A top priority in the smart home upgrade category, smart blinds help reduce energy use while providing cost savings and comfort benefits. With the click of a button, you can bring in just enough natural light for daily tasks and chores while keeping your living space well-lit when it’s time to read or relax on the couch. Or, you can schedule your blinds to close at sunset to optimize sleep-friendly darkness. Our Indianapolis smart blinds allow you to adjust your window treatments with the touch of a button—or even a simple voice command.
Smart motorized window treatments can also be integrated into a smart home automation system and controlled alongside lights, thermostats and security systems. For example, Lutron’s smart shades can work with its home control system to automatically alter them based on sunrise and sunset estimates, as well as your daily routine and habits. They can also be controlled with voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. SmartWings has the best selection of motorized window treatments in this review, including custom curtains, Roman shades, dual shades and outdoor shades. Their fleet of SmartWings motors offers comprehensive smart hub compatibility with options from Control4(r), Crestron(r), RTI(r) and URC(r).
Other brands offer a range of customizable window treatments that are compatible with the major smart home ecosystems, including Ikea’s ready-made blinds in eight preset sizes. These are a great choice if you’re looking for an affordable solution that can be easily retrofitted to existing windows and doesn’t require professional installation. However, they’re less visually appealing than some other options and have shorter warranties.
In our comparison, every smart blind or shade we tested runs on battery power and doesn’t require a wired connection. However, Pella offers a solution that can be hardwired between the glass panes of new windows and synchronized with its Insynctive technology through a hub and app.
If you’re considering upgrading your existing blinds to a smart option, it’s important to evaluate the costs and benefits carefully. Unlike smart locks or thermostats, which can be installed by a qualified installer in as little as 30 minutes, installing smart blinds requires more tools and takes upward of 30 minutes to measure for and install each product. Check out Indianapolis Blinds for more information about smart blinds.
Depending on the type of window coverings you have, your consultant may be able to recommend a smart retrofit solution. For example, Lutron’s Serena shades have a built-in motor that can be added to most standard window treatments. For a more customized solution, you can purchase motors separately to fit your existing blinds or curtain rods. These can be mounted on the bottom rail or headrail, but most are mounted on the side of the blinds. They’re easy to install and can be powered by batteries or a wired power source.