Number five is alive! (Short Circuit, anyone?) I went with that intro because we recently added a helpful robot to our household (you know I’m into gadgets – I think my favorite post ever was this one entitled Super Toilet).
Let me start from the beginning. We’re big proponents of having lights that you can reach from bed. It sounds obvious, but for a while the only light in our first master bedroom was overhead and operated by the switch by the door (which feels miles away when you’re lying in bed half asleep). So until we installed the wall sconces two years into living there, we experienced a battle of wills each night to see who would have to make the trek to flick the switch. Picture both of us trying to fake-sleep to avoid having to be the one to get up.
And when we rearranged our bedroom last September, we nearly ignored our own advice. Since my bedside lamp was sunken back in that nook, it took a good stretch of my long monkey arms to twist the switch each night. People asked if it annoyed me and I honestly replied that it didn’t. What’s wrong with a little pre-bed stretching? It definitely still beats getting out of bed and walking across the room.
But over time… let’s just say that it wore me and my monkey arms down. My best description of the slow I-hate-this evolution would be this. A week or two of doing the pre-bed-arm-stretch = not so bad. A month or two of it = getting old. Three to six months of it = I’m finished with the straining of the arm (said a la Ben Stiller in this “I’m finished with the checking of the bags” clip). There are certainly worse problems in the world to have, but I’m always down for upgrades that make a room more functional – especially after six months of doing the harlem shake the sloppy swish the light limbo before bed.
And since we’re both really happy with the room’s layout except for this small lamp-reaching detail, the solution I had in mind was some sort of remote (which a bunch of you had actually recommended months ago when we shared the new arrangement). Initially I yearned to implement some Jetson-esque system that I could control from my phone (since it’s often the last thing to leave my hands each night). Then I briefly reminisced about The Clapper (which I had growing up, btw). But the things I was finding (like this system from Belkin) started to feel like overkill. Then I stumbled upon this $50 system that was marked down to just $19. Sold.
About a week after I ordered it, my little robot system arrived – and I was all dorked out about getting it hooked up. That’s when I discovered one major flaw in the design. The remote outlet is so big that no matter which outlet you place it in – the top or the bottom – it blocks the other one from being used. Bad robot.
And since the outlet behind my dresser needs to serve more than one electrical device, I was kinda annoyed at first. But it ended up being a blessing in disguise because it forced me to dig an old power strip out of storage so that I could plug the remote into that. Which meant that not only did I now have room for the bulky remote device, but I could plug everything else in at once (we used to rotate things out, so the fan or the baby monitor were only plugged in occasionally). Now that everything has power, this dresser is the quite the hub of activity.
But let’s not forget the best part. My mystical remote that makes light disappear right before our very eyes. Ooh. Ahh. (No strained arm muscles required.)
Of course, reaching for the remote on the dresser every night wouldn’t be much of an improvement. So with a little 3M velcro I stuck it to the side of our bed frame, where it’s 100% hidden from view beneath the bedspread after we make the bed.
I tell ya folks, this is the life.
And in case you’re wondering, I put one of the other remote outlets (since the set came with three total) in Sherry’s lamp so she doesn’t have to lift a finger to turn off her light either. Hers wasn’t as much of a stretch since it’s not set back in a nook, but I’m a gentleman, what can I say? It’s a far cry from the old days of negotiating who would have to get out of bed and hit the wall switch. Now I’m all “Oh, you must be tired honey. Let me get that light for you. You just rest.” #madhusbandpoints
I’m sure I’m not the only one who has added a simple techno fix that makes life a little easier. Are there any quick and handy updates going on in your house? Do you have The Clapper song in your head now? I do. Clap on. (Clap clap). Clap off. (Clap clap).
Psst- Today my lady wife is over on Style Me Pretty Living, just jabbering about “life behind the blog.”
Anne @ Planting Sequoias says
So pleased John recreated the scene for us. You guys crack me up!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Ha! I do what I can.
-John
Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says
I had no idea they made such things! Now it makes me want to use our bedside lamps more just so I can be lazy and push the remote. I’m NOT saying you’re lazy, I’m say because ours are well within reach, we would be the lazy ones. I love the velcro strips too. Mad hubby points indeed, yo!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! I’m a lucky lady.
xo
s
Meredith says
SHORT CIRCUIT!!! Oh my God, taking it old school. I seriously now feel the need to watch that movie again. “Number five is ALIVE!” Love that robot.
Julie says
Dang it! I was so sure that this was the baby announcment we’ve been waiting for (John – Sherry – Burger – Clara – #5). Oh well! Will try to be as excited about remotes as I would have been about a wee one. :)
Diane @ Vintage Zest says
Whew! I thought I was the only one who would have thought that. For a second, I even thought “Does this mean twins if they don’t count Burger?” :/
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! Nope, I’m not prego :)
xo
s
Janelle @ Two Cups of Happy says
As a self-described “lazy-girl” I love this. I’m now on the hunt! Oh and the velcro thing: genius.
Michele says
We’ve used a combination of Hue bulbs and Wemo outlets to power most of the lights in our house. As a result we can now turn most everything on (or dim/brighten them) from our phones, even when we aren’t home. With the Hue bulbs, we can also change the bulbs’ colors. Love!
Michelle says
My dad recently had a stroke and upon his arrival home from the hospital, we installed one of these lighting remote systems in his house to make it easier for him to turn lights on and off from a distance. They are awesome! At Christmas, we even hooked the remote up to his Christmas Tree lights. My nieces got a kick out of turning it off and on like magic.
Gotta love gadgets!!!
YoungHouseLove says
So sweet!
xo
s
Jen@The Decor Scene says
Love it. We actually use a system like that at Christmas for all of our window lights & tree lights in the house. It really helps not to have to go to each room when we are ready for bed…especially the ones on another floor. We love it. :)
Avi says
Even my 3yr old does the sloppy swish!
So my hubby had to take part in a secret Harlem Shake video at his office yesterday. So we sent him on his way complete with boxing gloves & an Optimus Prime helmet and he sloppy swished away in the video. They’re surprising the entire division with it today at their quarterly meeting and I’m seriously dying to see it.
Poor Mokiki :(
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahah! Poor Mokiki!
xo
s
Laura says
This reminds me so much of my husband. Remember that episode of Modern Family where Phil is trying to control the house with his iPad? Fireplace, thermostat, etc? Yeah, tha’ts pretty much my tech hubby. One of my favorite things we’ve installed is a wifi-enabled thermostat. So when we’re in bed, and we’re hot or cold, we grab our iPhones (we have the app that works with our thermostat) and adjust the temp. It. Is. Awesome. Also, we turn up/cut back the thermostat a few degrees when traveling, so when we are on a road trip and about an hour from home, we’ll take out the iPhone and adjust the temp so it’s not an igloo (or sauna) when we walk in. It’s the little things!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, yes!! That episode = hilarious!
xo
s
Megan @ Rappsody in Rooms says
You guys crack me up. This may be one of my favorite posts! I was surprised there was no #firstworldproblems shoutout though. Although I am impressed you lived with it for 6 months. I don’t think I could handle that.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha,thanks Megan!
xo
s
Krista says
I can’t be the only one who thought that “Number Five is Alive…” was about to be a pregnancy announcement (or maybe a new puppy)!
Jess @ Little House. Big Heart. says
What a great little gadget! I wonder if they make an outside version? We’re trying to figure out how to turn our globe string lights that we’re putting across the patio off without having to climb up a ladder to the outlet every night to unplug them. This would be a great solution!
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh an outside version would be awesome!!!
xo
s
bridget b. says
@ Jess: there are outdoor versions. you can get them at the hardware store or here: http://www.amazon.com/Woods-32555-Outdoor-Control-Converter/dp/B001Q9EFUK
Holly says
We use a Christmas lights timer to turn them on and off at the same time every night.
Kristen | Popcorn on the Stove says
Great post – and quite the clever solution (especially for those of us who can’t drill holes in the wall since we’re only renting!)!!
Kathryn says
Hear, hear! I love the renter-friendly posts. (Okay, I love them all, but especially the sub-section I can implement)
Mary says
I grew up in a house with all the lights completely controlled by X-10 (of Big Bang Theory fame). Every light was controllable from remotes placed throughout the house, and it was programmed to turn off all the lights at various times (when everyone had left for work, after everyone was in bed). Now that I’ve got my own place, I’m itching to get it all set up!
LMN says
i’m not sure why, but i find this post to be hysterical. love the scene recreation, and the song at the end…well, it’s gonna be in my head all day. :-)
Jamie says
I agree I was cracking up the whole time, and the official UVA Harlem Shake was hilarious! My favorite part was the “MAGIC!” photo
Brandi says
Initial thought was – YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS they’re pregnant!
But the light remote update was nice too ;)
Kim says
Does the remote turn everything off that’s plugged into the outlet? So now that you have a power strip plugged into the outlet does the light, fan, charging station and monitor all shut off?
YoungHouseLove says
Yes it does, but we can do the fan into the outlet and the power strip into the other outlet (so it just turns off other things).
xo
s
Allison says
We got something similar at Home Depot for our baby’s room. This way we can immediately turn on the lamp we have next to our glider without having to feel through a dark room to turn it on. I put the switch above our main light switch and just attached it with one of those 3M strips. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without it! We use it daily.:)
http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/100644834?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=wireless+switch&storeId=10051&N=5yc1v&R=100644834#.UUHbs1evSgQ
A previous poster mentioned an outdoor one, I found this on the Home Depot site as well when I was looking for the one we got.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/203500370?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=outlet+remote&storeId=10051&N=5yc1v&R=203500370#.UUHcu1evSgQ
YoungHouseLove says
Love that!
xo
s
Anne says
I once won a Clapper at a white elephant party and we use it for the Christmas tree lights. No more bending down behind it and getting a face full of pine, but when the kids were little (<2) they would shriek with laughter or whatever and sometimes turn it on or off.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I love that!
xo
s
Anne says
Nice!! Love the recreation shots, John. LOL!
Kathryn says
Me too! The ‘dramatic reenactments’ make this post.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I know right? When John said “come take a picture of this” I died laughing!
xo
s
Laura says
That is my favorite part of the whole post.
saVUryandsweet says
we’ve seriously considered the clapper – but at less than $20 this puppy is sold! meant to comment yesterday on the kitchen – looks wonderful, a kabillion times better than the dark woody eyeball room you originally had :-D
Jess says
I was hoping this post was going to lead directly to “The Clapper!” :-)
Liz says
Haha I LOVE my remote lights! I absolutely disdain the overheads in my entire apartment, so I’m doing the “many layers of light” thing, especially in the bedroom (awesome, huge, white paper lantern in the corner), bedside lamp, fairy lights behind the bed… now I can control at least 2 of those via remote. I put the third remote switch in the bedroom facing mine, but haven’t really used it yet. I have a similar Belkin system… also on a power strip. it’s definitely a design flaw.
Casey says
These are one of the best inventions ever! We use a similar one in our living room for a CB2 arc lamp that has the on/off control on the cord and it happens to be plugged in behind our couch. No need for awkward daily stretching and bending. Life saver.
bridget b. says
I’ve been looking into buying one of these for our Christmas lights. Thanks for the heads up on the good price. Usually you would only get 1 for this price.
Sarah says
This post is one of the many reasons I love your blog so much! It cracked me up and now has me thinking of anything in our house I can buy this and use it for!
:-)
Thanks Petersiks! Have a great Thursday!
YoungHouseLove says
You too Sarah!
xo
s
Jen says
Totally thought you were going to say you installed the clapper! LOL! Is that thing still on the market? The song is now in my head.
YoungHouseLove says
I think it is!
xo
s
ilikebeerandbabies.com says
I seriously love how big of dorks you guys are. It always reminds me of why me and the hubs are so happy: we are equal in our dorkiness and embrace it completely.
YoungHouseLove says
Amen! Dorks til death do us part!
xo
s
Wendy @ New Moms Talk says
The velcro-to-the-bed solution is genius!
It makes me wonder where else a little velcro would be helpful in life. Hmm..
Kim says
You totally just solved my light switch conundrum. We only have room for one night stand so that’s where the lamp is, but boyfriend doesn’t ever want to walk around the bed in the a.m. to turn it on b/c he’ll wake me (the walls are slanted and it’s a small space).
Now I can just do the remote thing for him! And I’ll probably just buy this now since he can put his phone in there too! http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00166905/
I’m a nerd. But these little simplifications that make life easier really do put me in a better mood! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Ha, I love it!
-John
Aron says
We use these every year for our Christmas Tree. No more wiggling behind the tree to try to unplug without knocking the tree over for me!
YoungHouseLove says
Smart!
xo
s
Lindsey @ A Pear to Remember says
Three things:
1. LOVE the new color of your kitchen. Much improved and just lovely!
2. LOVE Short Circuit, thank you for bringing me back to my childhood. When I began running out of birthday gift for my estranged older brother, I began revisiting our childhood movies and shows on DVD (Saved By the Bell, Short Circuit, Thundercats).
3. How do you keep your teal sheets clean?? We have recently switched to all white sheets because colored sheets always seems to be fading, showing every spot, etc.
you guys rocks my socks,
Lins
P.S. I have found lots of amazing finds at the antique warehouse adjacent to my folks’ neighborhood in Lewes, DE. Huge warehosue right on Rt. 1 between the Red Mill Inn and Dawn’s Market (the big red barn where Clara would surely love the year-round petting zoo).
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, we just wash our sheets like normal (no bleach or anything). I have a theory that bleach fades things a lot so we avoid it even for white things :)
xo
s
lizaanne says
Lindsey – try Oxy powder. I’ve been a bleach girl all my life (many decades), but have switched entirely over to Oxy powder now for everything – colors and whites. I am amazed at how well it works. I have a set of sheets from IKEA that have a plum colored fitted sheet, but a white top sheet and cases with the plum at the hem. I wash them separately (so I don’t end up with a pink top sheet or cases), but use Oxy (with Tide) to keep them both bright and clean.
:-)
Sarah says
Lindsey, we have the same problem. I think some people’s sweat is more acidic (like my husband’s) so it causes fading on the sheets. We use all white sheets (and all white towels) now & despite all the bad things I hear about bleach, I bleach them every once in a while to keep them white. I’m sure regular oxy would do the trick, but my skin is sensitive to it & they don’t stay white with just regular washing.
Heather P. says
I think I’m going to have “The Sloppy Swish” stuck in my head for the rest of the day!
It really is mesmerizing……
YoungHouseLove says
Better than doing the dance all day. That’s going on over here. Ha!
xo
s
Emily O. says
Ahhhh I love Short Circuit!! “No disassemble Number Five!!!”
That little gadget would have been handy circa 1989 when I got tired of having to shut the light off every night because I had the bottom bunk. Cue a couple really long LA Gear shoelaces and the wheel from the game of life and tada a light shutting off device. It lasted about 3 days before I realized I needed my shoelaces for gym glass- whomp whomp.
Brittany says
I have a remote for light as well. What stinks is when you lose the remote, so I like the velcro idea!
Chelsea @ Riding Escalators says
Great. Now I’m going to have The Clapper song stuck in my head all day. Lol!
Awesome tech fix though!
Kate says
I need to show this to my husband – he will love it! He’s been joking about wanting a clapper for years. I even bought a bunch of raffle tickets from our local library and stuffed the box for the clapper someone had donated for the raffle, but to no avail. He would love a remote to turn off our lamps!
Laura D says
We got this for our outside Christmas lights! Loved it and what a fantastic idea
Alison Lee says
Oh…my…..gosh…..This little bit of tech-y goodness is the best. thing. ever. My husband and I have the “who’s going to get out of bed to turn the light switch off” thing going every night, and sometimes I find myself rushing to bed first and getting settled so the hubs will have to do it. Oh and anyone that quotes Short Circuit is ok in my book. Long live Number Five.
Chaney says
Ok, I TOTALLY need this! Not for our bedroom, but our living room! Impulse purchase on Amazon coming up? I’m thinking yes…
Thanks for the tip!
Ann Marie says
Stop Ittttttttttt rightnow!!!!! I am never getting out of bed again!
YoungHouseLove says
Hahaha!
xo
s
Tara says
WHAT? I need this! Not because I’m lazy, but because I have a weird fear that someone will jump out of nowhere and attack me after I turn off the lights. Seriously, I flip the switch and sprint to my bed every night!
Jillian {Her Split Ends} says
i LOVE this! We do this with all the lamps in our house that are tough to reach…makes it so much easier to have lovely ambient lighting without running around to a million different points in your house!!
Xo
~ J
Meg says
we have a remote Velcroed to our bed too! For some reason our ceiling fan is turned on by a remote instead of a switch… it also turns itself on sometime but that’s another issue
Renee says
do you live close to neighbors? My sister has this happens and is convinced it’s her neighbors fan with the same frequency. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! That’s hilarious! We have almost an acre of land on our lot (houses are really spread out) so we don’t have anyone that close. Our baby monitor doesn’t get crossed with anyone else’s either :)
xo
s
Cathy says
I have these all over my house! I have uplights on plants, lights above my kitchen cabinets facing upward, uplights on the floor behind furniture, lights on side tables—at Christmas I even put the tree, mantel lights, etc., on them! I got mine at Costco (called Super Switches). I can turn every light in my house on in two shakes! It used to drive my family nuts, but they are converts now. They’re addictive!
Jodie says
We just got a motion-sensor night light in our bathroom because my husband always forgets to turn the bathroom light off when he gets up in the middle of the night. Now the bright light doesn’t wake me up at night and we are all sleeping just a little bit better! It’s the little things in life! Now if only our kiddos would let us sleep…
Also, just wondering if you would be willing to do a post or series on schedule/time management, organization, etc. I know you guys use paper and electronic planners. How do you manage your schedules, lists, priorities for the day, etc.? Any favorite planner or app? How do you keep organized to get it all done? Just wondering what your system was! I know I could definitely use some help in this area!
YoungHouseLove says
I make a good old fashioned list in my day planner (paper, not phone). Seems to work!
xo
s
Dave in Pgh says
Wow–I actually had that same product in my Amazon cart for a while but have been hesitating to pull the trigger over interference concerns. Our son’s remote-controlled cars occasionally take on a life of their own due to some other device messing with them, and I’m concerned about turning our entire house into the set of “Poltergeist.” Have you had any issues with the lamps switching on or off of their own accord?
YoungHouseLove says
Thankfully no!
xo
s
Judy says
We use a remote like that for our Christmas tree – it’s great!
Aquitenonnymoose says
Total non-sequitor, but, whenever you use the term “my lady wife” it makes me snort to myself that you have a different kind of wife, who is not a lady. Maybe when Sherry is not being lady-like? Haha.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I love when he calls me that!
xo
s