Lutron's new smart light hardware marries broad hardware support with sleek design

What is slicker than a nicely set up smart home? Once you’ve got all your rooms configured, your lamps connected, and your app synced up, changing your entire home’s vibe is just a couple taps away. Lutron Caséta has been building smart home control solutions for years now, and today introduces a couple useful new entries into its product lineup, combining the latest functionality with some classic looks.

When it comes to smart lighting, you’ve basically got two approaches to control: you can put the smarts into the bulb itself, or you can put them on the switch/outlet end. While smart bulbs are very convenient, you get a bit more flexibility with smart switches. The problem there is compatibility, especially when you enter dimming into the equation — anyone who’s tried using an LED bulb with an old-fashioned dimmer know that all too well. That’s why Lutron is introducing its Diva Smart Dimmer ELV+.

This solution basically combines desirable features and design from across the Caséta lineup in a way that hasn’t been done before. On the compatibility end, that means delivering ELV+ support that lets the switch control not just standard-fixture LED, incandescent, and halogen bulbs, but also systems that employ low-voltage signaling, like LED strips and both electric and magnetic low voltage transformers.

While Lutron has had an ELV+ option already, today’s new switch combines that compatibility with the sleek, unobtrusive design of the company’s Diva Smart Dimmer — sort of a best-of-both-worlds situation. The switch will be available starting today in white, ivory, light almond, black, brown, and gray, and while sales mainly target contractors and installers, you’ll also be able to find the Diva Smart Dimmer ELV+ at Home Depot and Lowes online. Expect to pay about $130 for the smart switch.

In addition, Lutron is expanding its Pico Paddle Remote, which was previously only sold in white, to the same range of colors the new Diva Dimmer is available in. The Pico Paddle lets you extend your existing switches and dimmers without running additional wiring — just mount the Pico Paddle wherever you need it. Lutron says the battery can be expected to last for as long as 10 years. Sales for the new colors begin today, at $40 a pop.