The best smart blinds for 2023
Smart blinds are the unsung heroes of the smart home. Having motorized shades that raise and lower with voice commands or on a set schedule is one of the best ways to create the illusion of someone being home, even if you’re away. Smart blinds also are an effective way to save on your energy bill: Let in more light, keep the heat turned down, and let the sun save you some dough. Conversely, you can save on air conditioning costs by closing the blinds on hot days. Between convenience and energy savings, they’re an accessory worth exploring – and we’ve rounded up the best smart blinds you can buy today right here.
Tilt MySmartRollerShade
Best for easy set-up
Pros
- Easy installation
- Handy solar charging option
- Robust app
Cons
- No support for Google Assistant
- Separate bridge required
Available in several colors and material types (including blackout options), the Tilt MySmartRollerShades are an ideal option for those looking to dive into the world of smart shades without the burden of overly-complicated tech. The shade motors are powered by solar-charged battery packs, which means no worrying about recharging your power source throughout the year.
Once installed with compatible windows 23 inches to 74 inches wide, all of your main controls are handled by the Tilt MySmartRollerShades app. The iOS and Android apps connect via Bluetooth. Set schedules, enable sunrise/sunset functions for raising and lowering your blinds, and make adjustments all from your preferred mobile device. Keep in mind that because the app is powered by Bluetooth and not Wi-Fi, you’ll need to operate your motorized blinds while at home. If you want on-the-go controls, there are several options.
If you’re using an Amazon Alexa or a Samsung SmartThings smart device, you can also control your Tilt shades with voice commands. Doing so does require the additional purchase of the Tilt Bridge, but once installed it’s convenient to automate your shades with simple raise and lower prompts.
Tilt MySmartRollerShade
Best for easy set-up
Lutron
Lutron Serena Shades
Best for a custom fit
Pros
- Works with all assistants
- Feature-rich
- Fits to any window size
Cons
- Expensive
- Requires a separate hub
Serena motorized shades are one of the most popular brands for smart blinds. Lutron’s totally customizable coverings come in either honeycomb or roller styles with over 150 fabric, color, and opacity options. Use the free Lutron app to create custom mood scenes with your blinds and set schedules for opening and closingl. It also supports geofencing, where the blinds will automate based on your daily routines. Serena shades also are compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, and Logitech Harmony. The Lutron Smart Bridge is required for all Wi-Fi features.
Buying the Lutron Serena or other Serena coverings is easy. Just go to Serena Shades, hover over Design and Shop, and select Design a Shade. Plug in your measurements, power preferences, and choice of material, and then have your finished window treatment sent directly to your home.
Lutron Serena Shades
Best for a custom fit
Graywind
Graywind Roller Shades
Best for a seamless look
Pros
- Compatible with SmartThings
- Smooth motor action
- Great style
Cons
- Needs two people to install
- Alexa integration can be tricky
One of our favorite hardwired options of this roundup, Graywind shades are customizable blackout curtains that can be controlled with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, and IFTTT programming. The best part? There’s no need to purchase an additional bridge.
After you’ve installed the shades, download the Graywind app and start creating schedules and automation routines for your new smart shades. If you’d prefer to keep things simple, you can use the included remote to control up to nine different pairs of Graywind shades. Better yet, you can purchase additional Graywind remotes and copy your settings from one remote to the other.
Initial programming of the motors for this window covering can be a bit tricky. If you have any issues with setup though, Graywind offers exceptional customer support for any install glitches you may encounter.
Graywind Roller Shades
Best for a seamless look
Soma
Soma Smart Shades 2
Best for a compact design
Pros
- Works with existing shades
- Solar panel included
- Highly affordable
Cons
- No physical remote included
- Hub required for smart home integration
Soma’s latest Smart Shades 2 motor pack is another stellar retrofitting option for your existing blinds. Just make sure your coverings have a beaded chain. Once installation is finished, download the Soma app to easily automate the shades. The app lets you create “triggers” for the pack to respond to, including the time of day, sunrise/sunset, and general lighting conditions. The pack is solar-powered and comes with a USB charging cable for quick battery re-juicing.
Once you add the Soma Connect to your smart home, intelligent voice commands are available through Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri. Once enabled, you can ask Alexa to do things like open your Soma Smart Shades halfway or create routines where your blinds will always close at 7 p.m. just as your smart lights to turn on.
Soma Smart Shades 2
Best for a compact design
Yoolax Blackout Shades
Best for smooth and quiet operation
Pros
- Solar power option
- Little noise when operating
- Seamless style
Cons
- Requires separate smart hub
- Remote control battery sold separately
What we love about Yoolax is its catalog is entirely custom-fit to match your exact window dimensions. Just plug in your sizes and order online. Installation is painless and the low-noise motor keeps the shades operating smoothly. Like most of our picks, the Yoolax motor runs off of an easy-to-recharge battery pack.
You can control the Yoolax Blackout Motor Shades with the provided remote or Yoolax app. Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri can join the fun, too. Just make sure to purchase the Yoolax hub to unlock the additional voice command features.
Yoolax Blackout Shades
Best for smooth and quiet operation
My SmartBlinds Automation Kit
Best for retrofitting existing shades
Pros
- Handy gradual tilt mode
- Solar panels can keep the kit powered
- Schedule can shift according to season
Cons
- Motor could be more powerful
- Retrofit requires cutting existing drawstrings.
If you happen to be handy and don’t mind a little DIY, the MySmartBlinds kit might be your best bet. The kit can only be used to retrofit 2- to 2.5-inch corded horizontal blinds, but adding the low-profile motor and battery is such a cinch that it felt silly not to include My SmartBlinds on our list.
Once you install your motors and batteries, you’ll need to download the SmartBlinds app to your phone or tablet. Use the SmartBlinds app to raise and lower your blinds or set daily and weekly schedules that work with your routines, so you never have to worry about remembering to close your blinds again. Users can deviate easily from their schedules by using the manual override option.
You can also automate your blinds using the solar monitor and temperature sensors. These sensors will operate your blinds automatically by monitoring the sun rays as well as your home’s indoor temperature. The battery is also solar-powered, so if you’re looking for ways to save on energy costs, the My SmartBlinds Automation Kit is an ideal option.
My SmartBlinds Automation Kit
Best for retrofitting existing shades
IKEA Fyrtur Smart Blinds
Pros
- Reasonable price
- Great design
- Easy operation and installation
Cons
- Missing a few “smart” features
IKEA is known for its high-quality, low-priced catalog – and the Fyrtur Roller Blinds are a welcome addition to the family. Offering IKEA’s usual minimalist design, these smart shades are little more than a roll of fabric on a simple frame. You can actuate the blinds with the included remote control, or you can sync them with the IKEA Home smartphone app to gain additional features. There’s also not a cord to be found, making them child-safe and offering a less-cluttered look than traditional blinds. Best of all, the polyester fabric used in the blinds provides full blackout coverage, allowing you to get a good night’s rest or block out the sun in your home theater.
Graber
Graber Motorized Shades
Pros
- Quiet operation
- Cordless design
- Endless ways to customize your shades
They’re not cheap, but the Graber Motorized Shades give you incredible flexibility to build them however you’d like. Solar shades, cellular shades, pleated shades, natural shades – the list of available styles is impressive.
And, like all smart shades, the Graber Motorized Shades are easy to control with the accompanying smartphone app or through Amazon Alexa or Google Home.
What makes these motorized shades extra appealing is their quiet motor, Z-Wave technology (which alerts you when batteries are low), and a cord-free design that’s great for homes with kids or pets. Consider checking them out if you need a high-end look to pull together your room.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are smart blinds?
Smart blinds are versatile window treatments that you can control and manage through a mobile app, computer software, or voice commands via smart speakers from major brands like Amazon, Google, Apple, Samsung, and more.
How do smart blinds work?
Smart blinds are powered and operated in several ways. When shopping for these specialized window treatments, you’ll find a number of power options:
- Battery-powered motors are at the top of the list when it comes to aesthetics and easy installation. The battery packs are simple to conceal and quick to replace, although you’ll have to worry about servicing the shades once in a while, depending on how much you use the shades throughout the year.
- Hardwired smart blinds require an existing electrical outlet to power the shade motors but negate the need to service replaceable batteries. Many brands also offer solar-powered motors that work in conjunction with battery-powered motors.
Regardless of what power source you’re using, the motors are typically paired to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for smart controls through a mobile app or voice assistant. Z-Wave, Zigbee, and proprietary radio controls are less common options.
Are smart blinds worth it?
Yes. Smart blinds can help you save money on the electric bill by allowing more sunlight into your home during peak heating hours, or blocking our sunlight when you would otherwise need to turn on the air conditioning. This means you’ll be running your thermostat less. Smart blinds also are a great way to improve home security. Automated schedules paired with smart lighting can create the illusion of someone being home, even if you and yours are on vacation. There’s also the pure convenience of operating shades without needing to pull cords or twist wands. Popular voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant let you raise and lower shades with simple voice commands, allowing you to walk into a room and adjust your blinds with ease.
Can I make my existing blinds smart?
You sure can. Products like the My Smart Blinds Automation Kit can be retrofitted with existing blinds, adding smart controls to those designer shades you simply must keep.
If you already have blinds that use an electric motor but want to make the motor a lot smarter, use the LoraTap Curtain Switch, which is designed to be connected to an existing motor without the need to replace it entirely.
Which style of smart blinds is right for your home?
Cellular shade models are a popular option for electric blinds, but it’s important to match a smart blind upgrade to the particular kind of blinds you have. Contact an interior designer that can provide suggestions for the best window treatments for your specific home, sensibilities, and overall goals. Window treatments can use a variety of cord and pulley systems to operate, and not all smart blind motors will be compatible. Some blinds may not be able to be upgraded to a smart system at all. Do your research and find options that match what you have, or choose a new blind system altogether.
How do you install smart blinds?
Smart blinds come with a motor that’s mounted to the wall beside the blinds, a hub that connects to your Wi-Fi, and a controller or app you can use to automate them. They generally need to be hard-wired into your electrical system as well, although some work on rechargeable batteries while others need to be plugged into a nearby electrical outlet. If wiring is involved, this is usually not a DIY project except for those experienced in home renovations and electrical work. For easier installation, look at something like our battery-powered Ikea picks.
Are automated blinds the same as smart blinds?
Yes. The terms are used interchangeably, although “smart blinds” is a newer term, and often carries the expectation of app-based controls.
How long do smart blinds last?
Wear and tear on smart blinds is minimal, and with proper care they can last at least five years. The blinds themselves will last much longer, but you may need to replace batteries or update the mechanical systems every several years.
How reliable are solar-powered smart blinds?
Solar-powered smart blinds are just as reliable as battery-powered smart blinds. They work off light, not heat, so windows that block heat will still allow the blinds to charge. Energy is stored over time, so your smart blinds will still have power even at night or on cloudy days.
What are the advantages of solar-powered smart blinds?
Solar-powered smart blinds work off solar energy, which means there is no need to hardwire them or constantly swap out batteries. Once installed, the blinds work within just a few hours of sun exposure. Once a charge builds up, the blinds can work even when there is no sunlight due to internal batteries.
For many users, the appeal of a solar-powered smart blind is that it requires no electrical work to install and leaves outlets free for other uses. Fewer cords mean less clutter on the walls, providing a more aesthetically pleasing look.
Editors’ Recommendations
Credit: Source link
Comments are closed.