6 smart home gadget accessories you can 3D print for $5

If you're running a smart home and have access to a 3D printer, you don't need to spend much to make your setup more functional and tidy. Many of the accessories that improve how you interact with devices, like smart speakers, sensors, or hubs, can be printed for just a few dollars' worth of filament. These small upgrades often address minor annoyances, facilitate better placement, or provide mounting options where none existed previously. Here are some practical and inexpensive accessories you can print to boost your smart home instantly.

If you think 3D printing is just for making trinkets and fidgets, check out these gorgeous and useful projects

Smart speakers sound great in open spaces, but not everyone has the shelf space to keep them out and accessible. A printed wall mount lets you place your Echo Dot or Nest Mini anywhere you have an outlet nearby. Some designs even route the power cable neatly behind the device, reducing visible clutter. It also helps improve microphone pickup by placing the device at chest level.

You can find specific mounts designed for each generation of Echo or Nest speakers. Most speaker mounts require only a few grams of filament and can be easily printed in under two hours. Once installed, they make your assistant more reachable while keeping encounters clear. If you frequently use voice control, this upgrade is absolutely worth the small effort.

Even better, wall-mounted speakers are less likely to get knocked over or moved. That means your voice commands stay accurate and consistent over time. It's a functional and polished way to integrate smart assistants more naturally into your home.

A growing smart home means more cables, especially if you're adding motion sensors, cameras, and hubs that need power. 3D printed cable clips and guides are a simple way to control this mess. You can print them in whatever size and style you need, from the adhesive back hooks to screw in cable trays. They're invaluable for running wires along walls, baseboards, or shelves.

With a bit of planning, you can color-match your clips to your decor or make them stand out for easy cable tracing. They're small parts, so you can print a whole batch at once for just a few cents each. Designs range from single-wire holders to multi-slot organizers for managing hubs, routers, or power strips. You'll be surprised how much more polished your setup looks afterward.

Cluttered wires can be a safety hazard or an eyesore. These simple accessories reduce both and add just enough structure to keep things in order. If you're using double-sided tape, it can be completely nondestructive and removable.

Some sensors, such as motion detectors and temperature monitors, work best when mounted in the corner of a room. Many of these come with weak adhesive or no mounting option at all. A printed corner bracket solves that issue and makes positioning far more secure. Designs vary by brand, but you'll find plenty that are compatible with Aqara, Sonoff, or Shelly sensors.

These mounts are handy when setting up automation triggers based on movement or climate conditions. You can tilt them for better coverage and still keep them out of sight. Since they only require a small amount of filament, printing one barely touches your school. They often look cleaner than using generic adhesive strips or Velcro.

Better placement equals better performance. When your sensors are appropriately placed, you reduce false triggers and get more accurate data. These mounts provide control over alignment, making replacement and battery changes easier.

Contact sensors for doors and windows often don't align perfectly. This is especially true on older door frames or uneven surfaces. That's where printed mountain plates and spacers come in. These allow you to adjust height and angle without relying on sick adhesive stacks. You can often customize these mounts for your specific sensor model and surface gap.

You can also use printed guides to keep both parts of the sensor straight and secure, even on sliding windows or tricky trim. Some designs feature a recessed space for magnets, allowing you to slightly extend the detection range. All of this makes your alerts more reliable and less prone to error. For sensors that trigger automations or security alerts, that extra position matters.

These are quick prints and often take less than 30 minutes to make. For renters, this can be a non-permanent way to improve sensor replacement without causing damage. They are a great option when factory mounts simply don't suffice.

If you're using an old iPad or Android tablet as a smart home controller, a wall dock or tabletop stand makes it more useful. You can print custom holders that fit your tablets, with exact dimensions and angles for easy access. The designs sometimes include cable guides or charging pass-throughs, so it's always powered and ready to turn your device into a dedicated dashboard for Home Assistant or any control app.

Wall mounts help you centralize control in the hallway or living room, while desktop cradles work better near a couch or bedside. These mounts are often modular, allowing you to add features such as a stylus holder or speaker support. It also protects your tablet from sliding or falling when used frequently. The right stand makes your tablet feel more like a purposeful part of your setup.

Using a printed mount also keeps your workspace clean and frees up space for other accessories. Whether it's mounted with screws or stuck with adhesive, the goal is to provide your smart home with an always-ready control panel. You'll likely wonder why you didn't do it sooner.

Smart switch retrofits, such as the SwitchBot Bot or the Aqara Fingerbot, allow you to automate traditional switches without requiring rewiring. The problem is, they often look awkward or don't sit securely. Printed brackets can anchor these spots right where they need to go, holding them in place while disguising their presence. With a snug bracket, you can even hide cables or battery packs behind a clean cover.

There are numerous designs to accommodate various switch types, including rocker, toggle, and button panels. Some bracket styles could even help center the bot more precisely over the switch, improving reliability. Since the bots press physical switches, alignment really matters. These brackets ensure that every press is smooth and consistent.

With the right design, brackets like these can blend seamlessly with your existing switches, making the whole setup look more polished. It's a small print job with a big impact on both books and function. For renters or anyone avoiding permanent installations, this is an ideal, low-cost solution.

These smart home accessories won't break the bank, but they can't make a big difference in how tidy, reliable, and efficient your smart home setup feels. Whether you need better sensor replacement, cleaner wiring, or more convenient access to control us, there's probably a printable design out there for it. A five-dollar roll of filament can go a long way when applied to small, purposeful prints like these. With a bit of planning and five hours of printing time, you can level up your smart home without touching your wallet again.

We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.

Your comment has not been saved

I love how useful this article is. It's so helpful to have you link to the items you're picturing and describing.

Oh, wait, that's what someone with a brain would do. I don't know why I expected that here.

What is the word for a typo from dictation or speech to text? A speako?

This article would be more readable if you read it through once or twice yourself before hitting publish.

Oh no, that would mean they would actually have to hire an editor, which in this age seems to be a lost art.

I didn't expect to love it, and it has a learning curve, but the possibilities are endless.

A step-by-step guide to get you started with the Android Debug Bridge tool.

Windows has worn me down

PCIe 3.0 doesn't affect your GPU performance, unless you run out of VRAM

This is one setting I always change on all my PC builds.