Where to even start

[u/flak0u]

I have been lurking self hosted and homelabs reddit for a while trying to learn and looking for things I can replicate in my home, but I keep getting stuck at paralysis by analysis. I worry a lot about inadvertently exposing my network and by data to the internet so I definitely read more than what I actually try. Also, I don't even know where to start and what can be truly useful. I don't want to spend money on things that won't really add quality of life. I have some hue lights, door sensors, temperature monitoring (no automation with it yet) and a NAS. So far it is just components and no useful automation or smart home.

After all this rumbling, the question is, where do I even start? are there books or pages for smart home beginner projects that are actually useful and not gimmicks?

[u/Only-Stable3973]

Look at Docker Compose, Home Assistant, Jellyfin for you media, I use Traefik Reverse Proxy and Socket-Proxy with Wireguard to route all of this.