Motorized blinds are quite in demand as they can open and close on command, according to pre-set schedule, or even room occupancy. Apart from hassle-free operations, like any other smart gadget, these motorized smart blinds come with several benefits; convenience, security, and energy-efficiency being the top.
With so many benefits, buying motorized blinds for your home can be a great idea. But, if you are a first-time purchaser, and do not know how to shop for these blinds, then here are some basic pointers to help you out.
Type of shade
The shades can broadly be divided into four categories, namely roller, roman, cellular, and pleated. The roller shade has motorized rollers that spin to move it. The Roman rollers are also made of a single sheet of fabric. The back of this drapery has rings, and a cord runs through them, which helps fold the fabric. Cellular shades have multiple layers, and they have honeycomb-like cells that can trap air. The pleated ones are like the cellular shades, but they are fabricated from a single sheet of fabric and are much wider.
Kind of blinds
You can get two types of blinds in the market: horizontal and vertical. While the horizontal one folds in an up-down direction, the vertical blinds open from left and right. For vertical blinds, the motors are mainly used to control the angle of the slats.
Privacy and light control
These two features are complementary. If a blind can block more natural light, it will be able to provide more privacy. So when you go blind shopping, take a look at the amount of light it allows to pass so that you can have a fair idea of how much privacy it can provide. Also check on if the material itself is see-through (has holes in it) or not.
Insulation value
Highly insulated blinds are more energy-efficient. While you are not in the room, closing the blinds can save a lot of energy. With the smart version, you will not have to worry about doing the task manually. While you can schedule the time for opening and closing the blinds, some draperies come with motion sensors. It would automatically open or close according to the room occupancy.
Power consumption
Motorized blinds have a variety of different power options: battery power, plug-in power, or hard wired. Each has its own benefits, so decide on which on you prefer and make sure that the motorized blinds you go for have the style that you want.
Controls
Motorized blinds have a lot of different control options. Most will control with a remote, but smart motorized blinds will also connect to a hub to use with your phone, or even to a voice assistant such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home. Go for the one that suits you best and that you think you will use the most in the long run. Many smart motorized blinds offer the ability to schedule and automate operation as well.