Here’s how I integrate Spotify into my smart home
For someone who likes to listen to music everywhere and all the time, integrating Spotify into my home through smart devices has been a great way to make everything a little more musical. From the kids’ rooms to the bathroom, here are all the ways I use Spotify throughout my smart home.
1 Echo in children’s bedrooms
One of the ways I use Spotify the most in our house is with an Echo device in the kids’ bedrooms. I have two sons who want to listen to music almost all the time, even when they are sleeping, so there is always something playing. But using Spotify on smart devices in their rooms has other benefits – including establishing a bedtime routine and setting up the eldest’s study environment.
I do this by setting up routines: one for the oldest that includes a specific time with lo-fi music playing in the background while he studies or reads, and another tied to each child’s bedtime. Soothing music, the sounds of rain, or even listening to audiobooks on Spotify can help ease their transition to sleep while giving me a little break.
Since the Echo Dot is voice controlled, I can even let them choose their own favorite bedtime stories or sleep sounds to help them learn to be more independent at the same time.
2 Echo Show at the door
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Right next to the entrance to my home is our Echo Show which, in addition to all the other benefits it has, is a great way to welcome everyone into the family home. With Spotify integration, I was able to create custom routines that automatically play “welcome music” at scheduled times or when I click a button on my phone in the car.
Now this feature is most useful on days when I’m not home to say hello after school. These tunes are a fun way to transition from school or a doctor’s appointment, especially on a day that might have been a little more stressful than usual. It’s also fun to use the Echo Show’s screen to display funny lyrics or even music videos for extra fun.
3 Echo Dot in the bathroom
This next one might not be for everyone, but as a music-loving family, this is one place I have to say the Echo Dot really takes advantage of. I used to have to put my phone on Spotify and try to pick a playlist, but now with the dot we can call what we want to listen to while showering or taking a bath. This makes cleaning a bit more fun and a lot easier than trying to operate the device with wet hands.
Another way I can use it, besides showers and baths, is to help my kids with bedtime routines like washing their face and brushing their teeth. There are lots of cute little baby-friendly songs on Spotify to help with these routines, so I put one on and let them go through these nighttime routines.
4 Echo Buds around the house
I’ve always struggled to balance work commitments and personal time, but luckily using Echo Buds synced to my Spotify account meant I had a flexible audio solution wherever I was. I can listen to music while I work or play a podcast while I exercise – either way, they’re there whenever I need them.
5 Echo Show for the kitchen
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In the kitchen, we tend to use our Echo Show as the centerpiece of our evening entertainment whenever the TV is off, which we try to do as much as possible during homework and dinner time.
Streaming music on Spotify is usually done while preparing food or even while eating and sometimes during homework.
Why do I prefer the Echo Show for playing Spotify in the kitchen? Well, have you ever had eggs or hamburger meat on your hands while cooking only to have a song you hate come on? Being able to tell my Echo to skip or go to another album was a huge plus. Plus, there are even certain Spotify songs and playlists that can help with cooking – I can even use certain playlists to cook perfect pasta with Spotify every time!
6 Smart lights
One thing I’ve done around the house is sync Spotify with my smart lights. This allows me to turn on the music and lights in different ways, such as a morning routine with slowly dimming lights and soft background music. I can assure you, it’s a much better way to wake up than your parents yelling at you.
I can’t wait for the holidays either. I have a whole Christmas playlist ready and waiting, complete with all sorts of holiday lights that will turn my house into a true “winter wonderland” regardless of the fact that I live in Texas!
At the end of the day, incorporating Spotify into my home’s smart devices was a fun way to make boring routines a lot more fun. It was customizable and easy to do and I would recommend anyone who loves music to do the same!