A Smart Home Hub for People Who Hate Smart Home Hubs

How much wood would a smart home have if a smart home device could be wood? That is a question I never thought I would be asking myself, but that all changed with the coming release of the mui Board. It is a minimalist smart home controller that is literally built into a piece of wood. This is done with a purpose, of course. Every detail of the mui Board is designed to eliminate the normal coldness of tech devices and bring warmth to the home.

Created by Japan-based mui Lab, the mui Board looks less like a gadget and more like a piece of furniture. At first glance, it could simply be a plank of maple or dark cherry wood mounted on the wall. There is no visible screen, no glowing panel, and no buttons. When idle, it blends into its surroundings, resembling trim or decor rather than electronics. Only when touched does it come alive, revealing soft, dot-matrix icons glowing through the wood itself.

This screenless approach is central to the mui Board’s philosophy. Rather than demanding attention like a tablet or smart display, it stays out of sight until needed. The capacitive touch surface allows users to tap, swipe, or draw directly on the wood, making interaction feel more tactile and intentional. The design reflects the Japanese concept of “mui,” meaning harmony with nature, and the device is certified by the Calm Tech Institute for its low-distraction approach.

The mui Board is powered by a Raspberry Pi-based system and communicates over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy. It includes built-in speakers and a microphone, allowing it to play sounds, record voice messages, and provide subtle audio feedback without relying on a chatty voice assistant. An included AC adapter supplies power, with the cable routed discreetly from the unit.

Functionally, the mui Board serves as a centralized controller for a modern smart home. It supports the Matter smart home standard and integrates with devices and services such as Philips Hue lights, Sonos speakers, LIFX bulbs, smart plugs, thermostats, and Google Calendar. With a few taps, users can adjust lighting levels, control music playback, check the weather, set timers, or view RSS headlines. While it avoids flashy visuals, the icon-based interface still offers a wide range of controls.

The mui Board can also be fun. Users can write messages by hand, trigger a wandering animated cat, or turn the board into a simple musical instrument. These small touches reinforce the idea that technology does not have to feel rigid or sterile.

While it is a very interesting concept, at $849 the mui Board is not likely to find its way into too many households. For a small fraction of that price, I’ll take a comparably-equipped smart home controller in a mass-produced plastic case any day.