Are Smart Blinds Really Worth It? 10 Factors To Consider


Waking up in the morning and raising blinds without getting up to enjoy sunshine was once like a dream, but not anymore. Thanks to the appearance of smart blinds, or the so-called motorized blinds, you can easily control how much and when sunlight gets in your house.  

Installing smart blinds can be a worthwhile investment, as they offer functionality while looking beautiful and luxurious. Smart blinds are also convenient, energy-saving, programmable, and come in different styles and fabrics.

If you’re wondering whether or not to get a smart blind for your house, read the rest of this article to make a more informed decision.

Control the external window blinds concept

What Are Smart Blinds?

Smart blinds look like just regular window treatments but are more high-tech. Unlike the conventional shades or curtains, you don’t have to pull a cord or twirl a wand to control them.

Smart blinds are electronic blinds with built-in motors that enable you to control their opening and folding on a schedule, based on sensors, or even at your own demand. Some of them come with battery-powered remotes, allowing you to control up to five windows.

This option is more affordable, especially if you want to turn your old blinds into smart ones.

However, the more advanced—and of course more expensive—smart blinds come wired or wireless. They connect to a central controlling system via separate lines or wireless networks.

You can integrate them into your home automation system to enjoy more features. For example, coupled with a smart lighting system, they may help save energy by doubling the amount of sunlight that comes into the home.

They also come in various designs, colors, and fabrics that allow you to always stay in style and add an air of luxury to your house. What’s more? They’re no longer noisy like the older models.

How Smart Blinds Work

All smart blinds include built-in electric motors that enable automatic control. However, their power source is mainly of two types: lithium battery pack or wired/wireless recharge.

The life of batteries and a single charge on rechargeable motors are almost the same—about six months to a year, based on the blind size and frequency of use.

Fully smart blinds can connect to voice assistants like Alexa, and you can control them with voice commands, in addition to pressing a button on smartphones or tablets or the touch screen in the home.

The more affordable smart blinds powered by batteries usually come with handheld remotes that also provide convenience.

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Pros of Smart Blinds

Smart Blinds Offer Convenience

Smart blinds allow you to control the amount of light you let in the house just with a click of a button. You can also install them for windows that are hard to reach, like cathedral windows.

Additionally, they’re programmable, which means you’d never need to worry about them, even when on vacation.

Most Smart Blinds Are Energy Saving

When you connect the smart blind to the central controlling system, you can set it to react according to the temperature or sunlight data reported by sensors. Doing so allows them to know how to function on hot or cold days or how much sun to let in the house.

Additionally, you can schedule them to open or close during specific times of day, reducing energy loss and the associated costs.

They’re Easy To Integrate Into Your Smart Home

You can integrate them into your smart home control system to sync and together as a whole and operate according to the data collected by light or temperature sensors.

With some brands, you’ll even install sensors on the rooftop. These sensors determine the sun’s position and prevent direct sunlight from entering the house.

Smart Blinds Provide Security

Scheduling blinds to open and close at specific times or controlling them remotely while you’re away can trick others into thinking you’re home, controlling your blinds manually. As a result, it can be a good deterrent for possible thieves or those peeking into your house. 

They Are Safe for Children and Pets

The cords and strings in traditional window blinds impose suffocation danger to children and pets. They may end up entangled in them and choke.

Smart blinds, on the other hand, don’t have cords or strings dangling from them; hence, they’re much safer for homes with children or pets.

Control the external window blinds concept focus on control

Smart Blinds Provide Furniture Protection

Letting sunlight into the house is a good source of light and heat, but it can also discolor and wear away valuable furniture and artwork over time.

Additionally, you may not be home all the time to change the position of the blinds, or you may simply feel too lazy to do such a repetitive chore.

By scheduling the blinds based on their timer or sensors, you can rest assured that direct sun won’t get in to damage your furniture or floor during the hottest hours of the day.

They’re Compatible With Voice Assistants

Many advanced smart blinds are compatible with voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. This is incredibly convenient because it allows you to open or close your downstairs blinds even if you’re upstairs in your bed simply by telling your digital assistant to close the living room blinds.

Cons of Smart Blinds

They’re A Bit Expensive

Most smart blinds cost between $300 and $500, which makes them relatively expensive. This high price is mainly due to the motors and technologies they use for functioning.

Luckily, there are ways to reduce the costs. For example, try reducing the number of shades per window or choose carefully among the manufacturer’s fabrics for the less expensive styles.

They Require Electricity to Function

Smart blinds need electricity, battery power, or in some cases, solar energy to function. For those experiencing frequent power outages, this may be a concern.

However, many smart blinds come with battery backups or solar options to prevent problems in a power failure.

They Can Experience Malfunctions Caused by Network Problems

There’s always a risk of technical problems with any electronic products or those functioning via a network.

For example, the blinds’ connection to your smartphone may fail for whatever reason. Besides, their motor may malfunction, resulting in the blinds getting stuck in their place.

Final Words

Smart blinds aren’t just a luxury addition but a piece of convenience and control. They let you open and close blinds remotely or on a schedule to avoid the damaging rays of the sun. Besides, they keep possible intruders at bay by tricking them into thinking that you’re home.

Although expensive, they’re worth your money because they save energy and reduce costs over time.

Rob

I'm Rob, the founder of theonetechstop.com. I’m a Marine Corps vet with a master’s degree in Information Systems and have been working in the technology field for over a decade.

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