I have also tried to upgrade home lamps. But instead of "smart", I choose simplicity. Using MDNS (local network discovery protocol) and a minimal HTTP interface, I made lamps discoverable and controllable offline via a basic Android App. No central servers, subscriptions, or cloud dependencies.
The result is pure freedom. Setup: plug in and connect to Wifi, done. Control: install app, join home network, control lamps anywhere in the house. Automation: A lightweight, customizable app handles everything.
The app polls locally for available lamps, which works flawlessly for 5-10 devices.
Security might be a problem, but since everything lives behind a firewall, I’m comfortable with the tradeoff.