When it comes to window shade automation, our team at Timan & Co. will work with homeowners every day to bring smart, stylish, and functional shade solutions to life. So, how do you know what to look for? Let’s walk through the top factors to consider when shopping for motorized blinds.
Installation
Believe it or not, installation is one of the most important parts of the window shade optimization process. High-quality options like Hunter Douglas PowerView® are designed to last, which means they require expert installation from certified professionals.
When comparing brands, it is important to pay close attention to the installation requirements. Optimizing for your windows often involves more than just mounting the shades. It’s also about getting the power source, wiring, and fabric calibration exactly right. Proper calibration ensures your shades roll or stack evenly, preventing snags, rips, and long-term wear.
In addition, many motorized shades are placed on hard-to-reach windows. Instead of risking damage or your own safety, our expert installers handle every detail. You get peace of mind knowing your shades are set up perfectly from day one.
Automated Window Covering Benefits
If you are searching for some features to connect you to the latest and greatest smart home options, look no further. We have some of the best benefits of why automated window coverings offer ultimate protection, satisfaction, and value to your home. Let’s look at some of the greatest features and how you can utilize them for your windows.
Smart Home Features
In today’s world, most home features can be controlled from an app, and smart shades are no exception. However, the motorized shade benefits go far beyond simply raising or lowering your shades with a tap.
You can create personalized scenes that adjust based on the light in your home, which is perfect for setting the mood for a dinner party, a cozy movie night, or a bright morning. You can also schedule adjustments to help manage light, reduce heat, and conserve energy. Hunter Douglas smart shades integrate seamlessly with popular smart home systems, so you can use the device you already know and love.
Noise Level
Your home should feel like a sanctuary, and window shade automation should enhance and not disrupt it. The last thing you want is the sound of a loud motor cutting through the calm.
While many brands advertise “whisper quiet” motors, it’s worth testing them in person to be sure. Hunter Douglas has spent years perfecting smooth, nearly silent operation, so your shades glide without disturbing your peace. Our window covering showrooms are the perfect place to hear the difference for yourself.
Battery Life
When we talk about window shade automation, convenience is key. That’s why it’s important to know how your shades are powered. With daily use, battery life on motorized shades typically lasts one to two years. Hunter Douglas also offers a rechargeable battery wand, so you can charge instead of replacing AA batteries.
If it’s sustainability you love, the rechargeable battery option saves you from disposing of batteries, but you can also ask us about the solar-powered option, or even simply hardwiring your motorized shades.
What’s the Difference Between Smart Blinds and Motorized Shades?
Motorized and smart blinds are synonymous with modern window treatments, offering distinct features. But what makes them stand out from each other? The first thing to notice is price. Custom window treatments in Cleveland will come with a heftier price tag than smart blinds for some types of windows. Smart shades can also add up quickly simply because they require professional installation and take more to create and measure, along with advanced features. How does each one function? Motorized blinds have a motor control function that lets them open and close with a remote or a wall switch. Have hard-to-reach windows? These blinds will get the job done! You can also use voice controls to adjust them as needed.
Smart shades, however, integrate smart home tech into your home’s windows, which lets you control them via smartphone, tablet, or voice command. Both of them offer an upscale, customizable experience in your home, but smart shades offer a slight edge when it comes to seamless integration into your smart home.
Which Control System is Right for You?
Motorization of your blinds and shades delivers automated control that will send your alarm clock packing. Surrounded by quiet darkness, you can dream peacefully until it’s time to wake up. As your shades rise and welcome energizing rays into your bedroom, you stir and stretch–refreshed and ready to take on the day. Smart blinds include integration with home systems that support seamless interaction across rooms. Here are some features to consider:
Remote Controls
The latest innovations in the motorization of shades and blinds put you in complete control of your entire home’s atmosphere. No matter where you are, you always have instant access to the ideal environment for every room and to a better life for everyone in your family.
PowerView motorization puts adjustments in the palm of your hand from a stylish remote or your favorite device. It puts them on your wrist with your Apple Watch and lets you connect with Alexa, Google, or other compatible smart home systems.
Wall Switches
Whether you’re juggling getting yourself ready or getting in that morning workout (and many other things), a wall switch lets you set the tone and forget about it. Simple automation will let you connect to tech to help set the blinds for light control and privacy throughout the day. When you get home, you can adjust controls or set a schedule you desire.
App-Based Control
Ready for that automated lifestyle? Just tap into it (literally) by adjusting controls at the touch of a button on your phone or smart device. There are numerous ways to utilize app-based controls to simplify your lifestyle. PowerView provides the perfect atmosphere in an instant. Tap “Dinner Party” before your guests arrive, and finish setting the table as your shades adjust to offer beautiful lighting and an incredible view. Select “Movie Night” as everyone gets cozy, and watch as your blackout shades slide into place. Or say, “Evening Bath,” and step into a room with the perfect amount of privacy and soft lighting.
Voice-Control: Alexa, Google, Apple Home
If you wake up a bit earlier than usual, you can use voice activation with Amazon Echo to open the shades while you’re still in bed. Want to sleep in? Close your blinds with your pebble remote, or create a “Sleeping In” setting with the app on your phone, and then rest easy! Utilize Google or Apple Home in the same way, to set it and forget it so you can rest in peace knowing your home feels protected (privacy), energy-efficient (light control), and uses smart upgrades to keep your home connected wherever you go.
Soft Touch Wand® Motorization
If the terms wand motorization, automation, and SoftTouch sound complicated, fear not! It sounds like a lot, but they are simpler than they seem. Wand motorization does not include hardwiring or apps. This budget-friendly option uses a wand to adjust a shade in the morning or shift it down for the evening. Great for child safety, it helps maintain your home’s light and privacy functions without adding too much fuss.
With a nudge of the wand, you can adjust the shade without worrying about damaging your shades. PowerView, on the other hand, utilizes a battery-powered, rechargeable wand that shifts blinds while SoftTouch is on the blind itself.
Which Power Options Work Best: Hardwired, Battery, or Rechargeable?
The power options that work best for you will be the ones you can use easily every day. Hardwired ones will be wired throughout the home with devices used for control. Battery-powered and rechargeable, lets you use wands for control and adjust as needed. Each option has its perks, like remote features (hard-wired, using an app) versus battery powered, you adjust inside the home,e wherever you are in the room.
Choosing Rooms for Automated Window Treatments
Which rooms do you utilize the most? Which spaces do you want to integrate with tech throughout to keep things simpler? Do you have time to think about maintaining the security and protection of your home? Automating your home with smart shades means protecting your largest asset. Set a schedule so your pooch is comfortable in the home if you have pets. Each room has its own personality. You may decide to use automated window treatments for that dining room where you entertain or the living room where you spend lots of time with friends and family. It all depends on what you need.
What Are Cost Expectations for Automated and Smart Home Systems?
A common question to ponder is ‘how much will this set me back?’ Fair question, but we are here to help you decide on which systems suit your budget. Affordability is key and is not as far off as you might imagine. Energy efficiency is a bonus with cost-effective upgrades for your shades.
One of the most common questions we receive is, “What will the cost be?” To start, we can provide you with a quote for the automated shades you’d like in your home. The affordability is definitely something that surprises a lot of people, especially when you look at all of the benefits that come along with it. You will save money on energy bills, save time on adjusting them manually and the costs are a little higher than regular, self-adjustable blinds and shades. Costs depend on the size, style, location and more of each window and space. Professionals at Timan can provide more detailed specifications for your home.
It Starts with a Free Consultation!
During your in-home consultation, we’ll walk through all the features, controls, and fabric options. You can flip through sample books while we take precise measurements and check for any layout details that could affect performance.If you are interested, you can contact us today to schedule your free consultation and start designing the perfect smart shade system for your home!
