From kitchen appliances to lighting systems – it’s no secret that our homes are getting smarter! And demand for our electric blinds and automated window treatments is soaring. More than half of Apollo Blinds customers now operate their blinds and curtains using home automation and search volumes for “smart blinds” have increased by an estimated 50% in the past 12 months. Similarly, searches for terms like “voice-controlled blinds”, “motorised blinds” and “smart home compatible blinds” have all increased as well.
This surge is part of a broader trend towards smart living, where automation and connectivity are key features in modern homes. Automated, innovative window treatments have become more popular for their convenience, energy efficiency, and integration with smart home systems like Google Home and Amazon Alexa.
But what is a smart blind? And how can a tech-savvy window treatment really make a difference to our homes?
What is a smart blind?
Smart blinds, motorised blinds and electric blinds are all ways of referring to window treatments which have been combined with modern technology to give you even more control over your home environment. There a number of ways in which you can raise and lower your blinds – from a simple battery-operated remote control, a home hub device such as Amazon Alexa, Google Nest Hub and Apple HomePod, to a fully integrated smart home operating home system, which can control your blinds alongside all other tech in your home. This could be everything from home security, lighting and entertainment. This all can be accessed via a tablet or smartphone.
What are the benefits of smart blinds?
Modern technology can support our busy lifestyles in lots of different ways – helping to manage our home environment more effectively, as well as increasing security and being tailored specifically to our lifestyle needs.
Smart sensors can be used to close your blinds if the temperature peaks, meaning that you will come home to a nice cool house on a hot sunny day. This feature can also aid energy efficiency by your opening your window dressings on a cold day to let heat in and then closing them to stop heat from escaping.
- If you are a fan of waking up to natural sunlight, why not programme your blinds to open in tune with your alarm?
- Going on holiday? Rest safe in the knowledge that your curtains and blinds will open and close automatically when you are away.
- When you are at home, voice control can quickly and effectively open and close your blinds without lifting a finger. This is especially beneficial for hard to reach blinds and curtains.
This technology can also help your window treatments have more longevity, as you are not required to keep touching your curtains or blinds. In fact – once you have embraced the power of tech-savvy blinds, you will never look back!
What type of motor and smart home operating system should I choose?
Here at Apollo Blinds we have lots of options to choose from. We also know it can seem overwhelming knowing which technology is best for your needs – that’s where our free in-home design consultation is ideal, as our Apollo experts and fitters can talk you through all the options to choose from tailored to your needs. We then of course set everything up in your home alongside your new made-to-measure window blinds and curtains.
We work with all the leading motorised blind system brands, including Powershade and Somfy, both of which can be controlled using the most popular interface systems including Control4, Rako and TaHoma. These can all be linked to Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
Our teams will talk you through all of your options and ensure that you are matched with a system that suits your lifestyle, budget and tech requirements.
What type of households should invest in motorised blinds?
Smart blinds are ideal for absolutely everybody – from the most tech-savvy of households who are integrating technology into every aspect of their lives; to busy families and people who may need some extra assistance opening and closing their window treatments.
They are also ideal if you have hard to reach windows and rooms with lots of blinds, such as a conservatory or garden room where you might want to control light and heat, without having to be constantly opening and closing the blinds yourself.
We predict that they are set to keep growing in popularity that soon enough they will be the norm in all homes.
To find out smart blinds could transform your home, why not book a free home consultation for a no obligation quote and design visit.