Set It and Forget It: The Everyday Convenience of Motorized Shades
As routines settle back in this fall, convenience at home can make a noticeable difference. Lights turn on automatically, thermostats adjust themselves, and more of the things we use every day can be controlled right from our phones.
Your window coverings can work the same way.
Motorized shades aren't simply about eliminating the need to manually raise and lower a shade. With today's options, you can create schedules, control multiple shades at once, and integrate window coverings into your daily routine.
Here are some of the ways motorization can make everyday life a little easier.
1. Put Your Shades on a Schedule
Imagine waking up and having your bedroom shades open automatically to let in the morning light—or having the shades throughout your home close in the evening without walking from room to room.
Depending on the motorization system you choose, shades can be programmed to operate at specific times throughout the day.
Once your schedule is set, your window coverings simply become part of your routine.
2. Control Several Shades at Once
If you have a great room, sunroom, or an open-concept space with several windows, manually adjusting every shade can get old quickly.
Motorization lets you operate multiple shades together, making it easy to change the light, privacy, or atmosphere of an entire room at once.
This is especially convenient for homes with large expanses of glass.
3. Make Hard-to-Reach Windows Useful Again
Beautiful windows aren't always conveniently located.
Tall windows, windows behind furniture, and large windows over a bathtub or stairway can be difficult—or sometimes impractical—to reach.
Motorization allows you to actually use those window coverings instead of leaving them permanently open or closed.
4. Adjust Your Shades from Your Phone
Depending on the system, motorized shades can be controlled through an app, giving you another convenient way to manage your window coverings.
Forgot to close the shades before leaving home? Want to adjust the afternoon sun without getting up from your desk? Your phone can become your shade remote.
For homeowners who already use other smart-home technology, compatible motorized shades may also be incorporated into a broader smart-home setup.
5. Manage Changing Sunlight Throughout the Day
The sun doesn't stay in one place—and neither does the glare it creates.
Automated shades can make it easier to manage changing sunlight throughout the day. You might want shades open in the morning, partially lowered when afternoon sun hits a particular room, and closed in the evening for privacy.
Instead of constantly adjusting them yourself, automation can do much of that work for you.
6. Enjoy a Cleaner, Cord-Free Look
Motorization isn't only about technology.
Removing the need for traditional operating cords creates a clean, uncluttered appearance and can be particularly appealing on large windows or in rooms with a more streamlined design.
It's also a convenient option for homes with children or pets.
Do You Need a Fully “Smart” Home?
Not at all.
One misconception about motorized window coverings is that you need an elaborate smart-home system to enjoy them.
You don't.
Some homeowners simply want a remote that operates a hard-to-reach shade. Others want app control, schedules, or integration with technology they're already using.
The right level of automation depends on how you want to use your shades and what will actually make your life easier.
Motorization Designed Around Your Home
Not every window or window covering needs to be motorized, either.
You might choose motorization for a bank of large windows in your great room, a difficult-to-reach window, your primary bedroom—or throughout the entire home.
During a complimentary in-home consultation, we can show you motorized options, explain the different ways they can be controlled, and help determine which features make sense for your home.
At Budget Blinds of Eau Claire & Chippewa Falls, our goal isn't to make your home more complicated with technology. It's to make your window coverings simpler to use every day.