Motorized roller shades are one of the most popular ways to bring simplicity, style, and smart-home convenience into Austin homes and “level up” by adding motorization. With clean lines, smooth operation, and the option to connect to today’s most popular home automation systems, these shades offer both beauty and efficiency. Whether you’re upgrading your living room, large windows, or sliding doors, motorized roller shades provide effortless control at the touch of a button.
The Undeniable Popularity of Roller Shades
For decades, roller shades have been a favorite choice for window coverings everywhere. Simple & stylish is what it comes down to. Also, roller shades offer incredible light control while unassuming in their design. They have the unique ability to disappear into the headrail when not in use. It’s this winning combination that makes these shades so popular. Today, we have a wide selection of color-ways, fabrics and contemporary finishes, all within 7 versions of roller shades.
Benefits of Motorized Roller Shades
There are many ways to enhance effortless control with motorized roller shades. Clients can choose to use the remote, the app on their smart device–or a voice command to make instant adjustments. But that’s not all. It’s control YOUR way. You can also set shades on a schedule, save settings or allow for triggered openings and closings with integration. Allow motorized shades to work intuitively within your home, and adjust for ultimate comfort throughout the day. Set shades to open in the morning, and the sunshine will warm your floors. Then, set them to lower, signaling “dinner-time” without making an announcement. The possibilities are endless.
Lighting Control
Protect your home from UV rays by adjusting shades to close throughout the day with a simple voice command or a one-tap adjustment, creating the ideal atmosphere in real time.
Child-Safe Cordless Design
After all, safety is our top priority. Old, outdated window treatments with cords that tangle and twist are hazardous to kids and pets. The industry has moved to cordless products for your protection. Motorized roller shades do not have cords, making them a safe option for kids and pets.
Energy Savings
Window coverings do more than add charm to a home; they provide protection and energy savings, too. Motorized roller shades offer energy efficiency with scheduled automation. When your Texas home is overexposed, the constant heat can turn it into an oven. This warm air rises and moves upstairs, affecting the comfort of the bedrooms. By the end of the day, your home can feel uncomfortable throughout every room.
By blocking the sunlight, and insulating the windows, you can keep your home cool. In addition, the collection of Sonnette Cellular Roller Shades helps contain extreme temperatures with their insulating design structure.
Privacy
When it comes to privacy, it’s up to you and your home. Do you have street-facing rooms? Are there times of the day that you enjoy watching over the neighborhood, but other times you prefer protecting the view inside your home? Motorized roller shades offer flexibility. Open them to watch the kids get on the bus, and close them for privacy as night falls.
Design
The roller shades are a great addition to your home’s design. Think modern, minimalist aesthetic that lets you decide how to enhance your space while keeping a contemporary look and feel. Create a look for your home that you love and want to enjoy with friends and family.
Convenience
The convenience of motorized roller shades cannot be denied. When used to their optimum potential, motorized rollers can save you money, add a feeling of security and adjust on their own. They can create the perfect setting for work and play. Schedule their openings and closings to work intuitively with your home, creating the perfect atmosphere. Even hard-to-reach windows can be adjusted with just the touch of a button or voice command. What a time saver. The app allows you to make changes to the schedule at any time or any place. If your plans change, and you’ll be out later than you thought, signal your shades to lower from your favorite restaurant in the city.
Motorized Roller Shades Vs. Regular Roller Shades
If you are looking at features, trying to decide between motorized and regular roller shades, here are some considerations to keep in mind:
- Operation: With regular shades, you operate with a manual pull. Motorized shades utilize a remote, app or voice control feature–not physically handling the shades.
- Child Safety: Regular shades offer corded features (without upgrades) while motorized shades remain 100% cordless, enhancing safety.
- Large Windows: Difficult to reach or larger window coverings can be hard to lift, while motorization allows for smooth, automated lifting resulting in easier transitions and less work.
- Smart Home: Manual roller shades obviously do not have smart home features, while motorized shades work with PowerView® technology, available with Google Home and Alexa for convenience and better control.
- Convenience: Basic controls are featured in regular roller shades, while motorized roller shades offer more convenience, lifting in an instant or on a schedule.
Still Not Sure?
Do you have hesitations? If it’s the cost, the power source or installation that’s keeping you from making motorized roller shades part of your life, we understand. Our team at Austin Window Fashions can address these common concerns and make you feel at ease.
Professional Installation
Motorized roller shades need power, and anytime you add power to a new area in your home, you’ll need a professional. The good news is that we have expert installers that are trained to install Hunter Douglas products professionally. There’s no need to hire a contractor on your own, we’ve got it! By working with our pros, you can be certain that your automated shades will be up and running on DAY ONE of the install with proper instructions communicated to you. Now adding motorized roller shades to high, hard-to-reach windows is very common, and we’d like to take a moment to address the DIYers out there. Ladders are dangerous. Don’t take unnecessary risks. Call us for all your window covering needs.
Motorization Power Options
It’s true, motorized shades need a power source, but that power source isn’t limited to just one option.
AA Batteries: Disposable AA batteries are easy to access, and many clients choose disposable batteries and change them every couple years, depending on daily use.
Rechargeable Battery Wand: Many prefer the new rechargeable battery option we offer, even available with a retro-fit option for previously purchased PowerView shades.
Hard-wired: This is one way to reduce future maintenance, as you never have to change batteries again. But, it does require running low voltage wiring, which can be an invasive process–unless you’re in the midst of remodeling or building a new home.
Solar Power: This is the newest option in powering your Hunter Douglas PowerView shades. The solar powered charger is placed inside the window frame, or attached to the glass, using the light from the sun to power your motorized blinds.
Cost
In the end, cost usually determines what shades you’ll choose. We are here to say that it may be less than you expect to add motorization. Like any other type of technology, automated shades have become very popular, and the pricing has leveled off. Don’t let the cost worry you until you get all the facts. Pricing for motorized roller shades varies, depending on a number of factors, including window size, how many windows, the type of treatments you select, the other features you have chosen, and the type of control you choose. With customization options, we can offer competitive pricing to fit any budget. Our clients are often pleasantly surprised with their quotes! You’ll never regret adding motorization to your shades–we promise.
Popular Room & Applications
When looking into window coverings it helps to think about where you want to place them. If you are interested in the most popular spots for motorization features, take a look at a few of these:
Living Room
In a living room with taller windows, you have a big space that is hard to reach. With motorization features, you do less work to adjust for light and privacy. Glare reduction and privacy can be important features in the living room.
Bedrooms
Enhance your bedroom with blackout and automation features with motorization. Protect your privacy and create a cozy space at the same time.
Kitchens
Kitchens are a space that sees a variety of family activity all throughout the day–the ability for motorized shades to meet all the needs of changing light is important. Keep it feeling well-lit as needed, or filled with filtered light, is easy with convenient motorized shades. Hands-off operation can be important in this space, as you may need adjustments while cooking.
Home Office
Finally, a popular option is to motorize shades in the home office. And why not? You spend lots of time working in there, organizing bills, papers, and even relaxing. Create a space you love that controls for glare and privacy so you can get work (or rest) done in peace.
Style Options for Motorized Roller Shades
Homeowners who love to put motorized roller shades in their home have a plethora of options when it comes to fabric and style choices. Look into hundreds of fabric swatches, opacity levels from sheer to room darkening, and everything in-between. Love texture and design? Go for different materials that bring a fun quality to the space while sticking with your personal aesthetic. The options are limitless, with showrooms available to walk through and see (and feel) for yourself what you love for your space.
Get Started Today
All you need to do is reach out, and we can send a designer to meet you on-site, OR come into one of our showrooms for a tour and demonstration of our motorized roller shades. We understand that choosing window coverings is an important part of creating your dream home, and we’d love to be your partner in the process. Ready to upgrade your home with motorized roller shades? Our team at Austin Window Fashions will help you choose styles, fabrics, and smart control options that fit your home perfectly. Contact us today.
