For most rooms, a smart switch is a better first step than smart bulbs, because it works with any bulb and the wall switch keeps working. The wiring question that decides what you can install is whether your switch boxes have a neutral wire.
This guide is part of our LED & Recessed Lighting service in Dallas–Fort Worth.
For most rooms, start with smart switches rather than smart bulbs: a switch controls whatever bulbs are on that circuit, and the wall switch keeps working for guests. What you can install depends mostly on one wiring detail, whether each switch box has a neutral wire, and an electrician can check that in a few minutes per box.
The three ways to make lighting smart
- Smart bulbs screw into existing fixtures and connect by Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or a hub. No wiring work, but the wall switch has to stay on or the bulb loses power.
- Smart switches and dimmers replace the wall switch and control any compatible bulb on that circuit. This is the most common retrofit.
- Centralized lighting systems, used in new construction and major remodels, run each lighting load back to a central location and are designed and programmed by the system's dealer.
Does my switch box have a neutral wire?
Many smart switches need a neutral (usually a white conductor) in the box to power their electronics. Older homes often have switch boxes where only the hot conductor passes through. Some products are built for that: Lutron's Caséta PD-6WCL smart dimmer, for example, is sold as "no neutral required" (Crescent Electric product listing). If the switch you want needs a neutral and the box has none, the options are a no-neutral model or running a new cable to that box, which is priced in the written quote.
Smart bulbs or smart switches first?
Smart switches, for most rooms. One switch controls every bulb on the circuit, any compatible bulb type works, and nobody can turn the system "off" by flipping the wall switch. Smart bulbs make sense for lamps and for color-changing accent lighting, where the bulb is the point.
Why smart dimmers flicker
A smart dimmer has a minimum and maximum load, and LED bulbs vary in how they behave on a dimmer. The PD-6WCL, for instance, is rated for up to 150 W of dimmable LED or CFL lighting (same listing). Too little load, too much load, or a bulb that is not marked dimmable can cause flicker or buzz. If flicker shows up on several circuits, it is a wiring problem rather than a switch problem; see why lights flicker.
Pre-wiring a new build or remodel
If the walls are open, it costs far less to put a neutral in every switch box and plan deep enough boxes for smart dimmers than to come back later and cut drywall. If you want a centralized lighting system, involve its dealer before the walls close so the wiring matches the design.
What we install
We install LED-compatible dimmers, Lutron smart switches and scene control, and new recessed lighting at $125–$350 per light. Every job gets a flat-rate written quote before work starts. See recessed and LED lighting, our ceiling fan and recessed lighting cost guide, or the city pages for Dallas, Fort Worth and Plano.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Some will. Lutron's Caséta PD-6WCL dimmer is sold as no-neutral-required; many other smart switches need a neutral. We check each switch box before recommending a product.
Texas law exempts electrical work in a home you own and live in, unless that work is specifically regulated by a city ordinance (Texas Occupations Code §1305.003(a)(6)), so check your city's rules. The work is still on live 120-volt circuits; turn off the breaker and confirm the power is off with a tester before opening a box.
With any bulb the switch is rated for. Dimmers need dimmable bulbs and have a minimum and maximum load. Check the switch's listed load ratings against what is on the circuit.
