The importance of light in our daily lives is often underestimated. Light wakes us, guides us, and nourishes us. It can motivate and make you feel energized or create a cozy feel and help you relax.

Plain-jane bulbs are so yesterday. Smart lights are in, not only because they're one of the easiest ways to enter the world of smart home tech, but also because they're one of the most affordable.

"If This Then That" can connect your lights to Spotify, Google Calendar, and much more. David Nield is a technology journalist from Manchester in the U.K. who has been writing about gadgets and apps ...

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Credit: René Ramos/Lifehacker/MirageC/Moment, Anton Zacon/iStock via Getty Images In Lifehacker’s series, “A ...