The OpenClaw Home Assistant skill gives you voice control over your entire smart home through your AI agent. Once you have the skill set up, what should you actually build with it?
Here are 10 practical automations you can implement today. Each section includes the actual chat commands you’ll use and what happens behind the scenes. No theory, no fluff. Just recipes that work.
Already have the skill installed? Jump straight to the automations. Need to set it up first? Read our step-by-step tutorial on building the OpenClaw Home Assistant skill from scratch.
1. Morning Routine Automation
What it does: Wakes up your home when you do. Lights turn on gradually, thermostat adjusts, blinds open, and coffee starts brewing.
The command:
Run morning routineWhat happens behind the scenes:
The OpenClaw Home Assistant skill triggers a Home Assistant script that executes this sequence:
- Bedroom lights turn on at 20% brightness (warm white)
- Brightness increases to 80% over 5 minutes
- Thermostat sets to 72°F
- Bedroom blinds open
- Coffee maker turns on (smart plug)
- Kitchen lights turn on
How to build it:
Create a script in your Home Assistant configuration.yaml:
script:
morning_routine:
sequence:
- service: light.turn_on
entity_id: light.bedroom
data:
brightness: 51
color_temp: 370
- delay: "00:05:00"
- service: light.turn_on
entity_id: light.bedroom
data:
brightness: 204
- service: climate.set_temperature
entity_id: climate.bedroom
data:
temperature: 72
- service: cover.open_cover
entity_id: cover.bedroom_blinds
- service: switch.turn_on
entity_id: switch.coffee_maker
- service: light.turn_on
entity_id: light.kitchenTell your OpenClaw agent “Run morning routine” and it calls script/turn_on with entity_id: script.morning_routine.
Variations:
Weekend version: Add a 30-minute delay before starting. Weekday version: Include a news briefing through a smart speaker. Winter version: Preheat the bathroom floor heating.
2. Security Check Before Bed
What it does: Reports the status of every lock, door sensor, window sensor, and garage door in your home. One command tells you if anything is open or unlocked.
The command:
Security checkWhat happens behind the scenes:
The agent queries all Home Assistant entities with these domains:
lock.*(all smart locks)binary_sensor.*door*(door sensors)binary_sensor.*window*(window sensors)cover.garage*(garage doors)
It checks the state of each and reports any that aren’t secure.
Sample response:
Security check complete:
- Front door: locked
- Back door: locked
- Garage door: closed
- All windows: closed
- Bedroom window: OPENHow to build it:
Add this to your OpenClaw Home Assistant skill SKILL.md:
## Security Check Trigger
When the user says "security check" or "check security":
1. Get all states from Home Assistant
2. Filter for: locks, door sensors, window sensors, garage doors
3. Check each state:
- Locks should be "locked"
- Sensors should be "off" (closed)
- Garage doors should be "closed"
4. Report status for each, highlighting any issuesQuick secure command:
If the security check shows something open, follow up with:
Lock everything and close the garageThe agent executes all necessary service calls to secure your home.
3. Energy Monitoring Report
What it does: Reads power consumption from smart plugs and energy monitors. Tells you which devices are using the most power right now.
The command:
Show me current energy usageWhat happens behind the scenes:
The agent queries all sensor entities with “power” or “energy” in the name. It reads current wattage from each device and sorts by consumption.
Sample response:
Current power usage:
- HVAC system: 2,847W
- Water heater: 1,200W
- Dryer: 856W
- Refrigerator: 234W
- TV and entertainment: 187W
- Office equipment: 145W
Total: 5,469WHow to make it actionable:
Follow up with commands like:
Turn off the office equipmentOr create an automation rule:
## High Energy Alert
When total power consumption exceeds 6,000W:
1. Check which devices are consuming the most
2. Send a notification: "High energy usage detected: [top 3 devices]"
3. Ask if the user wants to turn off non-essential devicesAdvanced version:
Track energy usage over time. Ask:
How much energy did I use yesterday?The agent queries Home Assistant’s energy dashboard data and reports daily totals by device category.
4. Guest Mode Configuration
What it does: Prepares your home for guests. Disables certain automations, enables guest WiFi, adjusts climate for common areas, and ensures guest room is ready.
The command:
Enable guest modeWhat happens behind the scenes:
- Disables motion-activated lights in guest room
- Sets guest room thermostat to 70°F
- Turns on guest bathroom night light
- Enables guest WiFi network
- Disables security sensors in guest areas
- Sets living room lighting to welcoming brightness
The exit command:
Disable guest modeReverses all changes and re-enables normal automations.
How to build it:
Create two scripts in Home Assistant:
script:
guest_mode_on:
sequence:
- service: automation.turn_off
entity_id: automation.guest_room_motion_lights
- service: climate.set_temperature
entity_id: climate.guest_room
data:
temperature: 70
- service: light.turn_on
entity_id: light.guest_bathroom_nightlight
data:
brightness: 20
- service: switch.turn_on
entity_id: switch.guest_wifi
- service: alarm_control_panel.disarm
entity_id: alarm_control_panel.guest_area
guest_mode_off:
sequence:
- service: automation.turn_on
entity_id: automation.guest_room_motion_lights
- service: climate.set_temperature
entity_id: climate.guest_room
data:
temperature: 65
- service: light.turn_off
entity_id: light.guest_bathroom_nightlight
- service: switch.turn_off
entity_id: switch.guest_wifiNotification integration:
Add this behavior to notify guests:
Tell guests the WiFi passwordAgent responds with: “Guest WiFi network: YourNetwork-Guest. Password: [retrieved from Home Assistant secret]“
5. Vacation Mode Setup
What it does: Makes your home look occupied while you’re away. Randomizes lights, adjusts thermostats for efficiency, and tightens security monitoring.
The command:
Enable vacation modeWhat happens behind the scenes:
- Activates vacation lighting automation (random on/off schedule)
- Sets all thermostats to eco mode (55°F winter, 80°F summer)
- Turns off water heater
- Enables advanced security monitoring
- Stops mail-related automations
- Disables certain voice notifications
The return command:
Disable vacation modeRestores normal settings and confirms home is ready.
How to build it:
Vacation lighting automation in Home Assistant:
automation:
- alias: "Vacation Mode - Random Lights"
trigger:
platform: time_pattern
hours: "/1"
condition:
condition: state
entity_id: input_boolean.vacation_mode
state: "on"
action:
- service: light.turn_on
entity_id: "{{ ['light.living_room', 'light.bedroom', 'light.kitchen'] | random }}"
- delay: "{{ range(30, 90) | random | int }}:00"
- service: light.turn_off
entity_id: allCreate an input_boolean in Home Assistant to track vacation mode state. The OpenClaw skill toggles it on/off.
Advanced integration:
Combine with camera checks:
Check front door cameraAgent retrieves the latest camera snapshot and sends it to your messaging app.
6. Weather-Responsive Actions
What it does: Adjusts your home based on current weather conditions. Closes blinds when it’s hot, opens them for passive solar heating when cold, secures outdoor furniture when wind is high.
The command:
Check weather and adjust homeWhat happens behind the scenes:
- Queries Home Assistant weather integration for current conditions
- Checks outdoor temperature sensor
- Checks wind speed sensor
- Executes actions based on rules:
- Temperature > 85°F: Close all blinds, increase AC
- Temperature < 40°F: Close all blinds, increase heat
- Wind > 25mph: Send alert about securing outdoor items
- Rain detected: Close any open windows, skylights
Sample response:
Weather check complete:
- Current temp: 91°F
- Conditions: Sunny
- Actions taken:
- Closed south-facing blinds
- Set AC to 72°F
- Turned on ceiling fansHow to build it:
Add weather logic to your SKILL.md:
## Weather-Based Automation
When user says "check weather and adjust home":
1. Query weather entity: `weather.home`
2. Query temperature sensor: `sensor.outdoor_temperature`
3. Query wind sensor: `sensor.wind_speed`
4. Apply rules:
- Temp > 85°F: close blinds, set climate to cool mode
- Temp < 40°F: close blinds, set climate to heat mode
- Wind > 25mph: notify about outdoor furniture
- Rain: close windows (cover entities with "window" in name)
5. Confirm actions takenProactive version:
Set up a Home Assistant automation that runs this check every hour and notifies your OpenClaw agent if action is needed.
7. Bedtime Routine Execution
What it does: Prepares your home for sleep. Locks doors, sets thermostats for sleeping temperature, turns off all lights except night lights, and arms security system.
The command:
Run bedtime routineWhat happens behind the scenes:
- All lights turn off (except night lights in bathroom, hallway)
- All locks engage
- Thermostats set to 68°F (bedroom), 65°F (other rooms)
- Smart TV and entertainment systems turn off
- Security system arms in “home” mode
- Garage door confirms closed
Sample response:
Bedtime routine complete:
- 12 lights turned off
- 3 night lights on
- 2 doors locked
- Thermostats set
- Security armedHow to build it:
Home Assistant script:
script:
bedtime:
sequence:
- service: light.turn_off
entity_id: all
- service: light.turn_on
entity_id:
- light.bathroom_nightlight
- light.hallway_nightlight
data:
brightness: 20
- service: lock.lock
entity_id: all
- service: climate.set_temperature
entity_id: climate.bedroom
data:
temperature: 68
- service: climate.set_temperature
entity_id:
- climate.living_room
- climate.office
data:
temperature: 65
- service: media_player.turn_off
entity_id: all
- service: cover.close_cover
entity_id: cover.garage_doorMorning integration:
Pair with wake-up automation:
Set wake-up time for 7amAgent creates a Home Assistant timer that triggers the morning routine at the specified time.
8. Laundry Notification System
What it does: Monitors your washer and dryer power consumption. Notifies you when cycles complete so you can move clothes or fold them before they wrinkle.
The command:
Monitor laundryWhat happens behind the scenes:
The agent watches power sensors on your washer and dryer smart plugs. When power drops below 5W after being above 50W (cycle complete), it sends a notification to your messaging app.
Sample notification:
Washer cycle complete. Move clothes to dryer within 30 minutes to prevent odors.How to build it:
Home Assistant automation:
automation:
- alias: "Washer Complete Notification"
trigger:
platform: numeric_state
entity_id: sensor.washer_power
below: 5
for:
minutes: 2
condition:
condition: numeric_state
entity_id: sensor.washer_power
above: 50
value_template: "{{ state_attr('automation.washer_complete_notification', 'last_triggered') }}"
action:
- service: notify.openclaw
data:
message: "Washer cycle complete. Move clothes to dryer."Interactive followup:
When you receive the notification, respond:
Start the dryerAgent turns on the dryer smart plug.
Advanced version:
Track how long clothes sit in the washer:
How long have the clothes been in the washer?Agent calculates time since cycle completion.
9. Plant Watering Reminder Integration
What it does: Monitors soil moisture sensors in your plants. Notifies you when plants need water and tracks watering history.
The command:
Check plant statusWhat happens behind the scenes:
Agent queries all soil moisture sensors in Home Assistant. Reports which plants are below the threshold and need watering.
Sample response:
Plant status:
- Fiddle leaf fig: 45% (good)
- Snake plant: 32% (needs water soon)
- Pothos: 18% (NEEDS WATER NOW)
- Monstera: 52% (good)How to build it:
Add Xiaomi Mi Flora sensors (or similar) to Home Assistant. Create a template sensor for each plant that categorizes moisture levels:
template:
- sensor:
- name: "Pothos Status"
state: >
{% set moisture = states('sensor.pothos_moisture') | float %}
{% if moisture < 20 %}
needs water now
{% elif moisture < 35 %}
needs water soon
{% else %}
good
{% endif %}Watering tracking:
After you water, tell your agent:
I watered the pothosAgent logs the event in Home Assistant and resets the notification timer.
Proactive notifications:
Home Assistant sends daily plant check notifications:
automation:
- alias: "Daily Plant Check"
trigger:
platform: time
at: "09:00:00"
action:
- service: notify.openclaw
data:
message: >
Plant check: {{ expand('group.plants')
| selectattr('state', 'lt', 30)
| map(attribute='name')
| list | join(', ') }} need water.10. Party Mode Configuration
What it does: Transforms your home for entertaining. Sets lighting to vibrant colors, adjusts music zones, disables motion sensors that turn off lights, and raises temperature slightly for a crowded room.
The command:
Enable party modeWhat happens behind the scenes:
- Living room lights set to colorful, dynamic mode
- Music zone activates (multi-room audio)
- Motion sensors disabled (lights stay on)
- Thermostat adjusts up 2 degrees (body heat compensation)
- Outdoor patio lights turn on
- Kitchen task lighting increases
- Bathroom guest lights enable
The exit command:
Disable party modeReturns everything to normal settings.
How to build it:
Home Assistant scene and script combination:
scene:
- name: "Party Lights"
entities:
light.living_room:
state: on
effect: "colorloop"
brightness: 255
light.dining_room:
state: on
rgb_color: [255, 100, 0]
brightness: 200
light.patio:
state: on
brightness: 180
script:
party_mode_on:
sequence:
- service: scene.turn_on
entity_id: scene.party_lights
- service: automation.turn_off
entity_id: automation.living_room_motion_lights
- service: climate.set_temperature
entity_id: climate.living_room
data:
temperature: "{{ state_attr('climate.living_room', 'temperature') + 2 }}"
- service: media_player.volume_set
entity_id: media_player.house_audio
data:
volume_level: 0.6Music integration:
If you have Sonos, Spotify, or another media player integration:
Play party playlist in all roomsAgent calls the media player service to start your designated party playlist across all speakers.
Interactive adjustments:
During the party, make real-time changes:
Dim the living room lights a bit
Make the music louder
Turn off the dining room lightsEach command executes immediately without disrupting party mode.
How to Get Started
All 10 automations use the same OpenClaw Home Assistant skill foundation. If you haven’t built the skill yet, follow our complete setup guide. It walks through API tokens, SKILL.md configuration, and basic testing.
Once the skill is running, implement these automations one at a time. Start with the simplest (security check, energy monitoring) before building complex multi-step routines (morning routine, vacation mode).
Each automation becomes a building block. Morning routine logic can be reused for weekend routines. Security check logic applies to vacation mode. Party mode lighting can adapt for movie night.
Essential Tips for Building Automations
Start with Home Assistant automations first. Build and test the automation in Home Assistant’s UI or YAML. Once it works reliably, add the OpenClaw trigger.
Use descriptive entity names. The agent maps your natural language to entity IDs. “Turn on the living room lamp” works better when the entity is actually named light.living_room_lamp instead of light.switch_01.
Test individual components. Before running a 10-step routine, test each service call separately. Make sure each light, lock, and sensor responds correctly.
Handle failures gracefully. Add conditional logic in your SKILL.md. If a device is offline, the agent should report it instead of silently failing.
Document your entity IDs. Keep a reference list in your SKILL.md showing which friendly names map to which entity IDs. Makes troubleshooting faster.
Version your SKILL.md. When you add new automation triggers, keep the old ones working. Your skill should accumulate features, not replace them.
Advanced Automation Ideas
Once you’ve built these 10 automations, here are directions to expand:
Time-based variations. Morning routines that change by day of week. Weekday routines start at 6:30am, weekend routines at 8:30am.
Presence detection integration. Home Assistant knows when you arrive or leave (via phone GPS, WiFi, or BLE tracker). Trigger routines automatically when you come home or leave.
Multi-user support. Different family members get different morning routines. OpenClaw can identify who’s speaking and execute personalized settings.
Energy optimization. Build routines that monitor real-time electricity pricing (if your utility provides an API) and shift high-consumption tasks to cheaper hours.
Seasonal adjustments. Summer vacation mode differs from winter vacation mode. Thermostats, humidity targets, and outdoor equipment settings all vary by season.
Voice shortcuts. Create short trigger phrases. “Goodnight” runs bedtime routine. “Leaving” runs departure routine. One word, entire automation.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Automation executes but nothing happens.
Check Home Assistant logs (Settings > System > Logs). The service call might succeed but the device is offline or unreachable.
Agent can’t find the right entity.
Entity name mismatch. Check your entity IDs in Home Assistant Developer Tools. Add explicit mappings in your SKILL.md if needed.
Service calls are slow.
Network latency between OpenClaw and Home Assistant. Use local URLs, not remote ones. Both should be on the same network for best performance.
Routine executes partially.
One service call failed mid-sequence. Home Assistant scripts stop on first error by default. Use continue_on_error: true in your script to execute all steps even if one fails.
Agent triggers wrong automation.
Ambiguous trigger phrase. Make your triggers more specific in SKILL.md. “Run morning routine” is clearer than “morning” alone.
Security Considerations
These automations give your AI agent significant control over your home. Take security seriously.
Protect your Home Assistant token. Store it in OpenClaw’s config system, never in the SKILL.md file. Treat it like a password.
Limit remote access. If possible, run OpenClaw and Home Assistant on the same local network. Don’t expose Home Assistant to the internet unless necessary.
Use HTTPS for remote access. If you must expose Home Assistant externally, use SSL certificates and strong authentication. Consider a VPN instead.
Review skill permissions. The SKILL.md defines what your agent can control. If you don’t want locks or garage doors controlled by voice, exclude them from the skill.
Monitor automation logs. Home Assistant logs every service call. Review them periodically to ensure no unexpected commands are executing.
Consider automation restrictions. Some automations (like unlocking doors or disabling security) should require confirmation. Add that logic to your SKILL.md.
For comprehensive security guidance, read our ClawHub Skills Security guide.
Comparing Automation Approaches
OpenClaw voice control vs. Home Assistant automations:
Home Assistant automations trigger automatically based on state changes (motion detected, door opened, time reached). They run locally and execute instantly.
OpenClaw control is on-demand. You tell your agent what to do, and it executes. Best for actions you want to trigger manually but don’t want to open an app for.
Use both together. Home Assistant automations handle the automatic stuff (motion lights, arrival home routines). OpenClaw handles the manual stuff (party mode, security checks, vacation setup).
OpenClaw voice control vs. Alexa/Google Assistant:
Commercial voice assistants require internet connectivity, process voice on cloud servers, and have limited device support.
OpenClaw with Home Assistant runs locally, supports 2,500+ integrations, and gives you complete control over the code.
Tradeoff: Alexa works immediately out of the box. OpenClaw requires setup (as covered in our tutorial guide).
Next Steps
You have 10 automation recipes to implement. Pick one that solves a real problem in your home. Build it, test it, refine it.
Then move to the next one.
Each automation teaches you more about Home Assistant’s API, OpenClaw’s skill system, and how to map natural language to service calls. By the time you’ve built all 10, you’ll have a deep understanding of both systems.
From there, build your own custom automations. You’ll know the patterns, the API structure, and the SKILL.md syntax. The only limit is your imagination and your device ecosystem.
For more OpenClaw automation ideas, browse our use case articles or check out the best OpenClaw skills of 2026. Want to publish your automation recipes for others? Read how to build and share OpenClaw skills.
Summary Reference
| Automation | Command | Key Actions |
|---|---|---|
| Morning Routine | Run morning routine | Gradual lights, thermostat, blinds, coffee |
| Security Check | Security check | Report locks, doors, windows, garage status |
| Energy Monitoring | Show me current energy usage | Power consumption by device |
| Guest Mode | Enable guest mode | Prepare guest areas, WiFi, disable sensors |
| Vacation Mode | Enable vacation mode | Random lights, eco temps, enhanced security |
| Weather Actions | Check weather and adjust home | Close blinds, adjust climate based on conditions |
| Bedtime Routine | Run bedtime routine | Lights off, locks on, sleep temps, arm security |
| Laundry Alerts | Monitor laundry | Notify when washer/dryer cycles complete |
| Plant Watering | Check plant status | Soil moisture levels and water reminders |
| Party Mode | Enable party mode | Colorful lights, music zones, climate adjust |
The OpenClaw Home Assistant skill transforms 2,500+ device integrations into natural language commands. These 10 automations show what’s possible. Start building today.