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Smart blinds used to be an overtly expensive luxury, with a big, clunky remote and needing an installation company to come over and set it up. But now, you can buy smart, motorized blinds off-the-shelf (or online) to install yourself – even customized ones. No matter if you’ve got pull-down shades or tilt-blinds, you can either purchase them to install, or snag add-ons to make the existing blinds in your home “smart.” Ready to control your blinds via your phone or preferred virtual assistant? Read on for our shopping guide.
Smart Blinds Buying Guide
Here’s what you need to know about how the addition of motorized curtains or smart blinds to any smart home work, the different types you need to know, as well as features you need to consider before purchasing them.
Tubular motor: This is typically the most common, most affordable option. It’s a basic motor that can work with a remote, is relatively quiet, and adds the ability to roll up and down existing shades without needing to buy whole new blinds. One of the big issues you’ll notice right off is that these often need to be plugged directly into a wall outlet, and there aren’t commonly outlets around where shades go. Plus even with an extension cable, you’ve still got unsightly power cables hanging down all over the room (which also might be a safety hazard). They do have the ability to connect to WiFi, but usually can handle only a few commands.
Solar/Battery: This one makes way more sense if you’re connecting to WiFi, as you’ll need to be consistently hooked up to a power source, and solar is a pretty good one since it’s right next to a window. They give you local control, wirelessly, and a single remote also has the ability to control all the shades in the house too, making it really convenient for bedtime and mornings. The downside though, is that these are typically more expensive, and with each as its own individual unit, you’ll need one per window, which can really add up.
Add-on: This one’s the best option for renters who can’t change what’s already there, or people who don’t want to mess with their current setup too much. An add-on piece is pretty simple, with a motor inside that can twist open blinds or roll up shades. They also work great with apps and integrate well into smart-home systems like Alexa and Google Home, though Apple HomeKit wasn’t as common (but that’s changing).
Don’t get too wrapped up in the smartness of it all and forget about the quality of the shade itself. These still should be able to block out light (if that’s what you’re going for) and made from a strong, often waterproof, material. Measure your windows too – most regular windows are going to be about 34-36 inches wide, but if you’ve got odd-sized ones, you may need to do some DIY resizing to make it fit.
What Are the Best Smart Blinds?
Here are the top motorized curtains and smart blinds to add to your living room and around your home this season, plus one device that’ll let you turn your curtains into a “smarter” version.
