JuanMTech

Warm Ink: A New Home Assistant Theme Inspired by the Anthropic/Claude Color Palette

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:43:20 -0400

I just released a new Home Assistant theme called Warm Ink, and I wanted to write up the story behind it.

Where the Idea Came From

Most Home Assistant themes lean into one of two directions: cool and technical (lots of blues, dark backgrounds, neon accents) or brightly colorful with saturated pastel palettes. I wanted something different. Something that felt calm and lived-in rather than flashy.

The inspiration came from the Anthropic/Claude color palette. If you spend any time on claude.ai you’ll notice it has a very deliberate visual character: warm off-whites, earthy grays, and a signature terra cotta orange that shows up just enough to guide your attention without demanding it. That warmth and restraint felt like exactly the right mood for a home dashboard you look at every day.

Enhance the Home Assistant Voice PE with the ChatGPT integration

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0500

The Home Assistant Voice PE is already an excellent private and local voice assistant, but today, we’re taking it to the next level. By integrating ChatGPT with Home Assistant, we’ll bring advanced conversational AI capabilities to the Voice PE, making it smarter, more interactive, and even more powerful. So, let’s dive in and get started!

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So what’s needed?

To set up ChatGPT with Home Assistant, you’ll need to obtain an API key from OpenAI. This service is not free, so you’ll need to set up a payment method when you create an account.

Home Assistant Voice PE First Look and Setup

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 16:00:00 -0500

Today, we’re diving into the new Home Assistant Voice Preview Edition hardware—a new voice assistant that is not like any other. It is privacy focused, customizable and designed specifically for the Home Assistant ecosystem. In this post, we’ll take a close look at the device, walkthrough the setup process with Home Assistant, and finish with some useful automations that you can use with the Home Assistant Voice.

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Overview of the device

Getting started with the Home Assistant app for macOS

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0300

The Home Assistant companion app for macOS have several features that you can use with Home Assistant. For example, you have sensors like the active sensor, which checks if the Mac is actively being used. If you have a MacBook, you have battery sensors that track the battery state and the battery level. The list of sensors pretty much goes on. You can also create automations in Home Assistant to send notifications to your Mac. Apart from this, the companion app also integrates with the Shortcuts app. So, you can have shortcuts that send data to Home Assistant and trigger automations.

Set up an alarm system with Home Assistant and Alarmo

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 09:00:00 +0300

Alarmo is a custom integration for Home Assistant that allows creating an alarm system for your home. It uses the existing sensor in Home Assistant to create a secured system. This guide will cover how to install and configure the integration and set up a couple of scripts to use when the alarm is triggered.

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Installation

To install Alarmo, you can easily do it from the Home Assistant Community Store, AKA HACS. If you don’t have HACS installed, I have a tutorial showing how to set it up in Home Assistant. You can find the guide here .

How to use NFC tags with Home Assistant

Tue, 07 Jun 2022 09:00:00 +0300

NFC Tags have been around for a while now. They are inexpensive and can be used in many ways. You can use them to control smart home devices or even run automations directly on a smartphone. This article will show you how to integrate NFC Tags with Home Assistant . I will also show you how you can use them with your automations, and lastly, I’ll go over some of the NFC Tags you can purchase.

How to theme Home Assistant

Tue, 03 May 2022 09:00:00 +0300

Home Assistant allows tweaking the default theme directly from the web interface. For example, you can set it to use light or dark mode or have it set up to change automatically based on your system preferences. You can also change the primary color and the accent color to whatever you want. However, with the help of custom themes, you can tweak more things and make the web interface look the way you want. Like adding a custom background to the dashboard, making the corners on the cards rounded, changing the card’s drop shadow, and much more. In this article, I will show you the ways you can set up custom themes in Home Assistant . I’m also going to share a few of my themes so you can use them in your Home Assistant instance.

Integrate Z-Wave with Home Assistant

Sat, 02 Apr 2022 09:00:00 +0300

In this tutorial, we are going to talk about Z-Wave. I’m going to show you how to integrate it with Home Assistant . We’ll go over some of the USB dongles that you can use. We are also going to add a smoke and carbon monoxide alarm to the Z-Wave network, and lastly, we will create a very useful automation that you can use with this type of device.

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What is Z-Wave?

Z-Wave is a wireless communication protocol mainly used for home automation. It uses the mesh network topology, so any non-battery Z-Wave devices connected to the network will work as repeaters. Z-Wave works under low radio frequencies, so it doesn’t cause interference with your home WiFi. For example, in the U.S., it uses the 908.42 MHz frequency, so it’s not near the 2.4 and 5 GHz frequencies that WiFi uses.

How to automatically backup Home Assistant to Google Drive

Sun, 06 Feb 2022 09:00:00 +0300

Some of us have gone through the experience where our Home Assistant breaks. Whether due to a change we made to the configuration or even that the drive gets corrupted, and we have to start over. And there is nothing worse than not having a backup of our Home Assistant instance to make the process of starting over simple. So, in this guide, I will show you how to automatically backup Home Assistant and send copies of the backups to Google Drive. So you can have them in the cloud and quickly recover your Home Assistance configuration.

Integrate HomeKit with Home Assistant and control devices with Siri

Sat, 15 Jan 2022 09:00:00 +0300

Today, we’ll go over on how to integrate Apple’s HomeKit with Home Assistant. So you can control your Home Assistant entities from the Apple Home app. The integration will also enable you to use Siri on Apple devices to send voice commands to your Home Assistant entities.

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Add HomeKit integration in Home Assistant

The first thing that you need to do is to add the integration. So, in Home Assistant , go to configuration, Devices & Services, and click on Add integration. Search for HomeKit and then click on it. A pop-up comes up where you can select the domains you would like to expose. Some domains like TV media players, locks, and cameras would create separate entries in accessory mode. We’ll go over that in more detail later on.

How to integrate UniFi Protect with Home Assistant

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0500

In this post, we’ll go over how to integrate Ubiquiti’s UniFi Protect with Home Assistant. So you can easily control different settings in your security cameras directly from your Home Assistant instance. On top of that, we’ll also go over a few useful automations that you can set up with this integration.

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To manage the UniFi Protect cameras with Home Assistant , there is a custom integration available in HACS that you would need to install. If you haven’t installed HACS yet, you can find a tutorial on how to set it up here .

Install HACS in Home Assistant for themes and custom cards

Wed, 11 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0500

The Home Assistant Community Store, aka HACS, is an add-on for Home Assistant. It provides a web interface to easily discover and install custom elements like custom cards, themes, and custom integrations. In this guide, I’ll be showing you how to install HACS in Home Assistant. I will also show you how to install and configure a custom card and a theme to have an idea of how to use HACS.

Integrate BroadLink universal remote with Home Assistant

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Today, we are going to set up the BroadLink RM4 Pro universal remote. We’ll set it up with Home Assistant, and I’m also going to show you how to configure remote controls so you can control devices like TVs directly from Home Assistant.

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What is a BroadLink RM4 Pro?

The BroadLink RM4 Pro is a universal remote just like the Logitech Harmony hub . You can configure it to control devices that use an IR or RF remote control. Then, using the BroadLink app on a mobile device, you can send commands to those devices. However, we are going to integrate the BroadLink RM4 Pro with Home Assistant , so you will only need to use the app to configure the RM4 Pro remote to connect to the Home Network. After that, you can continue the configuration in Home Assistant.

Block ads and tracking with AdGuard Home on Unraid (How To)

Wed, 19 May 2021 09:00:00 -0500

AdGuard Home is a network-wide DNS server for blocking ads and trackers. Instead of having an ad-blocker software on each device, it will cover all devices connected to the home network. AdGuard Home also comes with a parental control feature. You can enable at any time to block adult content and force safe search in the browser of any device.

In this guide, I’ll be showing you how to install AdGuard Home on Unraid. We will go over the installation process and the configuration to block ads on all devices connected to the home network.

How to set up a VPN with WireGuard on Unraid

Sat, 17 Apr 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Hey, what’s going on. Today, I’m going to show you how to set up a virtual private network (VPN) using WireGuard on Unraid . I’m also going to show you how to configure a mobile device and a computer to connect the WireGuard VPN.

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What is a VPN?

A VPN or virtual private network allows devices to connect securely through the Internet to another network. It creates an Encrypted tunnel where you can safely transmit sensitive data preventing people from eavesdropping on your traffic. When a device connects to a VPN via the Internet, the device will look like it is connecting locally to the VPN’s network utilizing the network’s public IP address.

Install the Community Apps on Unraid and install best plugins

Sat, 10 Apr 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Hey, what’s going on. Today, we are going to set up the Community Applications plugin on Unraid and install some of the best plugins that you must have on Unraid.

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What is the Community Application plugin?

The Community Applications plugin, aka CA, provides an App Store-like experience where you can find other plugins, Docker containers and easily install them on an Unraid server.

Getting started with Home Assistant - 2021

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Today, I have a newly updated guide on getting started with Home Assistant. We’re going to go over the devices we can use, the installation process, and the initial configuration. We will also cover a few must-have add-ons and integrations that you should add after installing Home Assistance.

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Installation methods

You can install Home Assistant on almost any device out there—for example, an old laptop, a Raspberry Pi, or a NAS server like Unraid . There are also different installation methods. You can install the Core version of Home Assistant on a Docker container or Linux. The other method is to install the OS version on a Raspberry Pi or a virtual machine. The Core version does require more steps to configure, updating and also installing different integrations. However, the Home Assistant OS version is an all-in-one solution. It comes with a supervisor, making it easier to update Home Assistant, create snapshots and install different add-ons.

How to set up Home Assistant on Unraid

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 09:00:00 -0500

In this guide, I will be showing you how to set up Home Assistant in a virtual machine on Unraid . In the previous guide, I showed how to set up Unraid for the first time, so if you are new to Unraid, you can check out that guide here .

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Installation methods

So, to install Home Assistant on Unraid, you can set it up in 2 ways. You can install the Home Assistant Core version on a Docker container or set up the Home Assistant OS on a virtual machine. The Core version doesn’t come with the Supervisor. So, setting up different integrations and also update Home Assistant will require more steps. So, instead of the Core version, we’ll install the Home Assistant OS on a virtual machine. The OS version does come with the Supervisor, allowing to easily update Home Assistant and installing add-ons.

How to set up Unraid - 2021 Guide

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0500

In this guide, I’m going to show you how to set up Unraid . We’ll go over what Unraid is, what hardware we can use. We’ll also go over the installation process and the initial configuration.

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So what is Unraid?

Unraid is an operating system that you can set up on almost any computer and turn it into a robust network-attached storage server. It also has support for Docker container and virtualization. Allowing you to set up different applications or operating systems like Home Assistant Plex, Ubuntu, and all from 1 single machine.

How to set up a secure VPN with WireGuard and Home Assistant

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0500

Today, I’m going to show you how to set up a secured virtual private network (VPN) using WireGuard and Home Assistant . I’m also going to show you how to configure devices like Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac to connect to the WireGuard VPN.

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So, what is a VPN?

A VPN or virtual private network allows devices to connect securely through the Internet to another network. It creates an Encrypted tunnel where you can safely transmit sensitive data preventing people from eavesdropping on your traffic. When a device connects to a VPN via the Internet, the device will look like it’s connecting locally to the VPNs network utilizing the network’s public IP address.

How to integrate Google Assistant with Home Assistant without a subscription

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 09:00:00 -0500

Today, I’m going to show you how to integrate Google Assistant with Home Assistant . So you can control all your Home Assistant entities using your voice from any Google Assistant enabled-speaker. And I’m going to show you how to do it for free.

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Ways to integrate Google Assistant

There are 2 ways that you can integrate Google Assistant with Home Assistant. The easiest way is to use the Home Assistant Cloud service . The Cloud service doesn’t only give you access to link Google Assistant but also Amazon Alexa. It also makes it easier to set up remote access for your Home Assistant instance. The cloud service is a subscription plan which costs $5 a month. It’s not a lot for all the benefits that you get. Also, to support the developers that made the Home Assistant project possible, I would recommend, if you can, to support them by subscribing to the Cloud service.

Set up Zigbee with Home Assistant - ZHA integration guide

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 09:00:00 -0500

In this guide, I will show you how to set up Zigbee with Home Assistant, So we can connect most Zigbee devices and control them locally directly from Home Assistant .

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So, what is Zigbee?

Zigbee is a technology used for short-range communication, similar to WiFi and Bluetooth. It’s based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard. It uses a small amount of power and low data rate, making it ideal for home automation using light bulbs, plugs, sensors, and other devices. Because Zigbee devices require low power, devices using this technology usually are smaller and last for a year on a coin size battery. Zigbee is also built as a mesh network. So devices can transmit data over a longer distance by passing data through devices in the mesh network.

Install Proxmox and virtualize Home Assistant

Mon, 27 Jul 2020 09:00:00 -0500

I recently replaced my Ubuntu server, where I had Home Assistant Supervised installed with Proxmox. Then, I install Home assistant in a virtual machine in Proxmox. So far, it has been working a lot better than when I had the Supervised version installed. In this guide, I’m going to show you how to install Proxmox. We’re going to do a quick overview of the web interface. And lastly, we’re going to create a virtual machine and install Home Assistant .

How to get started with UniFi

Mon, 14 Oct 2019 09:00:00 -0500

In this article, I’m going to show you how to get started with the Ubiquiti UniFi system. I’m going to go over the equipment that I’m installing for my home network. Instead of using a Cloud key to configure the equipment, I’m going to show you how to install the UniFi Controller in a Linux machine. Besides that, I’m also going to go over some basic settings like:

Configuring the WiFi connection
MAC filtering
IP address reservation
DNS configuration
Backup/Restore the UniFi controller

This is going to be part 1 of a series of tutorials that I want to make for the UniFi network. The next article will be about VLANs and Firewall rules. So, definitely stay tuned for that.

Use Home Assistant to turn your computer on and off

Sat, 31 Aug 2019 09:00:00 -0500

Today, I’m going to show you the method that I personally use to send commands from Home Assistant to a Windows computer. So you can do things like turning the computer on, shut it down, open programs and much more.

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What’s needed

To make this work, you’ll need a few things. To turn the computer on, you can use the Wake on LAN component in Home Assistant. Then, to send commands to shut down and do other tasks on the computer, you will need the following:

How to set up Hassio in Docker and in an Ubuntu server

Mon, 08 Jul 2019 09:00:00 -0500

I’m going to show you step by step how you can set up an Ubuntu server, install Docker, set up Home Assistant Supervised, and last, but not least, we’re going to set up Portainer. So you can manage all the containers installed.

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Create an Ubuntu server bootable drive

To set up an Ubuntu server on a computer, go to the Ubuntu website and download the Ubuntu server image . Then, create a bootable drive using Etcher , which makes it super simple to flash the image to a USB stick.

How to get started with Node-RED and Home Assistant

Tue, 28 May 2019 09:00:00 -0500

Node-RED is a programming tool for creating automations more visually. It provides a browser-based Editor where you can create flows, aka, automations using a wide range of nodes. Node-RED is the perfect companion for Home Assistant . So, instead of writing automations in Yaml, you can simply wire together nodes to create a flow.

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This guide will show you how to set up and integrate Node-RED with Home Assistant. We’re going to look at the browser-based Editor, go over some of the available nodes, and also we’re going to create an automation so you can get started with Node-RED..

How to get started with ESPHome and Sonoff

Mon, 08 Apr 2019 09:00:00 -0500

ESPHome is a tool that allows creating custom firmware for ESP8266 and ESP32 boards. This post shows how to install the ESPHome add-on in Home Assistant . To flash a custom firmware to a Sonoff basic switch. Also, how to configure some of the available components in ESPHome. So, you can integrate them and easily control them via Home Assistant.

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Install the ESPHome Add-on

To install the ESPHome add-on in Home Assistant, you first need to add the ESPHome repository. So, open Home Assistant, go to Hass.io, Add-on Store and then under Add new repository, add the following URL:https://github.com/esphome/hassio .

Home Assistant new user interface and UI editor

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 09:00:00 -0500

With Home Assistant version 0.86, Lovelace became the default user interface, bringing a new way to set up entities with different card styles. There is also a new building UI editor making it easier to configure the frontend directly on the browser. In this article, I’m going to show you how to use the new UI editor. We’re going to set up a few cards so we can check the Card configuration window, which includes a Live preview showing the card that is being configured. We’re also going to take a look at the included text editor in Home Assistant, and last but not least, I’m going to show you how to enable Yaml mode so you can configure Lovelace UI from any text editor.

How to integrate Amazon Alexa with Home Assistant Cloud

Sun, 27 Jan 2019 09:00:00 -0500

In this guide, you will learn how to integrate Amazon Alexa with Home Assistant Cloud. Also, how to configure what entities can be controlled from Alexa, and how to customize the response when a command is given.

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Open Home Assistant and on the sidebar, click on Configuration and then Home Assistant Cloud. If this is the first time using the Cloud service, you can sign up and get a 30 days free trial, so you can test it out. After you’re signed in, enable the Alexa integration. Then, you need to enable the Home Assistant skill so, on a mobile device, open the Amazon Alexa app. Tap on Menu and then Skills & Games. Search and select Home Assistant. Then tap Enable to use, and sign in to Home Assistant Cloud to link your account.

How to integrate Google Assistant with Home Assistant Cloud

Mon, 21 Jan 2019 09:00:00 -0500

Home Assistant cloud allows controlling entities from outside your home network without having to expose your Home Assistant to the Internet. On this guide, you will learn how to integrate Google Assistant with Home Assistant Cloud. Also, how to configure what entities can be controlled via Google Assistant, and how to customize the response when a command is given.

Table of Contents

Open Home Assistant and on the sidebar, click on Configuration and then Home Assistant Cloud. If this is the first time using the Cloud service, you can sign up and get a 30 days free trial. After that, it’s $5 month which is not a lot for all the features that you get. Plus the security that you don’t have to expose your Home Assistant to the Internet.

How to set up the Picture Elements card in Home Assistant - Lovelace

Tue, 04 Dec 2018 09:00:00 -0500

The Picture Elements card in Home Assistant is one of the most flexible cards available for the Lovelace UI. Allowing to add icons, text, and services on different parts of an image. Today, I’m going to show you how to set up an image of a floor plan and add entities to that image using the Picture Elements card.

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How to create a floor plan

There are a few apps out there that you can use to create a floor plan, but one that I highly recommend is called Magicplan . It’s straightforward to use, and it’s available on both IOS and Android . You can create a floor plan for free and export an image of that floor plan for just $3 which is pretty cheap for all the features that you get and also how easy it is to use. So I definitely recommend it.

About

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Founded in 2016, JuanMTech is dedicated to helping users make the most of their smart home through clear and easy-to-follow tutorials and tips. Whether you are a beginner setting up your first smart home system or an advanced user fine-tuning complex automations, the goal is to provide easy-to-understand guides that make home automation more accessible.

About Juan

Juan is passionate about technology and automation, always looking for ways to simplify everyday life through smart solutions. In July 2016, he launched a YouTube channel to share his knowledge and help others make the most of various applications, services, and devices. As his content grew, so did the need for a dedicated space to organize and expand his tutorials. In the summer of 2017, the JuanMTech website was born—becoming a central hub where users could easily access his videos, in-depth written guides, and expert tips on home automation.

Contact

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Have feedback, content suggestions, or questions about a blog post? I’d love to hear from you! The best way to reach me is on Bluesky , but you can also connect with me on X.com . Your support and input help make this blog even better!

For business inquiries, you can use the below form.

Privacy Policy

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

JuanMTech.com uses cookies to deliver content to you. By using cookies, I can provide personalized content, ads, provide social media features and, it also helps me analyze the traffic to the website.

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JuanMTech

Warm Ink: A New Home Assistant Theme Inspired by the Anthropic/Claude Color Palette

Where the Idea Came From

Enhance the Home Assistant Voice PE with the ChatGPT integration

So what’s needed?

Home Assistant Voice PE First Look and Setup

Overview of the device

Getting started with the Home Assistant app for macOS

Set up an alarm system with Home Assistant and Alarmo

Installation

How to use NFC tags with Home Assistant

How to theme Home Assistant

Integrate Z-Wave with Home Assistant

What is Z-Wave?

How to automatically backup Home Assistant to Google Drive

Integrate HomeKit with Home Assistant and control devices with Siri

Add HomeKit integration in Home Assistant

How to integrate UniFi Protect with Home Assistant

Install HACS in Home Assistant for themes and custom cards

Integrate BroadLink universal remote with Home Assistant

What is a BroadLink RM4 Pro?

Block ads and tracking with AdGuard Home on Unraid (How To)

How to set up a VPN with WireGuard on Unraid

What is a VPN?

Install the Community Apps on Unraid and install best plugins

What is the Community Application plugin?

Getting started with Home Assistant - 2021

Installation methods

How to set up Home Assistant on Unraid

Installation methods

How to set up Unraid - 2021 Guide

So what is Unraid?

How to set up a secure VPN with WireGuard and Home Assistant

So, what is a VPN?

How to integrate Google Assistant with Home Assistant without a subscription

Ways to integrate Google Assistant

Set up Zigbee with Home Assistant - ZHA integration guide

So, what is Zigbee?

Install Proxmox and virtualize Home Assistant

How to get started with UniFi

Use Home Assistant to turn your computer on and off

What’s needed

How to set up Hassio in Docker and in an Ubuntu server

Create an Ubuntu server bootable drive

How to get started with Node-RED and Home Assistant

How to get started with ESPHome and Sonoff

Install the ESPHome Add-on

Home Assistant new user interface and UI editor

How to integrate Amazon Alexa with Home Assistant Cloud

Sign up for Home Assistant Cloud

How to integrate Google Assistant with Home Assistant Cloud

Sign up for Home Assistant Cloud

How to set up the Picture Elements card in Home Assistant - Lovelace

How to create a floor plan

About

About Juan

Contact

Privacy Policy

What are cookies?