Philips Hue White Ambiance has the right light for the right moment

By Sonya Davidson

We've been looking to renovate our master bathroom at home ideally to resemble the one at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto. Wishful thinking but realistically there are ways to recreate at parts of it without breaking the bank.

I had seen the Philips Hue product line several times at press and consumer events. It had stuck with me but originally I couldn't get past the party light mood in my mind as that's what was shown - flashing, colourful and fun. Recently the line extended to include a new Philips Hue White Ambiance light. Now that definitely was appealing since I'll do anything to try and make our house a blissful place to come home to -- hey, winter is coming and I need more of this vibe....

The Philips Hue White Ambiance starter kit is an ideal way to try things out. The kit includes two bulbs, a bridge that supports Apple HomeKit and a Philips Hue dimmer switch. Additional single bulbs can also be purchased but you really need the starter kit before adding on more. And I definitely want to add on more at this point. 

Initially we thought this would be an ideal light for our son's room. The Philips Hue White Ambiance offers different shades of white light that can accomodate his daily routine. With studying and back to school this was a no brainer and we could definitely see this being handy for university students who have crazy sleeping and studying habits. The light can be programmed to help sleepyheads wake up "naturally" with the light gradually getting brighter when needed. It can also dim at night so it's not so straining to the eyes as well as gradually dim to help those who may have trouble sleeping. I would imagine it could also help those who experience seasonal light symptoms in the winter time.  

We've also decided to replace the bulbs in our master bathroom to create a tranquil spa-like feel (trust me, much more affordable than going to an actual spa). The switch was placed within reaching distance of the big soaker tub and was programmed to a warm dim light. It can also be adjusted of course but the light is just right brightness for what I like. 

There is an accompanying app "My Hue" that I had fun discovering. It offers some great features but can only be accessed with one account per bridge. Like WeMo, you can control your lights while you're away from home. Handy when you're out late or away on vacation. It can also interact with Nest products. For example you can adjust your lighting if you're smoke alarm goes off and you want a better view of the situation through your Nest Cam. You can also set your routine, if you have one, so the lights come on so you never come home in the dark. It also allows you to use Siri voice commands.  

The app also includes pre-loaded settings that offers lighting for what mood you desire. Want a "Tropical Twilight" or "Savanna Sunset" ? Or how about lights like the "Arctic Aurora"? There are different "Light Recipes" that can also create the perfect light for reading, relaxing, concentration and to help you feel energized. I've been using the relaxing and energizing modes A LOT. 

You can also controlled the lighting via Apple Watch -- but I'm not exactly wearing one as I head in for my moment of peace in the bath, but it does work!

Philips Hue has recently announced a hands-free motion sensor will be added to the product line. Available this October, this new innovation connects to the bridge and can be placed on any surface or can be mounted to a wall or ceiling. No longer would you have to worry about light switches being left on. It will automatically switch on when you enter the room and turn off when you leave. Ideal for me as I often walk out the door and forget to turn off lights. Also safe idea for little ones and seniors as they sometimes need to navigate to bathrooms at night -- another way to keep your home energy efficient. 12 motion sensors can connect to the Philips Hue bridge. We look forward to hearing more about that when that arrives on shelves.