Dealer Guide
Scene Planning Guide
Scenes are where automation becomes easy to understand. Use this guide to define the routines, rooms, systems, names, triggers, and customer expectations behind each scene before programming begins.
Start Here
Build scenes around routines customers already understand.
A scene should reduce steps. The customer should be able to press one button, tap one command, or trigger one routine and trust the home to respond correctly.
Define the scene before programming it.
Confirm the scene name, systems included, room behavior, and trigger method so the final system feels intentional.
Entertain
Lighting adjusts, music starts, outdoor areas activate, shades move, and common spaces feel ready for guests.
Movie
Lights dim, shades close, display or projector powers on, the right source is selected, and audio moves to the correct mode.
Dinner
Dining and kitchen lighting shift to warmer levels, music plays at a comfortable volume, and adjacent spaces support the mood.
Goodnight
Interior lights turn off or dim, exterior lights stay on as needed, shades move, security arms, and thermostats adjust.
Away
Lighting, shades, climate, audio, security, and access settings move into a reliable away-from-home state.
Morning
Selected shades open, lights come up gently, audio starts in key areas, and the home transitions into the day.
Planning Sequence
Plan the routine before programming the command.
Scene planning should happen before programming. Confirm what the client expects, what systems are included, how the scene starts, and what happens when it ends.
Start With Daily Routines
Ask what the customer does every day, every night, when entertaining, when leaving, and when returning home.
Define the Room Behavior
Scenes should behave differently depending on the room. A theater scene, kitchen scene, and outdoor scene should not all follow the same logic.
Identify Included Systems
Confirm whether the scene controls lighting, shades, audio, video, climate, security, access control, outdoor areas, or a combination.
Name Scenes Clearly
Use names that make sense to the people using the system. Simple labels like Movie, Entertain, Away, and Goodnight are easier to remember.
Scene Discovery Questions
Ask these before building the scene list.
These questions help define routines, triggers, room behavior, scene names, included systems, and user expectations.
Trigger Methods
Decide how each scene should start.
Scenes can be triggered from keypads, remotes, touchscreens, apps, schedules, sensors, voice commands, or security events. Choose the trigger that makes sense for the room and routine.
Scene Behavior
Define what happens next.
A scene should have a clear result, but also a clear exit path. Confirm what happens when the customer changes activities, turns the scene off, or moves to another room.
Scene Checklist
Document every scene before handoff.
Keep the final scene list understandable for the client, the programmer, and anyone supporting the system later.
Common Mistakes
Avoid scenes that make systems feel confusing.
Scenes should simplify the home. Too many overlapping scenes, technical names, unclear exit behavior, or untested routines can make automation harder to use.
Related Resources
Continue planning the automation system.
Use these related guides to continue planning lighting and shade behavior, automation discovery, control systems, and smart home prewire.
When to Call DSG Metro
Bring us in before scenes become confusing.
DSG Metro can help think through scene naming, lighting behavior, shade positions, audio/video behavior, security modes, trigger methods, and how the control system should feel in daily use.