Home Automation Blinds – Control Your Window Treatments With Voice Or Touch Controls

home automation blinds

Home automation blinds can be a great way to control your window treatments with voice or touch controls. They can also be integrated with other smart hubs and systems, such as Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri Shortcuts, IFTTT, Control4 and more to provide automated controls or’sequences’ that open or close your blinds at sunrise, sunset or based on your location or a number of other settings, including motion detection.

Some smart blinds are sold as kits that allow you to turn your existing drapes or slatted blinds into a motorized version. These can be installed in an existing home or even during the construction process of a new build. Ikea’s motorized smart blind pair, for example, is battery-powered and works with the Tradfri gateway and the Ikea Home smart app to sync up with Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit. These blinds are also available as a block-out option, making them suitable for bedrooms.

Other brands such as Lutron offer fully motorized shades that are available in honeycomb and roller styles with over 150 fabric, color and opacity options. These are available with a free app to create custom mood scenes, set schedules and support geofencing that can automatically adjust your shades based on your daily routine. These are compatible with a range of smart hubs, including Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings and Logitech Harmony. Some are wired to your home network, others use a Wi-Fi bridge.

Most smart blinds are designed to be a plug-and-play solution that connect to your home’s internet and work with the compatible app or voice assistant of your choice. The simplest do this by attaching directly to the drawstring of your current blinds and replacing your existing cord or chain with a battery-operated motor. These are often the most affordable, but they’re also the least customizable and may not work with all types of slatted blinds.

More sophisticated systems replace your entire blind system and have a built-in motor. These can be a more expensive upgrade but often provide a more seamless and aesthetic finish to your window treatments.

Many of these smart home blinds are powered by a rechargeable battery that lasts for a year or more, so you don’t need to worry about changing batteries. Some are able to be paired with solar panels for an added energy-saving feature.

Smart home blinds can also save you money by helping to manage your heating and cooling needs. They can be programmed to close when indoor temperatures reach a certain level, and then open up when the weather turns warm to let in more sunlight. This can help you lower your energy bills, but it’s important to remember that opening and closing your blinds regularly can actually cause a small increase in temperature as the sun heats up the space.