Smart Home Enthusiasts Streamline Setups by Combining Multiple Gadgets Into Single Devices

As smart home ecosystems continue to expand, many technology enthusiasts find their workspaces and living areas steadily filling up with an assortment of dedicated gadgets, single-purpose sensors, and control interfaces. For Adam Davidson, a consumer technology writer and long-time smart home aficionado who runs a Home Assistant server to automate his household devices, the office desk serves as a primary example of this clutter. However, recent DIY innovations within the smart home community are demonstrating that a little planning and clever engineering can significantly reduce hardware bloat by consolidating multiple distinct devices into cohesive, single-unit systems.

Rather than accepting a desk covered in disparate components, tinkerers are increasingly turning to flexible microcontroller platforms like the ESP32 to build custom hardware that addresses multiple needs simultaneously. By merging presence detection, physical control buttons, and status indicators into unified packages, smart home users are discovering more efficient ways to manage their automated environments while minimizing physical clutter.

Build a Presence Sensor, Smart Button, and Status Light

The movement toward device consolidation often stems from the practical frustrations of managing overlapping hardware. One notable project emerged precisely because a creator realized they were relying on three separate devices within a single home office environment. Alongside a dedicated presence-sensing unit used to monitor whether anyone was seated at the desk, the setup utilized a Philips Hue smart button and a Pico remote to handle auxiliary tasks, such as managing office fans and other local accessories.

Recognizing the inefficiency of maintaining three distinct gadgets for closely related tasks, the creator decided to engineer a single unit capable of handling all three functions. Utilizing an ESP32 microcontroller, a compatible presence-sensing module, two physical buttons, and three LEDs, the project went through several design iterations before taking its final form. The resulting device, known as Scoopy, is a compact ESPHome controller designed to sit neatly on a desk or remain hidden beneath a table. Beyond monitoring human presence and providing physical control inputs, the unit functions as a Bluetooth proxy to extend the range of a central Home Assistant server.

The device’s physical buttons are programmed to recognize single presses, double presses, and hold actions, yielding a surprisingly high degree of control functionality from a remarkably small footprint. Meanwhile, the integrated LEDs feature independently adjustable brightness levels and support visual effects to clearly communicate different operational states and system conditions.

For those interested in replicating the hardware, the original creator has made the necessary architectural files, firmware, and 3D printing STL designs publicly available on GitHub. Users who prefer a ready-made solution without undertaking the fabrication process themselves can also purchase assembled units or printed circuit board assemblies directly through the creator’s web platform.

Add a Display to a Bluetooth Proxy

Another common challenge in expansive smart home networks involves optimizing foundational hardware that might otherwise perform only a single, background role. Among the simplest and most popular implementations for an ESP32 microcontroller is converting it into a Bluetooth proxy. By flashing ready-made ESPHome firmware onto the board, a user allows their central Home Assistant hub to communicate seamlessly with Bluetooth-enabled devices that would otherwise remain out of direct wireless range. Furthermore, these proxies can be integrated with tracking software like Bermuda to facilitate room-based presence detection based on the real-time location of personal items, smartphones, or smartwatches.

Because effective presence tracking typically relies on deploying multiple Bluetooth proxies distributed throughout a residence, relying on numerous ESP32 units dedicated solely to background relay tasks can feel underutilized to hardware enthusiasts. Seeking to extract greater value from these omnipresent microcontrollers, smart home community members have explored methods to augment their capabilities.

One approach involves connecting a compact visual display directly to the ESP32, transforming a standard Bluetooth proxy into an active information panel. A recent implementation demonstrated by a Home Assistant user incorporates a 1.29-inch OLED display housed inside a custom 3D-printed enclosure. Connected directly to the microcontroller, the screen is capable of presenting live data pulled from Home Assistant entities, such as ambient temperature and humidity readings, alongside network diagnostic information like Wi-Fi signal strength and active proxy connection status.

Comprehensive documentation for this modification—covering required components, precise wiring schematics, ESPHome configuration parameters, and installation steps—has been published online for community use. While the established configuration provides a robust starting point, the underlying open-source nature of the project allows users to customize the firmware to display entirely different metrics or adapt the hardware housing to fit alternative physical displays and aesthetic preferences.

Make Your Standing Desk Track How Long You’re Sitting

Addressing sedentary habits during long work hours represents a major focus for many remote workers and technology professionals. Spending extended periods sitting at a desk has well-documented health implications, prompting continuous efforts to introduce movement into daily routines. For those who utilize automated monitoring, integrating presence sensors with specific zones—such as a designated space mapped exclusively to an office chair—allows a smart home system to log exactly how long a person remains seated. When presence is detected continuously for too long, smart speakers can issue voice reminders to stand up, while live status notifications on mobile devices can track accumulated sitting time throughout the day.

Many professionals also incorporate adjustable standing desks into their workspaces to alternate between sitting and standing postures. Recognizing an opportunity for deeper automation, smart home hobbyists have begun bridging the gap between automated presence tracking and adjustable furniture controls.

For compatible standing desks equipped with an RJ45 communication port, users can interface an ESP32 directly with the desk’s control box, enabling remote signal transmission and automated adjustments. By pairing this connection with a millimeter-wave presence sensor like the LD2410, the system can determine not only whether an individual is seated at the desk, but also communicate with Home Assistant to verify whether the physical desktop surface is raised or lowered. This integration enables comprehensive tracking of daily metrics, including total sitting duration, standing time, and periods of absence from the workspace.

For desks lacking direct digital communication ports, alternative modifications can achieve similar tracking outcomes through simpler mechanical means. By attaching the components of a standard door contact sensor to the rear of the desk and an adjacent wall at the exact height threshold, the sensor changes state depending on the desk’s vertical position. When the desk is lowered, the sensor registers a closed state, whereas raising the desk separates the magnetic components to indicate an open state. This straightforward physical modification allows the system to accurately differentiate between sitting and standing periods, even if the desk height adjustments themselves are performed manually.

Ultimately, these developments highlight a broader trend within the smart home community toward maximizing the utility of existing hardware. Whether by adding soil moisture monitoring capabilities to Bluetooth proxy boards to track indoor houseplants or consolidating multiple single-purpose desktop accessories into unified nodes, enthusiasts continue to find creative ways to expand the functionality of their devices without requiring constant purchases of brand-new consumer hardware.