How I Installed a Flush Wall-Mounted iPad Dock for Whole-Home Automation

If you’ve ever wanted a sleek, built-in control panel for your smart home without dropping thousands on a proprietary system, an iPad wall dock is the move. I looked at a bunch of in-wall iPad mounts first, and almost all of them still stick out from the wall — SimpliDock was the only one that sits truly flush, and it looks phenomenal. I put these flush-mount docks throughout our house, and the result looks completely built-in. Here’s how I did it.

⚠️ Disclaimer: This is my personal DIY build — shared as inspiration, not professional advice. Any electrical modifications, including running power inside walls, should be done by or reviewed by a licensed electrician. Always follow local building codes and safety regulations.

Why an iPad for home automation?

Every modern home runs a web of Ring cameras, streaming audio, smart lighting, and Bluetooth devices. An iPad ties all of that together beautifully — and unlike dedicated smart panels, iPads are affordable, upgradeable, and easy to swap out. No tearing into walls when it’s time to upgrade; just pop it out and slide in a new one.

Choosing the location and prepping the wall

I mounted mine at roughly 5 to 5.5 feet — eye level for most people. Before cutting anything, check for studs, wires, and pipes behind the drywall. SimpliDock includes a template that makes marking your cutout easy. My opening measured 9 1/8 inches wide by 6 3/8 inches tall. I scored the drywall carefully with a knife — shallow at first, then deeper — until the section came out clean.

Running power inside the wall

The iPad needs constant power, so I fished a wire up from an existing outlet below. (If you’re not comfortable running power inside a wall, have a licensed electrician handle this part.) Pro tip: skip the tiny Apple adapters plugged into a standard outlet — they burn out fast running 24/7. Instead, I installed an electrical outlet with a built-in USB port right inside the cavity behind the dock. It keeps everything flush, eliminates dangling adapters, and stays fully serviceable since the dock is removable.

Installing the dock and mounting the iPad

The SimpliDock cradle is lightweight plastic with four jaw-style brackets — two top, two bottom. You slide them in slightly open so they clear the drywall, then tighten the screws; the jaws clamp down and grip the drywall securely — no stud mounting or wood backing needed. Next, attach the white cover plate with the Apple connector routed through it from your interior outlet. The cable plugs into the back plate, hiding every wire. Then you slide the iPad in from the side — the connector engages and the fit is incredibly flush. No gaps, no visible hardware. It looks factory-built.

Once it’s mounted, go into the iPad settings to keep the display always on. I loaded custom wallpapers showing live weather, traffic, Ring camera feeds, and whole-house audio controls. If you ever need to pull the iPad out, use the suction cup included in the kit — keep it handy for resets or updates. We also added LED lighting around our deck that syncs through the same smart home setup.

We’re running an iPad Mini 5 and an iPad Pro 12.9 on different walls, and honestly, the look and convenience are hard to beat. It’s modern, functional, and far more budget-friendly than dedicated smart-home panels. If you enjoy wall-mounted DIY builds, also check out my LEGO Technic wall mount and IKEA PAX wall mount hack. Good luck with your build!

Tools & materials

• SimpliDock flush-mount iPad docking station
• Utility knife
• Stud finder
• Fish tape or wire-fishing rod
• Electrical outlet with built-in USB port
• Standard electrical wiring supplies
• Screwdriver
• Suction cup (included with SimpliDock)

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