Last time I posted about my Smart Home Essentials list was actually last year! I thought I'd continue on these kinds of posts, this week, with shading.
Shading is becoming increasingly popular with the modern smart home. With companies like Ikea jumping on the smart home band wagon, and creating their owns smart shades designing the first truly afford smart shades.
The downside is the noise of the motors, and this is always the hard part. Fitting a motor into a such a small space!
Shading is actually something I have a fair amount of install experience on, having started installing lutron and qmotion custom blinds for the last 4/5 years now. I can safely say that they are very very cool, but they don't come without some caveats!
What do you need to successfully prepare to install smart shades?
Well, not a lot really. With a majority of smart shades being battery powered, so they just need to be hung and set up with their software/app or onboard controls.
However, there are some blinds, mainly the ones listed below that can require cables, however, others do exist and make sure to check before installing.
Lutron typically uses it's own Lutron 4 core cable.
Qmotion uses a cat6 network cable, to power and control their wired blinds.
Some require a 240v power cable.
If you're going for custom made smart shades then triple, wait no... quadruple check your measurements!
Otherwise thats it, it's really that simple!
What about curtains?
Smart curtain tracks can be virtually the same, however, some can require a 3rd party relay to be triggered within the motor. The wiring in this instance would require 240v cable for power and a cat6 or similar cable for the low voltage control.
What options are there for styles, and what if I want blackout blinds?
The custom side of smart shading systems can ofcourse be made with all kinds of fabric styles, also choosing the transparency of the fabric, which really allows for the blind to be truly customised to absolute max!
Clean lines and dark rooms.
Planning for curtains and blinds can be taken to extreme levels. I've had the pleasure over my career working in the smart home install world, to work with a lot of interior designers who want style and clean lines to matter more than anything!
I've worked with designers that have specified recessed curtain tracks and blinds to create an invisible feel to the window coverings. It really makes a difference to create these recess' if you have the space because you're then not blocking any part of the window and it allows for the most light to get into the room.
What about at night though, if you're like me and literally CANNOT sleep with any kind of light on then I would definitely recommend blind channels. Just in case you're wondering what on earth I on about?
Blind channels are a recessed or surface mount track for the blind to slide down in, this creates a light seal between the window and the room. It completes blocks the window all the way around giving you the peaceful nights sleep you might so desperately need! I know I do!
For more on shading and curtain ideas I'll refer you to prior post so you can get some ideas for how to get next level window coverings at home!
How do I control my smart shades and curtains?
This is where things get a little more involved.
Controlling smart shades and curtains will mostly all have an app you can use, it may require a little network hub to be plugged into your router for it to work. Once it's plugged your can add your shade or curtain to it and set it up.
If you are lucky enough to have a home automation system, you will need to choose the brand the integrates the best into your system. For example, if you have a lutron radio RA2 select lighting system at home then sticking with lutron blinds would be your best bet. They are easily integrate-able to other systems such as crestron or control4 home automation systems. Other shades/curtains do work well too!
Some brands offer their own handheld/wall mount controls, others rely on home automation control systems like those listed above. The main control will typically be via an app.
What are the benefits to smart shades/curtains? Aren't you just lazy if you get them?
Absolutely not!
There are multiple benefits to automated blinds, listed below are some of the main benefits!
Set schedules. - This is great for a weekday morning wake up call, for the blinds to automatically rise up and let the sun to give you a more natural wake up call.
For Security. - As we discussed in our smart lighting post, an away which includes shading/curtains can mean that you're home looks even more occupied when your windows are changing from daylight to nighttime with the curtains/shades being shut!
For temperature. - They say that during the hot weather keeping your curtains and shades shut is a great way to keep the heat out, the same goes for keeping the warmth in. If you have a system that links the temperature to your shades you can have them adjust to keep the temperature right for you.
For blocking direct light. - Lutron specifically has light sensors, these are a brilliant way to make sure when your at home that any blinding light during sunrise/sunset can be kept comfortable, as the shades/curtains can be programmed to drop to a certain level to block out the light or even let more in!
To help those with physical disabilities. - Smart homes are proving to be life changing for those with limited or no movement. Being able to do simple tasks like raising/closing your own window coverings can add peace of mind for family and friends whilst also giving more independence.
Rooms with a lot of windows. - The push of one button can drop all the blinds in a room therefore saving a lot of time closing each and every window in your room!
Now, I did mention some caveats above. I think I did!
Well... there aren't many but they may make you think twice about investing in shades/curtains.
Cost. - Custom made automated shades/curtains can be expensive to install and/or repair
Maintenance. - Automated blinds like anything technological are not perfect and may go wrong from time to time.
They won't stop for you. - Typically most smart shades/curtains do not have any kind of system in place to know if you or something is in the way and this can often cause shades in particular to roll on themselves or get damaged. Be sure to keep the shade area clear!
Batteries. - Not a bad caveat but if you opted for fully wireless shades, just remember to change your batteries every few years, you'll know when the blind stops working otherwise!
Otherwise I can't really fault automated shades and think the benefits far outweigh the negatives! If you're in the market for some smart shade/curtain solutions look for a professional in your area for advice!
If you have any pictures or videos of your window coverings send them over to me at our Less Vanilla Please Instagram page!
I'd love love love to see them!