Smart home from scratch: the first 10 steps
10 steps take you from a blank page to a planned and tested smart home: define goals, identify the project type, map rooms, rank functions, set a budget, choose architecture, plan infrastructure, coordinate trades, appoint an integrator and fine-tune the result. This guide gives you a practical order for a Loxone new build, renovation or retrofit.
The 10 steps at a glance
| Step | Task | Practical output |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Define improvements | 3-5 clear goals for daily life |
| 2 | Identify project type and timing | Schedule for new build, renovation or retrofit |
| 3 | List rooms and routines | Room schedule based on real use |
| 4 | Prioritise core functions | Order for lighting, shading, heating, security and energy |
| 5 | Set budget and phases | Realistic scope for each stage |
| 6 | Choose architecture and local control | System decision using a Loxone Miniserver |
| 7 | Plan infrastructure | Cables, cabinet, switches, sensors and reserves |
| 8 | Coordinate trades | Agreed interfaces and responsibilities |
| 9 | Select an integrator | Defined delivery and documentation |
| 10 | Commission and refine | Tested system adjusted after move-in |
Step 1: Define what the home should improve
Start with daily problems and desired outcomes. Write down what should become easier in the morning, when everyone leaves, during the evening and at night. Useful goals include stable room temperatures, shading before rooms overheat, one clear away mode or lighting that follows occupancy.
Choose 3-5 priorities. An integrator can turn these into system logic. A shopping list of devices is less useful until the daily outcome is clear.
For an overview of integrated building control in Berlin and Brandenburg, see the Loxone Berlin service page.
Step 2: Identify project type and timing
A new build, renovation and retrofit each provide different opportunities. In a new build, smart home planning should start before the final electrical design. During renovation, coordinate with the period when walls, ceilings and distribution boards are accessible. In an occupied property, survey the existing wiring and network before selecting wired or wireless elements.
Record the key dates: electrical design approval, first fix, cabinet build, finishes, commissioning and move-in. Read the Loxone new build guide for early wired planning or the smart home retrofit page for an existing property.
Step 3: List rooms and real daily routines
Create a room schedule that includes circulation and technical areas, the utility room, basement, terrace, garage and entrance. For every space, record who uses it, at what time, the required lighting, shading, temperature, security and manual controls.
Walk through a weekday and weekend. Who gets up first? Who leaves last? Which route is used at night? Which rooms stay empty for long periods? These routines determine useful sensor positions, switch functions and automation rules.
Step 4: Prioritise lighting, shading, heating, security and energy
Rank the five core areas by value for this property. Lighting needs circuits and scenes. Shading depends on orientation, motors and weather protection. Heating needs a clear relationship between rooms, heating circuits and the heat source. Security starts with doors, windows, presence and defined responses. Energy control should reflect installed equipment such as a heat pump, photovoltaic system, battery or EV charger.
Mark every function as "at move-in", "prepare now" or "later". This keeps the infrastructure aligned with future stages. Avoid fixed energy-saving promises because results depend on the building, equipment and occupancy.
Step 5: Set a realistic budget and expansion stages
Budget depends on property size, room count, functions, existing services, product choices and project stage. A reliable figure needs those inputs.
Separate planning, electrical infrastructure, cabinet, sensors and controls, outputs, programming, commissioning and documentation. Then create expansion stages. Audio, garden automation or advanced comfort scenes can follow later when cables, cabinet capacity and interfaces are prepared.
Ask every supplier to state assumptions and exclusions. This makes quotations easier to compare and reduces unexpected additions during construction.
Step 6: Choose system architecture and a local controller
Decide where logic runs, how systems connect and what remains available during a fault. In a Loxone installation, the Miniserver runs core automation locally. Lighting, shading, heating and other connected functions can follow their configured logic inside the property.
Optional connected services may require internet. Depending on the setup, these can include external remote access, push notifications, email, current weather data and some support services. Document those dependencies clearly.
The local controller still needs reliable power, a stable local network and a current configuration backup. Include those foundations in the design.
Step 7: Plan cabling, cabinet, switches, sensors and reserves
Translate functions into the electrical design. It should cover lighting circuits, shading motors, heating zones, network points, window and door contacts, presence and temperature sensors, switches and technical interfaces.
Size the electrical cabinet for an orderly terminal layout, equipment, thermal requirements, networking and sensible reserve capacity. Place switches according to the routines in step 3. Reserve conduits, conductors and network points can make later changes easier, with the appropriate amount determined by the property.
Step 8: Coordinate electrical, heating, shading and networking trades
Assign an owner to every interface. The electrician needs cable schedules and output requirements. The heating contractor provides details of the heat source, distribution, valves and control interface. The shading supplier confirms motors, limits and protection functions. The network contractor provides dependable local connectivity.
Hold one coordination meeting before first fix. Record interfaces, decisions, deadlines and open points. A named coordinator should maintain the current plan so every trade works from the same information.
Step 9: Select an integrator and require full documentation
Confirm who covers design, interface coordination, programming, commissioning and support. Ask for relevant project examples and a clear change process. The proposal should identify deliverables and assumptions.
Agree documentation before placing the order. Handover should include circuit and cabinet drawings, terminal and cable schedules, room mapping, network overview, current Loxone configuration, access model, logic description and operating guidance. Also define who keeps backups and handles future changes.
Step 10: Commission, test and fine-tune after moving in
Test each switch, sensor, lighting circuit, shading drive, heating request, contact, away mode and agreed security response. Verify local operation and any connected services, including expected behaviour during an internet outage. Track defects and settings in a commissioning record.
Real occupancy reveals whether presence timeouts, brightness thresholds, temperatures and scenes feel right. Schedule a fine-tuning visit several weeks after move-in. Save the revised configuration and update the handover documents.
Where to save and where not to save
| Sensible savings | Do not save here |
|---|---|
| Enable comfort functions in stages | Functional and electrical design |
| Use simpler controls in secondary rooms | Cabling, cabinet and safe installation |
| Add audio, garden and custom logic later | Sensor positions and sensible reserves |
| Use connected services only when needed | Documentation, testing and configuration backups |
The budget depends on the property and selected functions. Phasing reduces initial scope while good preparation protects future options.
Conclusion: start in the right order
These 10 steps connect daily needs with electrical planning, trade coordination and a documented handover. Loxone adds local core automation through the Miniserver, while optional online services are planned with clear internet dependencies.
If you are planning a property in Berlin or Brandenburg, send the basic details through the project planner. We can review the project stage, priorities and technical prerequisites, then define a practical next step.
FAQ
When should smart home planning begin?
For a new build, begin before the final electrical design. For renovation, start before cable routes are closed. A retrofit should begin with a survey of the existing electrical and network infrastructure.
Do I need to install every Loxone function immediately?
No. Functions can be delivered in stages. Prepare the required cabling, cabinet space, sensor positions and interfaces for the stages you expect to add.
Does Loxone work without internet?
Core automation runs locally through the Loxone Miniserver. Optional connected services such as external remote access, push notifications and current weather data require internet.
What documentation should an integrator provide?
Request electrical drawings, cable and terminal schedules, network structure, the current Loxone configuration, logic notes, access details and clear operating guidance.