Starting Fresh: Which Smart Home Ecosystem Best Integrates Philips Hue, Ecobee, Sonos, Zigbee Blinds, and More?

Hello everyone,

I’m seeking some guidance for setting up my smart home in my new house. I’m not completely new to smart home tech—I’ve used Philips Hue bulbs and various smart speakers before—but this is a fresh start for me.

For the new setup, I plan to stick with Philips Hue bulbs and an Ecobee thermostat. I already have a Sonos system, and my blinds are smart Zigbee blinds operated via a Tuya Zigbee bridge (model THP10) provided by the vendor, which I haven't set up yet.

I’m trying to decide which ecosystem to start with: Home Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, Philips Hue Bridge, or Hubitat Elevation? I’m a bit confused about the differences and features of each option and which would work best for my situation.

I also have a NAS at home, so I could potentially run Home Assistant as a VM or container there, though I think I might need additional USB dongles. Alternatively, I could use a dedicated PC.

It’s important for me to control everything easily, preferably with an app on my iPad or another device that lets me quickly control lighting, climate, blinds, and more when I arrive home.

To add a bit more context, I have Chamberlain garage door openers and Samsung appliances (both Wi-Fi connected). My outdoor landscaping lights use Bluetooth mesh tech.

Lastly, I still need to buy outdoor and doorbell cameras, so any recommendations on those would be appreciated! as well as a system that can incorporate that.

Thanks in advance for your help!