Smart blinds are blinds raised and lowered by a motor instead of a cord or chain. The motor takes its power either from a cable run to the window or from a rechargeable battery, and you operate it from a control. Which suits you depends on the blind, the window and any building work planned.
What makes a blind smart?
A motor sits inside the blind, usually in the tube of a roller blind or the headrail of a Roman blind. A control tells it when to move. That is the whole idea, and the rest is detail about power and control.
Motorised blinds make the most sense where a blind is hard to reach, very wide or very tall. They also mean fabric is handled less, because nobody is tugging on a cord.
Hardwired or rechargeable: how are they powered?
There are two routes. A hardwired motor is connected to a power supply, so it never needs charging. A rechargeable motor has a battery that you top up from time to time.
| Power | What it means | Worth thinking about |
|---|---|---|
| Hardwired | Cabling runs to the window | Best planned before plaster and paint |
| Rechargeable | A battery inside the blind | Needs recharging now and then |
How often a battery needs charging depends on the blind and how often it moves. Manufacturers give their own figures, so check the system you are considering.
How are smart blinds controlled?
Control varies from one system to another. Common options include:
- a handheld control that works one blind or several together
- a wall switch beside the window or the door
- on some systems, a phone app or a link to other controls in the house
Not every system offers every option, so decide how you want to use the blinds first, then choose the system that fits. We will advise on the systems we fit when we discuss your project.
Can Roman blinds be motorised?
Yes. A Roman blind made in our workroom can be raised and lowered by a motor, which suits a tall window or a high recess. Roller blinds are supplied and fitted by us and can be motorised too. See our made-to-measure blinds for the range.
What should you plan before decorating?
Power is the part that is easiest to sort out early and awkward to add later. Think about these points before the walls are finished:
- Choose the windows you want motorised, and whether each blind or curtain will be controlled alone or as a group.
- Decide between hardwired and rechargeable for each window, because hardwired needs cabling to reach it.
- Settle the blind or curtain fabric and the fixing position, so the motor and track suit the weight.
- Get the window sizes right. Our guide to measuring curtains and blinds explains how.
What about motorised curtains?
The same ideas apply to curtains. A motorised track opens and closes full-length curtains, or a run of sheers, without anyone pulling on the fabric. It suits floor-to-ceiling glazing and bifold doors, and you can read more about curtains for French doors and bifolds.
Our motorised curtains and blinds page explains the systems we fit, including Silent Gliss and Somfy. You can also see motorised curtains and voiles in our projects.
Is it worth doing in a whole room?
It can be, when several windows are used together, for example a row of blinds in one room. Hardwired systems are easier to plan across a whole room, while rechargeable blinds can suit a single window. Every project is different, so tell us about the room and we will talk it through.
