Apple HomeKit has carved out a unique space in the smart home world. By prioritizing user privacy, seamless integration with your existing Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, HomePod), and providing a unified control experience through the Home app and Siri, it offers a compelling vision for an intelligent living space. As of April 2025, the ecosystem is more mature than ever, bolstered by the speed and reliability of the Thread networking protocol.

But where do you begin? If you’re looking to start or expand your HomeKit setup, here are 10 types of accessories that deliver significant value and truly enhance your home experience:

(Note: A Home Hub like an Apple TV 4K (2nd gen or later), HomePod, or HomePod mini is essential for running automations and controlling accessories remotely. Consider this item zero!)

1. Thread-Enabled Smart Bulbs/Light Strips

  • Why: Lighting is often the gateway to smart homes. HomeKit excels here with features like Adaptive Lighting, which automatically adjusts bulb color temperature throughout the day. Opting for bulbs or light strips with Thread (like those from Nanoleaf Essentials or Eve Light Strip) ensures near-instant responsiveness via the Home app or Siri, even if your Wi-Fi is congested.
  • Use Case: “Hey Siri, set the living room lights to 50%” or create a “Movie Night” scene that dims the lights and changes their color.

2. Smart Plugs (with Thread)

  • Why: These versatile gadgets make “dumb” appliances smart. Turn on a coffee maker, fan, lamp, or holiday decorations using Siri or the Home app. Plugs with Thread (like the Eve Energy or Wemo Smart Plug with Thread) offer that same rock-solid reliability. The Eve Energy also adds energy monitoring, letting you track consumption directly in the Home or Eve app.
  • Use Case: Automate a floor lamp to turn on at sunset, or ask Siri to “Turn off the bedroom fan.” Check how much power your older appliances are drawing.

3. Home Key Compatible Smart Lock

  • Why: Experience the magic of unlocking your door simply by tapping your iPhone or Apple Watch near the lock, thanks to Apple Home Key. It’s secure and incredibly convenient. Look for locks like the Level Lock+, Schlage Encode Plus, or Aqara Smart Lock U100 which support this feature. You can also grant temporary access to guests via the Home app.
  • Use Case: Tap your watch to unlock the door when your hands are full. Create an automation: “When the front door is locked, turn off all lights.”

4. HomeKit Secure Video Doorbell

  • Why: See who’s at your door directly within the Home app. HomeKit Secure Video (HKSV) means the video analysis (detecting people, packages, animals) happens securely on your Home Hub before being encrypted and stored in your iCloud+ account (doesn’t count against your storage limit). Models like the Logitech Circle View Doorbell or Belkin Wemo Smart Video Doorbell offer this privacy-focused integration. Get notifications on your iPhone, Apple Watch, and even see the live feed on your Apple TV.
  • Use Case: Get an announcement on your HomePods when someone rings the doorbell. Check the recorded HKSV footage securely from anywhere.

5. HomeKit Secure Video Indoor Camera

  • Why: Keep an eye on pets or your home’s interior with the same HKSV privacy benefits. All processing happens locally, ensuring sensitive footage isn’t unnecessarily sent to the cloud. Cameras like the Eve Cam, Logitech Circle View, or the Aqara Camera Hub G3 integrate seamlessly, allowing secure remote viewing and intelligent detection alerts.
  • Use Case: Set an automation: “When the last person leaves home, enable motion detection notifications for the indoor camera.”

6. Smart Thermostat

  • Why: Optimize your heating and cooling for comfort and energy savings. Control the temperature using Siri, set schedules, or create automations based on occupancy (using other sensors) or time of day. Popular choices like the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium integrate beautifully with HomeKit, often including extra sensors.
  • Use Case: “Hey Siri, set the temperature to 21 degrees.” Automate the thermostat to lower the temperature when everyone leaves home.

7. Contact Sensors (Thread Recommended)

  • Why: Simple yet powerful. Get notified when doors, windows, cabinets, or even the cookie jar are opened. Use them to trigger automations – turn on closet lights when the door opens, activate a security scene if a window opens unexpectedly at night. Thread-enabled sensors like the Eve Door & Window offer excellent reliability.
  • Use Case: Receive a notification on your iPhone if the back door is left open. Automate entryway lights to turn on when the front door opens after dark.

8. Smart Switch or Dimmer

  • Why: Not all lights use standard bulbs. Smart switches or dimmers replace your existing wall switches, allowing HomeKit control of entire ceiling fixtures or fans without changing the bulbs themselves. Brands like Lutron Caséta (requires a hub, but known for reliability), Eve (Thread-enabled), or Leviton offer HomeKit-compatible options.
  • Use Case: “Hey Siri, dim the dining room lights.” Include ceiling lights in your “Good Night” scene that turns everything off.

9. Air Quality Monitor

  • Why: Indoor air quality impacts health and comfort. Monitors like the Eve Room or Aqara TVOC Air Quality Monitor track Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), temperature, and humidity directly in the Home app. Use this data to trigger automations for air purifiers or fans.
  • Use Case: If VOC levels rise, automatically turn on an air purifier connected to a smart plug. Check the kids’ room temperature easily.

10. Smart Blinds or Shades

  • Why: Automate natural light control for convenience, energy efficiency, and security. Schedule blinds to open in the morning and close at sunset, or control them with Siri. Options range from affordable solutions like Ikea FYRTUR/KADRILJ (require Ikea’s hub) to higher-end Thread-enabled options emerging from brands like Eve (in partnership with Coulisse) or Lutron Serena shades.
  • Use Case: “Hey Siri, close the bedroom blinds.” Create an automation to close all blinds when you leave home.

Bringing It All Together

Once you have a few accessories, the real power comes from combining them in Scenes (controlling multiple devices with one command, e.g., “Movie Time”) and Automations (devices reacting automatically to triggers) within the Apple Home app. With a solid Home Hub and accessories leveraging Thread, your 2025 HomeKit smart home will be reliable, private, and seamlessly integrated into your Apple ecosystem. Happy automating!