortcut "Night Mode":
- 11 PM: Activate "Night Minimum"
- Turn off all non-essential smart plugs
- Turn off decorative lights
Reverse in morning

Savings: Most lights off 8+ hours per night

Advanced Scenarios

Adaptive Circadian Lighting

Scenario: Color temperature follows natural circadian rhythm.

Implementation: Time-based scenes throughout day

Setup:

Create scenes for each phase:
- 6 AM: Warm white (2700K) - Gentle wake
- 9 AM: Neutral white (4000K) - Alert morning
- 12 PM: Cool white (5500K) - Peak alertness
- 3 PM: Neutral white (4000K) - Afternoon
- 6 PM: Warm white (3000K) - Evening wind-down
- 9 PM: Very warm (2200K) - Pre-sleep
Schedule each scene transition
Override with manual control when needed

Benefits:

Supports natural sleep-wake cycle
Improves sleep quality
Better daytime alertness

Weather-Responsive Lighting

Scenario: Adjust lighting based on weather conditions.

Implementation: Shortcuts with weather API

Setup (requires Weather app integration):

Create Shortcut:

Get Current Weather
If condition is "Cloudy" or "Rainy"
    Activate "Bright Compensating" scene
Otherwise if condition is "Clear" or "Sunny"
    Activate "Normal Balanced" scene
End If

Trigger: Morning (or throughout day)

Why: Compensate for lack of natural light on dark days

Multi-Home Management

Scenario: Control vacation home from primary residence.

Implementation: Remote access + Shortcuts

Setup:

Configure remote access on vacation home bridge
Create location-based Shortcuts:

At Primary Home:
- Control via local network
At Vacation Home:
- Control via remote connection
Away from Both:
- Control both remotely
- Ensure both appear occupied

Use Case: Simulate occupancy in both locations while traveling

Troubleshooting Automation

Automation Doesn't Run

Check:

Shortcut/rule is enabled
Triggers are correct (time, location)
Bridge is connected
We Love Lights is running
Conditions are met

Inconsistent Execution

Solutions:

Simplify complex automations
Check network stability
Verify condition logic
Test components individually

Wrong Time Execution

Check:

System time correct
Time zone correct
Shortcut time set properly
Rule time matches intention

Next Steps

Ready to implement? Start here:

Shortcuts Integration - Learn Shortcuts in detail
Motion Sensors - Configure sensor automation
Rules Engine - Advanced rule creation
Scenes - Create scenes for automation to use
Switches - Physical automation triggers

Questions? Visit the FAQ or troubleshooting guide.

Automation Examples

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