We present the design of a smart multiple-mode indoor optical wireless system that combines line-of-sight (LOS) and non-LOS optical wireless methods to smartly adapt to changes in environment and application. The proposed design is able to operate in three optical wireless modes called directed LOS, non-directed LOS, and diffuse non-LOS. These modes smartly accommodate for changes in the number of users and their mobility, along with providing optimal light coverage area and increased robustness to receive light blocking. Experiments for the first time demonstrate the use of multimode light sources in the proposed smart links using electronically controlled variable focal length lenses. Specifically demonstrated is a visible 670-nm multimode laser-based directed LOS link with variable range of 0.2 to 1.5 m and a 650-nm LED-based nondirected LOS link with variable range of 0.2 to 1.1 m. Compared to nonsmart links, these smart links demonstrate an improvement in the received optical power of 1.7x and 2.1x for the laser and LED links, respectively. (C) 2013 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)