Motorized Blinds, Shades, and Other Window Treatments

Did you know that almost any window treatment in your house can be motorized? With just a click of a button, you can control any shade, anywhere in the house.

Why should you care? There are some obvious reasons, like comfort, convenience, and flexibility. But there are also others - motorization provides solutions to problems that you face every day (whether you know it or not). Here I give you a list of seven:

1. Hard-to-reach windows - think second-story windows or those above the bath tub.

2. Conveniently manage glare - think 'football games', think 'computer'.

3. Effortlessness and safety - no dangling cords means that your kids or pets won't play with them.

4. Automatically protect furnishings - sun exposure can be brutal to your floors and furniture and you can't always remember or have time to close the window treatments.

5. Speed - if you have several windows in the room, can you image the time you're saving by not walking window to window to close and open each individual treatment?

6. Reduced energy costs - window treatments can be programmed to open and close during those times of the day when you need (or don't need) exposure to the sun to heat up/cool down the house naturally.

7. Increased security - when you're away on vacation, the shades can be programmed to randomly open and close (vs. doing so at the same time or staying closed the whole time), giving an impressing that the house is occupied.

What can be motorized? (almost) Everything!
-Blinds
-Shutters
-Cell Shades
-Silhouettes
-Roman Shades
-Curtains and Drapery Panels

Motorization is simple! It seems complicated, but it doesn't have to be, once you know what to consider. Here's your check list:

1. Do I want the motors to be powered by a battery or a transformer. Tip: transformer is more convenient since you never have to worry about batteries. This added convenience comes at about 10-20% premium, initially. Over time, thought, since you'll be forced to change out the batteries, transformer becomes a more economical option.

2. Do I want to control my window treatments with an IR signal or RF signal? Before I lose you on this point, let me tell you quickly: think of IR (stands for infrared) as you would of operating a TV and think of RF (stands for radio frequency) as you would of operating a garage door. Tip: RF needs no line of sight and can go through walls - which to you means more convenience and assurance that it would work properly.

3. Do I want to control my window treatments with a wall switch or with a remote control? Tip: although the initial inclination is to just do the remote, my advice - get both. If the remote is accidentally lost (and subsequently found under one of the sofa cushions, as it often happens in my house), you can still operate your window treatments!

Three frequently asked questions I always get. Here they are for you (I'm sure you have them too) - asked and answered:

1. How much more do I have to invest? Depending on your extent of convenient options, your premium is 20-50%

2. Do I need an electrician? If the motor is powered by a battery, you do not. If the motor can be plugged into a nearby outlet, you do not. If you the transformer needs to be concealed - you do. If you need additional outlets, you do.

3. Can my existing window treatments be retrofitted? In most cases, they can. The answer depends on the size of the headrail and whether a motor can fit into it.