If you want to give your home a bit of a makeover without breaking the bank, simple upgrades are the way to go. Not sure where to start? Think of everyday items that are easily replaceable, such as a shower head or a power strip.
Whether you’re a beginner or an expert at DIY, lifestyle and tech expert Mario Armstrong stopped by the 3rd hour of TODAY to share smart home upgrades that are both simple and easy to install. From a Bluetooth-compatible light switch button to a 'smart' tea kettle, these innovative gadgets will make even the simplest tasks a bit more luxurious, convenient and hassle-free.
Ready for an upgrade? Start adding these smart home tools to your bedroom, kitchen or all of the above by exploring some of our expert-recommended picks below.
Smart home upgrades seen on The 3rd hour of TODAY
You essentially get multiple products in one with this shelf-outlet extender hybrid. When plugged in, you have access to five outlets and three USB ports for charging, plus detachable shelf on top to place devices like Alexa or an iPad while they’re plugged. And at night, the bottom of the extender turns into a soft night light that you can manually turn off or on.
We’ve all had those days when we’re rushing out the garage door, and forgetting to shut it. With this smart garage control tool, you can open and close your garage from anywhere by just downloading the brand’s app.
According to the brand, this water sensor provides real-time alerts to your device when water drip or leakage is detected. The Govee app reveals the leak location, plus an adjustable alarm for easy identification.
“You can place these small devices [under] sinks, near washing machines or in basements,” Armstrong suggests.
By just mounting this Switchbot Smart Switch Button Pusher near your preferred button, the device turns any light switch into a 'smart' switch. No rewiring required! There's also a built-in timer to automatically turn your lights or appliances on or off. Simply connect it to your phone to seamlessly control your items, even when you're away.
The Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor helps you keep track of the air quality in your home by keeping tabs on five key factors: particulate matter (PM 2.5), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), humidity and temperature. When poor air quality is detected, Alexa and a color-coded LED will signal.
“Great for families with allergies or pets,” Armstrong recommends. “[It] gives you peace of mind about the air you’re breathing everyday.”
For precise brewing, this former Gifts We Love winner can be preset to your ideal temperature before making your morning tea or coffee. Plus, it can stay warm up to an hour so you can enjoy your cup of Joe at any time, which Armstrong emphasizes will "save you time in the morning."
More smart home upgrades to shop
Smart and dimmable light bulbs are a great way to customize the lighting in your home. This Kasa Smart Bulb can be controlled through the app, Alexa or Google Assistant, allowing you to adjust the brightness to your liking. You can even create schedules to help wake you up in the morning, turn on or off while you’re not home and more.
“One of the biggest perks of this light bulb is that it can be popped into any old lamp — literally,” said associate social media editor Dani Musacchio in her review. “I put mine in a lamp that was passed down to me by my grandmother. Once my light bulb was in place, all I had to do was download the Kasa app on my phone and follow the instructions to connect the bulb to my Wifi.”
Monitor entryways (even windows!) with these sensors, that alert you each time motion is detected. Plus, an alarm will sound should a door or window be opened unexpectedly.
For best results, the brand recommends placing it equidistant from a WiFi router and the door you want to use it on.
There's nothing more frustrating than a tangled cord when you need to start charging ASAP. But for more tangle-free moments, this unique charging cord uses magnetic coiling to stay clear of knots.
Chronic snorers, outside noise and other disruptive sounds are tuned out with the help of this affordable sound machine. "I used this on my trip last year to Ireland and I didn’t have to charge it once,” boasts editorial assistant Annie Shigo. “I use it on every trip and in a year, I have not had to charge it yet.”
For our 2026 Sleep Awards, our team tried nearly 200 products to determine which boosted relaxation, moments of calmness, and most of all, better sleep. One that surprised associate editor Shannon Garlin was this mini alarm clock from Hatch.
“Spoiler alert: You don’t need a baby to enjoy this,” she shares. “Although the features for babies are impressive, I love the sleek look and the way it acts as a lamp, alarm clock and sound machine. It looks beautiful on my nightstand. You can easily set things up and save it via the app. And to cycle through your favorites on the gadget, you just hit the top button, and turning it adjusts the sound, too.”
Perfect for guests, grandparents, or young ones who are trying to make it to the bathroom at night, this previous Shop TODAY Sleep Awards winner illuminates their path. It has a "modern design,” according to Armstrong, helping it blend into any hallway or room that you put it in.
“I love this as someone with low night vision,” added Shop TODAY executive editor Adrianna Brach. “It’s also great for guests, grandparents, kids or anyone trying to make it to the bathroom at night... think about those dark hallways, stairs and more spaces.”
Have eyes and ears in any room of your house while you’re away, and check in with house sitters and children alike, thanks to this indoor camera — that you can access via the Roku app on your television or smartphone.
Two-way audio allows you to communicate with those inside the house, including pets who may have gone astray in your absence.
All you need is a screwdriver and a couple of minutes to set up this smart lock, says Armstrong. Unlock your door one of four ways: fingerprints, a unique code, a key fob or a traditional key.
Plus, you can even set up a temporary code for babysitters, house sitters and guests who are visiting. With the app, you can even receive alerts notifying you of when family members arrive home safely.
Achieve a spa-like experience without having to leave home thanks to this dual shower head that has three modes: rainfall, handheld and a combination of the two.
The handheld shower head even has nine different spray settings, depending on the water pressure you want. It takes less than an hour to install, according to reviewers — no plumber or maintenance people are required!
Similar to the power strip above, these smart plugs can be plugged into any traditional outlet in your home, and then controlled via an app on your phone. You can set certain electronics and devices on a schedule, always have a lamp on when you arrive home, or turn the straightener off once you get to work.
With this smart power strip, Armstrong says this gadget allows you to check on devices regardless if you’re home or not. In the app, you can schedule and turn outlets on and off to control hair tools, coffee makers, humidifiers and more. You can power an entire room with this power strip, which includes six traditional outlets and three USB ports.
This Amazon Echo acts as an alarm clock, but also syncs with other facets of your house that you can control from your phone or with the sound of your voice.
Turn lights on and off depending on if you’re gearing up or winding down for the day, check the weather for the day ahead, ask Alexa to play your favorite music while you’re getting ready — and so much more.
There’s “nothing better than warm towels in the winter,” says associate partnerships editor, Lauren Witonsky. This towel warmer can even fit a bathrobe, for days when you can’t be bothered to put on real clothes.
It has a handle that pulls the towels up, meaning you don’t have to reach into the overheated basin for your towels, bathrobes, washcloths and more.
“I was initially skeptical about this product, but I’m glad I gave it a chance because it’s helped me understand so many of my health patterns and sleep habits, and I’ve been able to make meaningful adjustments because of it,” comments SEO writer Jannely Espinal. “The device is compact and sits neatly on a nightstand without taking up too much space.”
Meet the expert
- Mario Armstrong is a lifestyle and tech expert, podcaster and NBC contributor. Formerly, he has stopped by the show to share tech finds, President’s Day deals and more.
How we chose
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews and even use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think TODAY.com readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not TODAY. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time. These picks were chosen by Mario Armstrong and members of our editorial team.
