If you’re embracing smart home technology in your home, it’s time to check out what smart blinds can do! From energy efficiency to scheduled light control, the atmosphere of your home will never be the same. Let’s explore the differences between the motorized operating systems, how they work, the rooms that need them most and which treatments are available, so you can make the best decision for your Carolina home.
What Are Smart Blinds?
Smart blinds are a category of window coverings that are automated by a motor to open, close and adjust without physically touching them. There is no manual control. Smart blinds can be activated with a remote, an app or with integration into a smart home system.
Hunter Douglas PowerView® Automation
Is There a Difference Between Motorized and Smart?
Yes, there is! Basic motorization simply means that a motor provides the adjustment for the window coverings. When it comes to smart shades, blinds, shutters and drapery, the control happens in connection with a smart device, including a phone, tablet or smart home system. Explore the details to see which system appeals to you.
Individual Motorization
Hunter Douglas offers a unique option when you only want 1-2 shades with motorization. It’s called the SoftTouch system, and it provides motorized adjustments, activated by applying gentle pressure to the wand that is connected alongside the window shade. This is perfect for homeowners who want the benefit of instant adjustments, but are not interested in more features.
Sonnette® Cellular Roller Shades with SoftTouch™ Motorization
Remote Control
Hunter Douglas PowerView control starts with remote control blinds. These are motorized window treatments that are adjusted using a hand-held remote or wall-mounted remote. You’ll enjoy instant adjustments at the touch of a button. Saved favorites can position shades individually to meet the needs of the room. Remotes can adjust between 1-6 shades.
App Control
When using the PowerView app to control the motorized shades, this is where you start to move from simple motorization to smart technology. There are additional features, such as scheduled adjustments and control of multiple rooms within your home. Saved favorites and scene setting is part of this control.
Hunter Douglas PowerView® Automation
Smart Home Automation
True *smart* window treatments are integrated with your smart home system, allowing for voice controlled movement and two-way communication. That means, when you’re away from home, you can “check in” on the shades to see which position they are in, and then decide if you’d like to adjust them. Other smart appliances, like a thermostat, can also communicate when the shades need to close as the summer time temperature heats up. Much of this can be controlled via the PowerView app, as well as within your own smart home control system.
Which Rooms Are Best for Motorized Window Treatments?
When it comes to the rooms of your home, they aren’t considered equal. The functional needs are atmosphere vary. It can depend on how the light interacts with your home, and how you use the spaces. We can go room-by-room with you to decide which spaces are best outfitted with smart shades for your family’s lifestyle.
The Bedrooms
This is one of the most popular spaces where families want smart blinds. Being able to instantly close the shades when you want to sleep in is a major factor. With Hunter Douglas PowerView, you can put your smart shades on a schedule to match the days of the week where you want the shades to stay closed longer. Create bedtime routines for children so the window treatments close, creating the ideal environment for privacy and winding down after a long day.
Vignette® Modern Roman Shades
The Living Room
Another popular choice, the living room is all about atmosphere. There’s no better feature than motorized window treatments to deliver a wide range of lighting, privacy and comfort. Even more than that, we love combining features to customize the changing atmosphere.
Dual Shades: Reduce the glare on screens with the light-filtering shade of dual shades during the day, and close up the space with the secondary blackout shade for privacy in the evening.
Top Down: Lower the shades with top down to stop direct light and glare, yet fill your space with natural light. All of these customizations can be instantly set or scheduled for convenience and ease.
The Entryway
The entryway of your home deserves privacy from street-facing foot traffic, but you probably don’t want it completely closed off. Smart blinds add routine to this area, closing up when privacy and security is crucial, but opening to let in light at other times. One feature homeowners love is the automated opening and closing of entryway shades while they are away on vacation. It offers a sense of security, knowing that the automated movements are happening even while you’re away.
Duette® Honeycomb Shades
The Kitchen
Popularity for motorized blinds in the kitchen can vary, depending on the direction of the light and times of day. Because your family is in and out of the kitchen all throughout the day, the benefits of instant adjustments and scheduled movement can improve the comfort of the space. Harsh glare and an overheated space is the last thing you’ll want when you’re preparing a meal. But, other times of day might lend themselves to looking out wide open windows to take in the view. When it comes to adjusting smart shades in the kitchen, homeowners love the hands-free option of asking Siri or Alexa to close the shades in the midst of cooking.
Alustra® Woven Textures™ Roman Shades
The Home Office
With many of us working from home, the home office has become a staple in home design, as well as a space where we have to be productive, regardless of what’s going on in the rest of the house. Privacy and light control are vital to this endeavor. The ability to block out distractions in an instant, or in the midst of a conference call, is an important feature. Duette honeycomb shades are a great option, not only for light and temperature control, but also for the sound absorption characteristics they add.
Which Window Treatments Can Be Motorized?
Almost all of them! We offer a wide range of window treatments that can be operated with Hunter Douglas PowerView, including shades, blinds, drapery and vertical coverings.
Designer Roller Shades
Motorized Roller Shades
This is a popular option when it comes to choosing smart shades. Roller shades simply describe those window shades that roll up into the headrail. Homeowners love the hands-free approach to adjusting their roller shades up, down and anywhere in between. Roller shades are a favorite in the Carolinas, as they are a simple way to block intense light from entering and heating up homes during hot summer months.
Sheer Shade Motorization
We offer a variety of sheer shades, and the settings of these shades make them a gorgeous option for outfitting your home with filtered light and customizable control. Adding motorization to sheer shades means you can watch them adjust into position without fussing with the sheer fabrics. It’s a great way to keep your shades looking fresh for years to come.
Pirouette® Shades
Smart Roman Shades
Another category of window shades that encompasses a number of styles is roman shades. Materials can vary based on the collections, from linens to bamboo. These shades are beautiful candidates for motorization as the fabrics gather and rise in uniform movement. Roman shades are a favorite when it comes to adding features, like dual shades and top down bottom up, so clients love the way smart shade operation makes it so easy to access those features.
Motorized Cellular Shades
Cellular shades are a great way to keep your home comfortable, while also letting in light. They insulate the window when necessary, but can also adjust to meet the needs of the homeowner. Available in a range of opacities, from sheer to room darkening, choosing motorized cellular shades means you can sit back and watch them adjust into place to create the right comforts for your family.
Duette® Honeycomb Shades
Vertical Window Coverings with Automation
Large windows and sliding doors are a favorite here in the Carolinas, and it’s important to have coverage that keeps the sunshine from heating up homes and fading interiors. But we also love our views and the ability to go outside whenever we please. That indoor/outdoor living is made complete with the instant adjustments of motorized vertical blinds and shades.
Smart Drapes
Drapery is a gorgeous way to frame the windows of your home, and they can be the ideal way to block light and heat, while adding privacy. Operating drapes with motorization means no more adjustments of fabric. Schedule them to close up during the hottest parts of the day, but show off the view and natural light when you can. They glide into position and right back out of the way with instant adjustments, no fussing with fabrics.
Exterior Shades
In the Carolinas, we spend a great deal of time in our outdoor spaces, and those need shades, too. We have found motorized patio shades to be an incredible upgrade to the outdoor lifestyle many of us live more than half the year! Advantages of motorized outdoor shades are blocking wind, reducing glare, providing shelter from light rain and UV rays. There is also significant insect control for the evenings spent outside. Motorizing the opening and closing your patio shades is a huge upgrade for convenience and ease.
Are You Ready for Motorized Blinds?
We’d love to answer any questions you have. Come into one of our showrooms to see smart blinds in action. Make the adjustments, explore the operating systems and choose the fabrics and features that will customize the atmosphere of your home. Then, schedule with us. We’ll come to you for a free smart shades consultation.
