I think I’ll try the IKEA thing that was mentioned in other comments, and maybe I’ll make something with ESPHome if I need something else.

I do have access to a 3d printer so I think ESPHome is the answer

What are the advantages of nixOS? I have a Ubuntu Server but plan to run Fedora KDE on my desktop when I build it.

echo $1 | unzip

Please let me know what you end up doing, because I might have a similar problem at some point.

See my other comment. I guess a 3-way-switch with a relay could work, but not a relay in parallel with the switch. Sequence might achieve the goal but it’s not fully functional

I don’t think a relay would work because it wouldn’t let you turn the lights off without getting up, and would make it so the switch won’t turn the lights off without turning of the relay from your phone.

Thanks for the better explanation

My point is, you would keep the switch on no matter what and flick it off and on again when switching the lights on/off

Assuming technically possible, this solution requires no other hardware:

Is it possible to make the smart plug default to the opposite of the last state? You could use the wall switch like a pushbutton (cut and restore power) and it would toggle, then maintain control from HASS. You might be able to save the last state of the smart plug, detect when it comes online after a power failure (theoretically), and set it to the opposite of the previous state in an automation.