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This content is presented by The Home Depot . The included fact and thought are those of BobVila.com .

Long faint hallway with a sole lighting switch at one remainder , harsh overhead inflammation that make you squinch , lights left on in empty room : these certainly are lighting dilemma . But you do n’t have to be with them or even compensate an electrician 100 of dollar to puzzle out them . Wiring a new dimmer switch to inflect down harsh lighting , installingsmart light switches , and even add a second Light Within permutation where there previously was n’t one are all projects you could take on yourself safely — and with nothing more than a screwdriver .

A man is using a tablet to dim the lights in the kitchen.

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Add a 3-way switch.

Few thing are more pestiferous than stumbling blindly across a dark room , hands outstretched , searching for the light switch on the paired bulwark . The obvious solvent is to supply a 2nd light switching that countenance you to turn on the brightness level from both sides of the room or hallway . But add a light replacement where there currently is n’t one is usually a complicated , potentially serious cognitive operation that involve cutting apart drywall and running new wiring . That ’s a line that requires a professional electrician and cancost $ 400 or more .

A safer , more affordable DIY option is to sum up a second lighter switch wirelessly using theDiva Smart Dimmer Switch 3 - Way Kitavailable at The Home Depot . The wireless outfit come with two boat paddle - elan sparkle switches , one thatreplaces the subsist light switchthat controls the fixture and a remote electric switch that you may climb on anywhere else in the way without the need for extra wiring . The distant switch communicates wirelessly with the principal electric switch , tolerate you to master the light source from both locations .

you may also add a Caseta hub that connect the Diva smart dimmer replacement to Alexa , Apple Home , Google , Ring , and other wise home systems , allowing you to assure and program the lights through representative program line and your smartphone .

Dimmer switch on gray wall.

Photo: The Home Depot

Automate your home’s lighting.

If you find yourself frequently following behind the other members of your household , turning off all the light that they leave on , then it might be time to take mastery over the firing in your dwelling house by endow in a multi - room light kit .

TheDiva Smart Dimmer Multi - Room Kit , for example , come with multiple loose switch and a hub that connects to your smartphone or a domicile internet , such as Alexa , Google , Apple Home , and Ring . These system allow you to set smart timer so luminousness automatically deform off and on at set times or adjust mechanically with the get up and setting of the sun . These multi - way kits can even boost your home ’s security with vacation modes that program them to cycle on and off while you ’re on vacation to throw off would - be burglar .

And since these kits use a hub and do n’t necessitate a Wi - Fi connexion , they wo n’t back up up your bandwidth and will continue to run even when your web go down . Adding smart switches involves replacing your current ones with smart switch , a outgrowth that does n’t ask the expertness of an electrician . And with smart switches , you could even add new promiscuous transposition locations without give birth to run wiring or cut pickle in the wall .

A view of a dimmer switch in the hallway looking into a bathroom and bedroom.

Photo: The Home Depot

Dim harsh lights.

Harsh overhead lighting , particularly in a dining orbit , can throw off the ambiance in a elbow room . you may exchange the abstemious regular or supervene upon the existinglight bulbswith lower electrical power option to weaken the lighting in a way , but that is n’t virtual for room that need job light at one fourth dimension and mood lighting at another .

And while you’re able to add lamps for more versatility , that may not work for kitchen , breakfast nooks , and dining rooms in which overhead lighting is often a essential . Smart bulbs are an selection , but having to get out your earpiece or have a digital assistant nearby to brighten or dim the lights can be inconvenient .

Adding a dimmer switch to control the intensiveness of lighting in a room is a better choice . And while doing so involve some wiring , it ’s a job you’re able to handle yourself with just a screwdriver .

A professional electrician testing newly installed dimmer.

Photo: andresr/E+ via Getty Images

you could install a dimmer switch on your own for about $ 20 or go with an climb and install a smart dimmer substitution , such as theDiva Smart Dimmer Switch 3 - Way Kit , for a fixture with multiple switch . Want to control the light levels in multiple rooms ? Then go with a outfit , such asDiva Smart Dimmer Multi - Room Kit , which will give you the just bang for your buck . For the price , you ’ll get many more way to control the ignition in a room than with a stock dimmer permutation alone . you may correct the lighting at the switch , on your smartphone , or with voice commands via a digital assistant . you may also set schedules and make scenes align multiple fixtures and smart switch .

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