Anyone who knows me knows that I love decorative smart lights: light strips, lamps, wall panels, battery-powered fixtures, etc, if they light up and look like they belong in a nightclub But in my DIY smart home, these products seemed frivolous and a bit tacky

I'm not saying that all decorative color-changing lights are gaudy I have plenty of decorative lights in my bedroom and entertainment area In fact, the Nanoleaf Shapes I tested last year helped me get through the humdrum routine of working from home Sitting at my tiny desk all day was a little less miserable and a lot more enjoyable

But when Nanoleaf sent me their latest creation, the sleek Elements, I realized that illuminated wall panels might be appropriate for my renovated kitchen and living area after all Yes, even though it was not smart lights that illuminated the space, but smart switches

More mature than gamer, Elements takes its cues from nature with its hexagonal panels in a textured wood finish; like all Nanoleaf products, Elements' panels are interlocked in a geometric design of your choice, and the colors are not a rainbow swirl

Instead, Elements panels are adjustable between warm and cool whites (1500-4000K) The result is all kinds of adjectives to describe the spa, such as soothing and calming

Elements doesn't throw out all the tricks like the NanoLeaf RGB panel: when music is played using the Amazon Echo (4th generation), this panel dances to the melody You can even ask the voice assistant (which is why I use Alexa instead of Google Assistant) to adjust the brightness or change the scene

The new overhead floodlights in my kitchen can be easily adjusted with the Brilliant smart home controller, but those traditional lights are not always inspiring Besides, they're certainly boring compared to the light show I previously set up; Elements suggests moderation: I can still show off the app-controlled , and my parents' living area doesn't look like a dorm room

I hope that my smart home controller extends compatibility to Nanoleaf and that I can switch Elements settings by my front door along with my Schlage smart lock and my Honeywell Home Wi-Fi 7-day smart thermostat control I hope to be able to do this Luckily, the lighting panel has a physical controller so family and guests don't need an app to turn up the brightness, switch scenes, or turn off the lights

And when the lights are off, the nanoleaf elements function as decorative wood panels Conveniently, the maple-like color matches the recently stained floors in our home; while far from the organic look that Nanoleaf was going for (the hexagonal shape is still quite modern), the geometric shape is much more elegant than the white plastic exterior found on the company's other products

But there is a catch to the Element: a starter kit containing seven hexagons costs $29999 An expansion pack with three more panels is $9999 Nanoleaf sent me both to test, and while I feel like my space has been upgraded to Zen with the inclusion of this kit, I don't think I would buy this kit over a pack of yoga classes or a summer beach pass No

Smart Home

If you're following my guide to saving thousands of dollars on a DIY smart home, Nanoleaf Elements probably shouldn't be on your short list of must-haves Devices like smart locks, smart thermostats, or even indoor security cameras can actually help you monitor your space (and, in some cases, help you save money)

But if you already have all the essentials in your home smart home devices, or if you're looking to add some outdoorsy yet tech-savvy decor to your home, the Nanoleaf Elements may be one of the best smart lights you've been waiting for

For more gadget recommendations, be sure to check out our guide to the best smart home devices (and the best inexpensive smart home devices) Also, be sure to note the five most common smart home problems

We'll be back next week with more DIY smart homes Until then, if there is anything you would like to see covered in Connected Spaces, please email us at katekozuch@futurenetcom or leave a comment below