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smart blind
Here Comes the Sun: Let the Light Shine in Automatically With Smart Blinds
In our modern world, it’s becoming less labor-intensive to run your own home. At one point, regular chores would have included doing the dishes, washing your clothes (at one point by hand! in a river!), vacuuming the floors and a whole lot more. However, as technology has evolved and having a “smart home” more desirable, so shrinks the list of household activities that require your physical input. And, it’s time to add opening and closing your blinds to that list by adding smart blinds to your home.
Smart homes, which are full of internet-connected devices capable of being controlled remotely and performing tasks on-demand or at scheduled times, are now the norm. From a robot vacuum to your heating system, if you can’t control it with a remote control or your smartphone, you’re getting left behind. Now that the list of smart home devices includes your blinds, you may be wondering: what are the best smart blinds to install in your home?
Smart blinds, like normal blinds, perform a number of handy functions. In addition to letting in or blocking out light, they can prevent the loss of heat, block UV rays and provide privacy from the outside world at the push of a button. Throw in smart technology, and your blinds will open and close when you tell them to or, in some cases, when the temperature in your home falls outside a desired range.
There’s a lot to consider when investing in your first set of smart blinds. Continue reading and we’ll break down everything you need to know and think about before making this type of purchase.
Smart Device Compatibility
There are generally two types of smart blinds. The first are motorized blinds that can be controlled by a smartphone app or your smart home speaker, like Google Home or Amazon Alexa. These blinds connect to your WiFi and communicate with your devices through the internet, so you can control them with the sound of your voice or a remote control. These devices sometimes also have special functionalities, like closing the blinds when the temperature in the house reaches a certain level or opening them when you’re close to home.
The second type of smart blinds are also motorized but can only be controlled through a remote control. Sometimes, the remote control might be voice-activated, and often these blinds boast a timer function, allowing you to open and close the blinds several times a day automatically. While remote control blinds cannot be controlled by Alexa or Google Home, they are fairly easy to convert using smart plugs or smart switches. They also tend to be cheaper than fully smart device-capable blinds.
Do You Want To Motorize New or Existing Blinds?
The next thing to think about before purchasing smart blinds is whether you want to keep your existing blinds, shades or curtains or whether you want to purchase a new set. Some smart blind devices are essentially motors that can be connected to the window coverings you already have. Others come with completely new blinds, which may be better if you’re fitting out a new house or need a change in style.
Keep in mind that if you’re buying a device to make your existing blinds “smart,” you’ll need to take the opening mechanism of your current blinds into account. Most devices only work with one type of blinds, whether that’s Venetian blinds, blinds with a chain for lowering and lifting, or curtains that open horizontally. Shop carefully in order to get a device that works best for your home.
On a very basic level, you’ll first need to decide whether you want blinds, shades or curtains to cover your windows.
- Blinds, which range from Venetian style to vertical, are usually made up of slats that can be opened and closed to let in a minimal amount of light. They can also be raised or lowered in a group to allow for a full view out the window or a complete blockage of light.
- Shades, however, are similar to sheets of fabric that are most often rolled up and down. These aren’t as multifunctional as blinds as they don’t have a middle option. They are either opened or closed. Nevertheless, this type of window covering is the best at blocking out light completely when lowered.
- Blackout shades are made from thick fabric that will keep your rooms completely dark until the shades are open.
- Curtains are the most decorative of the three as they are usually available in a number of colors and patterns. These pieces of fabric usually attach to a rod or track at the top of a window and are opened horizontally. Like shades, they don’t offer any half-light solutions, but they can be used in conjunction with shades or blinds if necessary.
The type of window covering you choose is completely dependent on how much light you need to block out and which style matches your home decor the best.
The Role of Smart Blinds in a Multifunctional Home
Every home is different. Some cater to the needs of busy professionals, some create a nurturing environment for happy families, while others form the perfect setting for friends and families. Each home is special in how they meet the varied requirements of the inhabitants.
Just like the inhabitants, each room also comes with their specific requirements. Bedrooms need peace and quiet, while a sitting room is all about ambience. The kitchen is a practical place, whereas the library is a refuge. In this respect, every home is a multi-functional domain, balancing a wide-range of necessities and requirements with the alacrity of a juggler.
Window coverings play a unique role in fulfilling those demands and turning comfort into a well-earned reality. Windows are responsible for keeping a room well-ventilated, comfortably warm or cold, and for allowing in just the right amount of light. The window coverings you select for your windows will be instrumental in creating a perfect balance between the natural elements and the mechanical comfort factors that modern homes usually have. For this reason, when you are trying to dress your windows, align them with the specific requirements of the room.
Specific Requirements of a Room
Bedroom: Let’s start with your favourite room, the bedroom. Bedroom is where you unwind and spend some quality time with yourself. It is also where you replenish your body with much required rest. But the untimely presence of the sun would get in the way. Light sleepers, little children, as well as shift-workers usually find sunlight as a highly disruptive element. To cut off light completely, select a blackout blind and enjoy the night-like effect even during the day. The thick material of blackout blinds also cuts off sound to a large extent, while trapping the heat or chill inside.
Smart Blinds in Bedroom: However, all this is not enough to ensure a peaceful sleep. How will you sleep when the sun shines on your eyes at the wee hours, long before you have set your alarm. Would it not be wonderful if your blinds came down on their own before the sun rises? This is possible with smart blinds. If you have smart blinds, you can sync them with the home automation system, or set a schedule, which allows the blinds to open and close without any real-time intervention on your part. You can also take your comfort to another level by syncing your blinds with a range of smart devices like the thermostat, coffee machines, radios, and many more. Take the stress out of your waking up routine and spend a few extra minutes in bed, enjoying the convenience that automatically come with smart blinds.
Living Room: Living rooms are undoubtedly more hectic. A high traffic area within the house, this is where you make memories. As everyone gathers around the TV, the last thing you need is to have curious onlookers look into the room. Privacy is of utmost importance. Positioning your blind at a level that would allow you adequate privacy, while keeping the room well-lit will become a priority. For optimum privacy, you can opt for Top-Down-Bottom-Up cellular blinds. You can keep the top and bottom of the blinds open, while middle part of the window remains covered. So, even if your living room opens to a busy road, you will still find your room shrouded in privacy.
There is another factor that you need to consider for your living room – light control. If you have invited your friends over to watch your favorite team play, you don’t really want the sun to glare down on TV screen and spoil the fun. For cutting off the glare, opt for solar blinds, while blackout blinds are best for cutting off the light.
These solutions would achieve greater effectiveness with the help of smart technology. You can keep save energy and keep your privacy intact with a touch of a button. Even when you are not at home, a press of a button would ensure that blinds would come down as the sun goes down and the lights come on. When you feel like using the computer or TV, just ask your home assistant to close the blind to reduce glare, and your blinds would come down without you having to leave the sofa. You can also sync your blinds with the smart lights and smart TV to act together. The possibilities become more varied with the addition of smart technology.
Benefits of Having Smart Blinds
The benefits of having smart blinds are not just limited to convenience. Smart blind technology also adds some practical elements to the household functionalities.
Home Security: Home security gets an additional boost with smart blinds. Even when you are not at home, you can control your smart blinds through your home assistant system. If you sync your blinds with the lights, you can have them come down as the lights come on. All of this would create the impression that the home is occupied.
Home Insulation: When your smart blinds are synced with the clock or thermostat, you can actually preschedule them to operate in a way that would optimise the energy usage of the household. Keeping the blinds closed when the temperature rises outside in summer, and opening them when the room becomes too hot, is a good way of saving energy. As you will control multiple blinds at one go, you will achieve energy efficiency for the entire house at one go.
Saving time, as well as energy cost, will have a big impact on your life-style. The time you save can go into spending more quality time with family and friends or on a fulfilling hobby, while the reduced energy usage would allow you to lead a more environment friendly lifestyle.
A Note on Smart Blinds Pricing…
The final thing to consider before making your purchase is price. The smarter the blinds are, the more expensive they will be. For some, sacrificing the ability for the blinds to communicate with a smart speaker is worth a cheaper price tag. For others, investing in smart blinds means they want the top of the line with the most functionality.
Other factors that can impact the price include how complete the set is (does it include just a motor or the blinds themselves too), how customized the blinds are, and the type of window coverings included. The latter tend to be the most expensive.
When shopping for the best smart blinds, be careful. There are a lot of low quality motorized shades and blinds for sale right now, and a lot of so-called smart blinds are anything but. We know that picking the right smart home solution can be a challenge, so we went looking for the best products you can install on your own. Below, you’ll find 15 of the best smart blinds available for your home. These include complete sets as well as kits to turn your existing blinds into smart ones.
1. Yoolax Motorized Blinds
BEST OVERALL
The Yoolax Motorized Blinds are well-reviewed by users and create an effective barrier for your doors and windows to keep light out and cool air in. Each blind is custom made to the exact size you specify and comes with a mounting kit and full instructions on how the blinds work. The polyester fabric blinds deliver 100% blackout conditions and come in a range of different colors, including dark grey, white and lake blue, ensuring there’s a color to suit your home interiors. In addition, these high-quality blinds can be controlled using your voice through smart home devices, with the remote control or through the smartphone app.
2. IKEA FYRTUR
RUNNER UP
With these IKEA FYRTUR smart blinds installed in your home, you’ll be able to control the light in your room with the touch of a button. Each blind is capable of blocking out external light to create a dark and private environment for you to enjoy. If you install more than one blind, it’s possible to use the TRADFRI gateway and IKEA Home smart app to create groups for your blinds and control them all at once. The gray-color blinds are available in a range of different sizes and come with a rechargeable battery, a charger and a remote control.
If you’re looking for the best smart blinds that come from a trusted brand, then IKEA’s line of FYRTUR blinds are the right product for you. Right now, these blinds can only be controlled via the remote control or with Google Home, although IKEA plans to add integration for Apple and Amazon smart home setups soon. The installation for these smart blinds aren’t too complicated, but you will need a moderate level of DIY skill.
3. Springblinds Blackout Roller Shades
EASIEST TO INSTALL
If complicated installation isn’t really your thing and you just want a quick and easy way to black out your bedroom, then the Springblinds Blackout Roller Shades are definitely the answer for you. Installing this simple device only requires two brackets and a quick push. These battery-operated smart blinds are controlled via a remote control, so they don’t have as many smart home features as some other options. However, they come in a huge range of sizes and colors so they can be matched to your home decor. If you’re looking for cordless blackout shades, then this is a solid pick.
4. LoraTap WiFi Curtain Switch
BEST SMART SWITCH FOR BLINDS
If you already have motorized curtains in your home, the good news is that you don’t need to replace them to make them “smart.” The LoraTap WiFi Curtain Switch can attach to any four-wire curtain motor, giving you the ability to control the motor by touch, with the sound of your voice, with a timer, from your smartphone or with Google Home or Amazon Alexa. While it might seem intimidating to install a new smart switch, reviewers write that this LoraTap product is simple to add to your existing set up. In addition, this curtain switch is CE and RoHS certified, meaning it’s completely safe to use.
5. SOMA Tilt
BEST FOR VENETIAN BLINDS
Like its sister product below, the SOMA Tilt is designed to motorize and automate your pre-existing blinds. This device replaces the tilt rod on Venetian blinds, allowing you to control whether your blinds are open or closed using your favorite voice assistant or the included smartphone app. You’ll also be able to set schedules for your blinds as well as IFTTT triggers. Like man of our picks for the best smart blinds, the SOMA Tilt takes only three minutes to install and requires no screws, drills or wires.
6. SOMA Smart Shades 2
BEST FOR EXISTING BLINDS
The SOMA Home Smart Shades can connect with Alexa, Apple Home Kits and Google Homes. Unfortunately, a separate controller is needed for full smart home integration. However, if you want to turn existing window treatments into smart shades, this is a great option. SOMA Smart Shades connect to any window shades with a beaded chain or cord and can be automated in three minutes. The cord feeds through the Soma Smart Shades device, which will automatically open and close the shades at your command. The discreet smart shades device attaches to the wall and blends in unobtrusively with your home decor. You can automate the blinds to move based on the time of day, sunset or sunrise or even the light conditions in your place. High tech.
7. Graywind Motorized Roller Blackout Shade
BEST BATTERY OPERATED
This blackout smart shade from Graywind is motor-operated and can be controlled via smart assistants like Alexa and Google Home, as well as a remote control. The shade itself is 100% linen polyester and is made to blackout light for peaceful sleep and energy-saving. The shade is fade-resistant, durable and easy to clean. A single remote can control nine different shades if need be, and you can sync the blinds up with your virtual assistant to control them with your voice.
8. Graywind Motorized Zebra Sheer Shade
BEST FOR ZEBRA BLINDS
With several customizable elements, you know you’re getting the product you want when you order a Graywind Motorized Zebra Sheer Shade. You can pick the width, height, inside or outside mount and the number of remotes required. The shades are made from a double-layer polyester that provides privacy, blocks UV rays, keeps heat in and ensures light stays out. The accompanying Smart Life app lets you control your shades from anywhere, set up timers and schedule opening and closing times.
9. American Homesupplier Smart Curtain Rod
BEST FOR CURTAINS
The American Homesupplier Smart Curtain Rod shows it’s not just blinds which can be automated. This mains-powered curtain rod is constructed from metal and plastic to deliver a durable and attractive home fixture. It’s easily assembled and comes in three different rod sizes, depending on the size of your window. The rod then provides numerous ways to control your curtains, including the remote control, the accompanying smartphone app or with any number of smart home devices. In addition, should you ever wish to close your curtains manually, a small tug will start the automatic closing process.
10. Curtain Call Remote Controlled Drapery System
BEST FOR HEAVY DRAPERY
Like the American Homesupplier Smart Curtain Rod, the Curtain Call Electric Remote Controlled Drapery System is a track that is installed along the top of your windows. Inside the track, there are mechanized hooks to hold your curtains. The track itself on this product is incredibly heavy duty, allowing you to hang even heavy drapery. When installed, the mechanism can be controlled by remote control. It is important to note, however, that the Curtain Call adapter cable and the WiFi smart plug needed to control these curtains using your smart speaker are sold separately.
11. VELUX Solar Power Skylight Blinds
BEST FOR SKYLIGHTS
Home Depot has a huge selection of motorized skylight blinds from VELUX. These skylight blinds come in a wide range of both sizes and colors to better match your home’s decor. A remote control is included so that your skylight blinds can easily be retracted with the push of a button. And with the VELUX Climate Control Kit, you can fully automate your home’s smart blinds and skylight shades to get precision control over the temperature and light inside your home. The Climate Control kit features sensors that automatically adjust to changing light and weather, helping you save energy. This isn’t a particularly budget-friendly option, but if you want to fully automate your smart blinds, this is a fantastic full-home system. Plus, VELUX is one of the only brands with smart shades for skylights. Their solar-powered smart shades for skylights are an elegant smart home solution.
12. Taiwan Present Godear Design Roller Window Shades
MOST ECONOMICAL
For 100% cordless blinds, the Taiwan Present Godear Design Roller Window Shades do the trick. These affordable roller shades are designed without strings, cords or pulleys. Instead, they are completely controlled by the motor and the included remote controls. The shades themselves are built using fabric that blocks 99.6% of all light, and they’re available in both white and brown. While these roller shades are certainly smarter than non-motorized ones, they cannot be controlled by a smart speaker. However, their price point means that you can purchase these roller shades and a smart switch (like the one above) for less than many set-ups that are smart out of the box.
13. Serena Smart Shades by Lutron
BEST SPLURGE
The Serena Smart Shades by Lutron are available in a range of different widths and have a maximum height of 60 inches. They can be controlled using the Pico remote (included in the pack), your smartphone (with the accompanying Caseta app) or with your voice through your smart home device. These blinds come in a choice of white or shell and provide an easy way to cover hard-to-reach windows. Furthermore, they can help save energy by adding a layer of insulation while blocking out the sun. The design is also cordless for safety reasons, and as these shades run on regular, store-bought batteries, you don’t need to worry about plugging them in. These smart blinds don’t have any reviews listed on Amazon, which may give you pause, but they’re a well-reviewed product at a reasonable price. These shades often show up on lists of the best smart blinds, and they feature a user-friendly design and a host of smart home capabilities.
14. MySmartRollerShades by Tilt
BEST FOR FAMILIES
These automated shades from Tilt are child and pet safe, so they’re safe to use in a house filled with toddlers, cats or other young beings. They’ve got stellar reviews on their site and can be automated via the Tilt app on your smartphone. They can also sync easily with Amazon Alexa. They don’t currently sync with Google Home, but they’re working on bringing that capability soon. They’ve also got an energy savings mode available and they come with a solar panel that charges the battery so it never runs low. They come in a variety of colors and styles from blackout to woven so you can match your current home decor.
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