How to Voice Control Your Christmas Tree Lights

Few things signal the start of the holiday season quite like putting up the Christmas tree. Decorating a tree with Christmas lights, ornaments, tree toppers, and tinsel brings out the holiday spirit, and seeing the completed tree lit for the first time is amazing.

But the excitement of the tree can soon turn into an extra chore when you have to manually turn the Christmas tree on and off each day.

Sure, it's a first-world problem, but the Christmas season should be about spending time with loved ones and spreading joy rather than managing extra tasks.

Make your Christmas tree smart

The good news is you can easily voice control Christmas tree lights with Alexa. Imagine being able to say, "Alexa, turn on the Christmas tree," and have your Christmas lights turn on and your favorite holiday song play.

It's easy to do and you don't have to be a tech genius to set it up.

While you can buy smart Christmas lights to decorate your tree, that can be a hefty investment. Thankfully there's an easier method that uses the traditional Christmas lights you already put on your tree.

Follow these simple steps to turn on your Christmas tree lights with Amazon Echo.

What you need to voice control your Christmas tree lights

• Amazon Echo (or other Alexa-enabled device)
• Alexa-compatible smart plug
• Christmas tree lights

1. Setup a smart plug

The magic of a voice-controlled Christmas tree starts with a smart plug. A smart plug is a small WiFi-enabled device that plugs into a standard wall outlet. You can then plug any electronic device or appliance into the smart plug which lets you turn it on and off from an app.

When selecting a smart plug, make sure it's an Alexa smart plug, so you can control your plug with voice commands like, "Alexa, turn off the living room plug."

Each smart plug brand has a slightly different setup process, so follow its included setup instructions. Typically the setup process involves connecting the smart plug to your home's WiFi and then syncing the plug to its associated app on your smartphone.

2. Plug your Christmas tree lights into the smart plug

Once the smart plug is setup and working, plug your Christmas tree lights into the smart plug. From the app on your phone, try turning the smart plug on and off.

This alone is convenient, allowing you to turn on your Christmas tree even if you're in another room or out shopping for gifts. But enabling voice control makes it even easier.

3. Connect your smart plug to Alexa

To connect your smart plug to Alexa:

1. Open the Alexa app on your phone.
2. Tap the menu icon and select Add Device.
3. Select the Plug option.
4. Scroll through the list of Alexa-enabled brands and select your smart plug brand.
5. Follow the setup instructions within the app.

Once connected, you should be able to control the plug with your voice: "Alexa, turn on [plug name]," which will turn on your Christmas lights. Easy.

You could leave it at this step, and be happy with your voice-controlled Christmas tree lights, but with one more step you can add an extra layer of holiday magic.

4. Setup an Alexa routine to turn on your Christmas tree lights

Alexa routines allow you to create dynamic multi-step actions when you give a custom voice command.

In this case, we can create an Alexa routine to turn on the Christmas tree lights and play your favorite Christmas song on your Echo. Here's how:

1. Open the Alexa app on your phone.
2. Tap the menu icon and select Routines.
3. Tap the plus (+) button.
4. Tap the "When this happens" option in the menu.
5. Select the "Voice" option.
6. Enter the phrase you want to use to make Alexa turn on your lights. (Ex: "Alexa, turn on the Christmas tree.")
7. Back in the menu, tap the "Add action" option.
8. Scroll down and tap on the Smart Home option.
9. Find the smart plug you setup earlier and tap on it.
10. You now have the option to select what happens with the plug's power. By default, the app selects on. Confirm that the on option is toggled and press the Next button.
11. Back on the New Routine setup screen, tap the "Add action" option again.
12. Scroll down and tap on the Music option.
13. Type the name of the song you want Alexa to play after the Christmas tree lights turn on.
14. Tap the Save button.

It may take about minute for the routine to be ready and then you can try it out. Just say, "Alexa, turn on the Christmas tree," and watch your lights turn on and your favorite Christmas tune play.

If you decide you want a different song in your routine, you can always edit the routine.

Create another routine to turn off the Christmas lights

You can also create another routine to turn off the Christmas lights. Follow the same steps as above, except give it a different voice command (ex: "Alexa, turn off the Christmas tree."), and in step 10, make sure the plug is toggled to power off when the routine runs.

Can I make Alexa turn off multiple Christmas trees?

Absolutely! If you have multiple Christmas trees in your home, you can turn them off at the same time with your voice.

• Make sure each tree is plugged into a smart plug that's synced to the Alexa app.
• Edit the routines you created above and add another smart plug step so it turns on/off both plugs.

Is it worth it?

This largely comes down to personal preference, but smart Christmas lights are definitely more convenient. They eliminate the awkward process of clumsily reaching around the tree to try to find the outlet, and make turning off the tree at night easy.

And if you have young kids, it's a safe way for them to participate in the Christmas season as they can tell Alexa to turn on the lights without ever getting near an outlet.

Level up your Christmas automations with Vivint

Alexa routines are easy to create and convenient, but they're just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the broader world of home automation.

That's where Vivint comes in. Our home automation solutions transform your house into a smart home, making getting ready for the holidays easier and more enjoyable than ever. With a Vivint system you can:

• Use our indoor camera to record exciting Christmas morning moments and share the footage with friends and family.
• Check for Santa (or other nighttime visitors) on an outdoor camera.
• Protect your holiday package deliveries with a doorbell camera.
• Turn off the lights in your home from your app so you can settle down for a long winter's nap.
• Adjust the temperature with your voice so your home is cozy even if the weather outside is frightful.

And that's just the start. With a Vivint system, you can also set up custom actions—much like Alexa routines—to perform multiple actions to simplify your life.

For instance, you can set a custom action that arms your security system, turns off your lights, and adjusts the temperature when you lock your door.

While Christmas magic may ultimately be Santa's specialty, you can create a little Christmas wonder of your own with a Vivint system. Call 855.382.2208 today for a free quote.