🏠 Home Assistant Startup Guide: Install, Configure, and Learn to Use

Congratulations! You have just taken the step towards a smarter home. Whether you have chosen the compact Home Assistant Green, the versatile Home Assistant Yellow (still fully supported, but no longer sold new), or our powerful Smart Home Server, you are at the beginning of something fun!
But let's be honest: that device sitting in front of you doesn't look all that exciting yet.
No worries, this Home Assistant guide will help you get started with setting up your system within 15 minutes!

Note on Bluetooth: The Home Assistant Green does not have built-in Bluetooth. Want to add Bluetooth devices? This can be done easily with a Shelly device that acts as a Bluetooth proxy (such as the Shelly smart plug). We will write a separate blog post about this soon.

📦 What's in the box?

Unpack your Home Assistant system and check that everything is present. You will likely find:

• Your Home Assistant device (Green, Yellow, Smart Home Server, or other HAOS system)
• A power adapter
• A network cable

Pro-tip: Open everything neatly and save all packaging just in case you change your mind, though the chance of that is small once your first automation is running!

⚡ Step 1: Connecting and booting Home Assistant

This is the easiest part of setting up Home Assistant, but pay attention to the order:

1. First, the network cable – connect it to your router (HAOS always works on LAN, never on WiFi)
2. Only then, the power – plug the power adapter into the wall outlet
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By following this order, you avoid potential IP address issues when configuring Home Assistant. The light will now start flashing, which means your system is booting up. This can take 2-5 minutes. My smart lamp can't wait to talk to the rest of the house!

🚀 Step 2: Configuring Home Assistant for first use

Open a browser on your computer, tablet, or phone and go to http://homeassistant.local (new installations from 2026.8) or http://homeassistant.local:8123 (older systems). If this doesn't work, try to find your device's IP address through your router settings. Still not working? A factory reset might be necessary. Bought it from us? Please contact us and we will walk you through it together.

You will now see the Home Assistant welcome screen. Time to create an account while setting it up:

• Choose a username and password
• Give your home a name (wait, how about "Slim Huisje"?)
• Set your location for automatic sunrise/sunset automations and the correct time zone

Note: This account remains local on your device. Home Assistant does not send data to external servers unless you configure it to do so yourself.

📊 Step 3: Learning to use Home Assistant - exploring your dashboard

After logging in, you will see the default Home Assistant dashboard. It might look a bit empty for now, but that will quickly change. Home Assistant has likely already automatically found several devices on your network, such as your TV, Chromecast, smart speakers, and other smart home gadgets.

Click on Settings > Devices & Services to see what has been discovered. You can start adding your first smart devices immediately and thus learn to use Home Assistant!

🛍️ Marketplace: thousands of extra integrations & themes

Home Assistant has a built-in Marketplace (formerly known as HACS). Here you will find thousands of community integrations, themes, dashboard cards, and tools that are not standard in Home Assistant. Think of better UI elements, integrations for brands that are not officially supported, and useful tools for energy management (such as Tibber, Frank Energie, and Nordpool Planner).

How to open the Marketplace:

1. Go to Settings → Marketplace
2. Click on Explore & Download Repositories (or search directly)
3. Search for the integration, theme, or card you want and click Download

After downloading, Home Assistant usually restarts automatically or prompts you to restart. After that, the integration is available under Settings → Devices & Services to be added.

Tip: For dynamic energy contracts (Tibber, Frank) and beautiful dashboards, the Marketplace is almost indispensable. You will also find the popular Nordpool and Nordpool Planner integrations there.

Do you happen to have an older installation (before 2026.11)? It used to be called HACS and you had to install it manually. On all new systems we supply, the Marketplace is already present by default.

🔌 Setting up Home Assistant with your first smart device

Now comes the fun part of configuring Home Assistant. Depending on the protocol your devices use, there are different options.

Note: If you are going to purchase new smart home devices, pay close attention to whether they are supported by Home Assistant, and if so, via which protocol. Use the filters on the left side of our webshop to find the right devices:

• "Works perfectly with" > Home Assistant (without extra hardware) – for WiFi devices that work directly
• "Works perfectly with" > Home Assistant with Zigbee – for this, you must first install a Zigbee Controller
• "Works perfectly with" > Home Assistant with Z-Wave – for this, you must first install a Z-Wave Controller

📡 Setting up Zigbee devices in Home Assistant with ZHA

Do you already have a Zigbee dongle? If not, you will need one to pair Zigbee devices. All our Zigbee dongles for HAOS work Plug & Play with ZHA and almost all perform excellently. The difference lies mainly in the chipset, antenna quality, and whether the dongle also supports Thread.

Recommended: the official Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 is optimally tuned for Home Assistant.

Important: Zigbee + Thread/Matter
Zigbee and Thread (required for Matter over Thread) cannot run simultaneously on the same radio chip and antenna. Home Assistant advises against multiprotocol on a single chip due to stability issues.

Want to use both protocols? Then choose one of these two options:

• Two separate dongles (one for Zigbee, one for Thread), or
• One dual-radio dongle with two separate chips and antennas (e.g., the SMLIGHT SLZB-MR series)

All the dongles we sell work fine. Choose primarily based on whether you only need Zigbee or also want to support Thread/Matter.

Step 1: Connect your Zigbee dongle

• Preferably use a USB 2.0 port if available – USB 3.0 can cause interference with Zigbee signals
• Even better: use a USB extension cable of at least 30-50cm to place the dongle further from your system and minimize interference
• Short on USB 2.0 ports? Using a USB HUB is also an excellent solution!
• Connect the dongle

Step 2: Configuring ZHA in Home Assistant

In most cases, Home Assistant automatically detects your Zigbee dongle. You will see a notification under Settings > Devices & Services. Click on Configure and follow these steps:

• Home Assistant automatically recognizes the dongle
• For network formation, choose Erase network settings and create a new network (for a new setup)
• Click on Finish

Don't see automatic detection? Add ZHA manually:

• Go to Settings > Integrations > Add integration
• Search for Zigbee Home Automation
• Select your Zigbee dongle from the list
• Follow the same steps as above

Step 3: Pairing devices in Home Assistant

Now that ZHA is active, you can add Zigbee devices:

• Go to Settings > Devices & Services > Zigbee Home Automation > Configure
• Click on Add device
• Put your Zigbee device (lamp, sensor, etc.) into pairing mode according to its manual
• Home Assistant will find the device within 30 seconds

Zigbee2MQTT as an alternative:
Besides ZHA, you can also choose Zigbee2MQTT, which offers more advanced features and broader device support. Zigbee2MQTT does require more technical knowledge and configuration via MQTT. We cover this option in detail in a separate blog!

Don't have any Zigbee devices for Home Assistant yet?
Check out all our Zigbee Smart Home devices that work with Home Assistant. From smart lights to sensors, everything is plug-and-play with Home Assistant!

🌊 Configuring Z-Wave devices in Home Assistant:

Z-Wave is an excellent alternative to Zigbee with some key advantages. Z-Wave operates on a different frequency (868 MHz in Europe), which prevents interference with WiFi or Bluetooth. Furthermore, Z-Wave has a longer range than Zigbee – ideal for larger homes. Z-Wave devices also have a stronger mesh function.

For Z-Wave, you need a special Z-Wave dongle. Recommended: the official Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2. After installation, it works similarly to Zigbee:

• Connect the Z-Wave dongle (again, preferably use USB 2.0 and a USB extension cable)
• Short on USB 2.0 ports? A USB HUB is an excellent solution!
• Home Assistant automatically detects the dongle
• Go to Settings > Devices & Services and configure the Z-Wave JS integration
• Add devices via Add device and put your Z-Wave device into inclusion mode

Don't have any Z-Wave devices for Home Assistant yet?
Discover all our Z-Wave Smart Home devices that work with Home Assistant. Perfect for larger homes or if you want optimal stability!

📶 Setting up WiFi devices and sensors in Home Assistant:

Many WiFi devices are discovered automatically during configuration. Check Settings > Devices & Services to see if there are any notifications, click Configure, and follow the steps.

WiFi sensors for Home Assistant:
Check out our WiFi sensors that work directly with Home Assistant without the need for additional hardware!

One of our favorites is the Apollo R PRO-1: a powerful PoE multisensor with two mmWave sensors (LD2450 + optional LD2412). This allows it to combine excellent occupancy detection with multi-zone tracking of multiple people. Additionally, it measures LUX, UV, and (optionally) CO₂. Thanks to the built-in PoE (optional to use), you only need one cable for power and network, ideal for a neat ceiling or wall mount.

Prefer something more compact? Then the Apollo MSR-2 is an excellent choice. This small mmWave sensor combines presence detection, LUX/UV, and (optionally) CO₂ in a very compact housing and works plug-and-play with Home Assistant via ESPHome.

🏡 Expanding your smart home: lighting, garden, and more

💡 Configuring smart lighting in Home Assistant

Making your lighting smart is often the easiest place to start when learning to use Home Assistant. Discover our complete collection of smart lighting, LED strips, and lamps. From simple smart bulbs to advanced LED strips, all controllable from your Home Assistant dashboard!

🌳 Making your garden smart with Home Assistant

Want to automate your outdoor space as well? Check out our smart garden collection with smart outdoor lighting, irrigation systems, and weather sensors that integrate perfectly with Home Assistant.

📱 Installing the Home Assistant Companion App for mobile use

Download the official Home Assistant Companion App for iOS or Android to learn to use Home Assistant remotely. This app is essential for many useful features:

• Controlling your home from your phone
• Setting up presence detection (so Home Assistant knows when you are home)
• Receiving notifications
• Adding widgets to your home screen

Important: Grant the app location permissions so your location is shared with Home Assistant. This is required for automations based on whether you are home or not.

🤖 Learning to use Home Assistant: your first automations

Let's start with a simple automation that makes a real impact. Note: For this automation, you must first have the Home Assistant app installed on your phone with location permissions enabled.

Configuring "Lights on when arriving home" in Home Assistant:

• Go to Settings > Automations & Scenes
• Click on Create automation
• Give it a name like "Welcome home"
• Trigger: Sun sets AND Phone is home AND Sensor detects motion
• Action: Turn on living room light

This is a basic setup, but you get the principle. Home Assistant can be as complex as you want, but start simple.

⚡ Setting up energy management with a P1 energy meter

One of the most powerful features when configuring Home Assistant is energy management. With a P1 energy meter, you get real-time insight into your total consumption and feed-in. Check out all our P1 energy meters that work with Home Assistant.

Most P1 meters such as our Smart Meter Cable USB-P1, HomeWizard and others work via a local API and integrate seamlessly with Home Assistant. You can instantly see your energy consumption by the hour, day, and month, and create automations based on your energy usage!

💰 Configuring smart energy management with dynamic contracts

One of the best use cases is smart energy management, especially if you have a dynamic energy contract. With dynamic contracts like Tibber or Frank, you are billed every hour (or every 15 minutes) based on current energy prices. You can check prices at least 24 hours in advance, and with Home Assistant, you can respond smartly to them and save a significant amount!

Setting up the Tibber integration in Home Assistant

Interested in a dynamic contract? Sign up for Tibber via this link and receive €50 in store credit for the Tibber Store. Perfect for, say, the Tibber Pulse P1 energy meter, which lets you monitor your energy consumption in real-time!

Tibber has an official Home Assistant integration that you can easily install via Settings > Integrations.

Configuring Frank Energie in Home Assistant

Frank Energie is also a popular choice. Sign up via this link and receive €50 cashback on your energy bill!

For Frank, there are HACS/Marketplace integrations available:

• Frank Energy integration by brunsy
• Frank Energie integration by bajansen

We will soon be creating a separate, comprehensive blog post about dynamic energy contracts and all their possibilities!

📈 Setting up Nordpool for real-time energy prices in Home Assistant

To truly control based on energy prices, you need the Nordpool integration. There are two versions:

Official version:
The standard Nordpool integration is installed via Settings > Integrations. Note: this does not work with Nordpool Planner.

Community version (recommended):
The custom Nordpool via HACS/Marketplace does work with Nordpool Planner and offers more flexibility. Install this via HACS/Marketplace > Integrations > Explore & Download Repositories and search for "Nordpool".

Configuring Nordpool Planner for smart control:
The Nordpool Planner is a fantastic integration that automatically determines the cheapest and most expensive times of the day based on your preferences!
With this, you can:

• Automatically turn on smart plugs during the cheapest hours (perfect for charging power banks!)
• Avoid energy consumption during peak prices (send a notification during peak prices)
• Automatically start your smart washing machine, dryer, or dishwasher at the ideal moment
• Charge EVs during the cheapest hours
• Pause solar energy injection during negative prices

Install via HACS/Marketplace by searching for "Nordpool Planner".

🚗 Electric cars, Dynamic Energy Contracts, and Home Assistant

Both Tibber and Frank can communicate with many electric cars (including Tesla) to allow for smart charging. Your car will then automatically charge at the lowest possible price, naturally taking into account when the car needs to be full. Home Assistant can also communicate directly with brands like Tesla. This allows you to put your energy surplus into your car instead of feeding it back to the grid.

Configuring the Tesla integration in Home Assistant:
Considering a Tesla? Via this link, you will receive 1000 free Supercharging kilometers on your Tesla purchase!
For the Home Assistant integration, I personally use this Tesla integration. This allows you, for example, to make your Tesla "honk" (or make another sound) if someone walks into a forbidden area of your driveway, detected by your smart cameras!

📹 Setting up camera integrations for security in Home Assistant

For camera surveillance, there are two popular options:

• Reolink: The official Reolink integration works perfectly with Reolink cameras
• Frigate: This powerful open-source NVR with AI object detection works with almost all cameras and can recognize faces, people, vehicles, and more

Combine this with your Tesla integration and you have a fully automated security system with alarm sounds!

🌐 Making Home Assistant accessible remotely

Do you want to control Home Assistant when you're not at home? Then you need external access; there are several options:

☁️ Home Assistant Cloud (becoming Home Assistant Link in December 2026) – recommended for beginners

The easiest and safest option for setting up external access is Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa. For €7.50 per month (or €75 per year), you get:

• Secure external access without complex configuration
• Alexa and Google Assistant integration
• Automatic cloud backups
• Text-to-speech with high-quality voices

You can set this up via Settings > Home Assistant Cloud. You get a one-month free trial to try it out. Furthermore, you directly support the development of Home Assistant!

🔐 Alternative: Configuring Tailscale VPN (free for Home Assistant)

A free alternative is Tailscale, a VPN service based on WireGuard technology that creates secure point-to-point connections between your devices. This is technically more challenging, but also provides secure access. The free Personal plan supports up to 3 users.

You can use Tailscale in two ways with Home Assistant:

• Install the official Tailscale add-on for monitoring your Tailscale network
• For actual VPN access, follow this extensive guide from Tailscale, which explains step-by-step how to add Home Assistant to your Tailscale network

Other options for configuring external access

There are also options like port forwarding and reverse proxies, but these require more technical knowledge and are less secure without the proper configuration. For most users, Nabu Casa (Home Assistant Link) or Tailscale is the best choice.

📅 Next steps for learning to use Home Assistant

Now that your basic setup is ready, these are logical follow-up steps:

Week 1 – making lighting smart in Home Assistant

Start with your most-used lights for automations. Smart bulbs are often the easiest to start with and provide immediate results. Consider Zigbee bulbs for a reliable connection without WiFi interference.

Week 2 – configuring climate control in Home Assistant

A smart thermostat saves both money and provides comfort. With Home Assistant, you can create schedules that perfectly match your lifestyle. Check out our smart thermostats for compatible options.

Week 3 – adding sensors and simple automations

Motion sensors, door and window sensors, and temperature sensors make your automations truly smart. "Lights on when entering" works much better with a motion sensor than with manual switching.

Week 4 – setting up advanced automations in Home Assistant

Now things get really interesting. Think of "good morning" routines that open curtains, turn on the bathroom floor heating, and play the news, or "movie mode" that dims all lights, closes roller blinds, and turns on the TV.

An example automation from my own smart home:
Watching TV during the day becomes much more pleasant with this smart trick. When the TV turns on (trigger) and it is still light outside (condition: sun has not set), the roller blinds on the sunny side close automatically. This prevents annoying glare on the screen. Do you turn off the TV? Then the roller blinds automatically open again to let in daylight.

❓ Need help learning to use Home Assistant?

Home Assistant has a great community. Are you stuck while configuring? Check these resources:

• Home Assistant Forum – friendly community always willing to help with questions
• Home Assistant Documentation – complete manuals for setting up
• YouTube channels - there are countless videos with tips and tricks to be found
• Our knowledge base on slimhuisje.nl with specific setup guides

✅ Final tips for beginners configuring Home Assistant

Create backups regularly while playing with your setup. Go to Settings > System > Backups and create your first backup. Do this before making any major changes. With Home Assistant Cloud, your backups are automatically saved to the cloud.

Start small when setting up Home Assistant. Don't try to automate your entire house all at once. Start with one room and expand from there. Rome wasn't built in a day (but my first automation was, and it turned on all the lights at 3 a.m. – not recommended).

Update regularly when configuring. Home Assistant releases updates every month with new features. You will receive a notification when an update is available.

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Welcome to the world of home automation! 🎉 You now have the basics of setting up and configuring Home Assistant under control. The next step is experimenting, learning, and most importantly: enjoying your smart home. Do you have questions about expansions or compatible devices? View our full range at www.slimhuisje.nl or contact us. We are happy to help you learn how to use Home Assistant!

What are you going to start with first when configuring? Lighting, climate, or security? 💡🌡️🔒