Motorized Shades in San Mateo, CA
As our homes become smarter, it makes sense that window technology adapts to meet the pace. Motorized shades offer control and comfort using a remote control, with some options that can even connect to your other smart home features for seamless interaction. Now, with the touch of a button, those skylights and other hard-to-reach windows can have a shade drawn. At Rudolph’s Interiors, we can help you choose the right motorized shades to complement your lifestyle and look.
Advantages of Motorized Shades
Aside from providing easier access to opening or closing blinds in hard-to-reach places, there are many other benefits to installing motorized shades in your home. These window treatments have powerful ultra-quiet motors that open or close your blinds in seconds. You can control the light and privacy in your home from anywhere by connecting your shades to your smartphone. With control over the fabric style and thickness, you can transform any room. Options range from light shades that create a bright, warm glow, to complete blackout shades, which are perfect for a restful sleep environment. While motorized shades typically look a bit more modern, they can be layered with decorative curtains for a softer look.
For parents or those considering adding to their family, motorized shades provide an additional sense of security, knowing that little ones have no parts to get tangled in, unlike traditional blinds. For those with limited mobility, motorized shades offer a chance to maintain independence in your living space.
Types of Motorized Shades
The significant difference between motorized shades and motorized blinds is the way that the material is lifted. The lifting mechanism has been motorized for motorized shades to allow more or less light into the room. On the other hand, motorized blinds have a mechanism to adjust the tilt of the material to adjust the lighting. Adding a motor to any window treatment automates a process that can be difficult for large windows or those in unusual placements.
When deciding the type of motorized blinds or motorized shades that you want in your home, the options are nearly limitless. One factor that should not be overlooked, however, is the cleaning process of your new window treatment. A few pieces of advice are listed below:
- So long as your motorized roller shades are one long piece of fabric, they are easy to wipe clean and straightforward to control.
- Motorized cordless cellular shades are becoming the new standard for those with small children or pets. With this window treatment, there are no strings that little ones can become entangled in, and the amount of sunlight in your room can be adjusted with the push of a button.
- To add a touch of elegance to upstairs bedrooms, motorized vertical blinds allow you to start your day with sunlight with merely a button push.
Motorized Blinds and Shades Power Sources
After you’ve picked your blinds or shades, the next step is to decide how you’ll make them move. There are three main power source options for shades and blinds: solar-powered, battery-powered, and electric. Additionally, you can hardwire the blinds to use household electricity, but this is an uncommon installment choice.
Solar Powered. These motorized window treatments are powered by the sun. Potentially the best option for a sunny room, solar power is ideal for windows routinely in direct sunlight, or for windows facing south or west for full sun. The energy from the sunlight is stored in a solar battery, so there's no need for additional batteries or cords. A sleek, eco-friendly choice, solar power conversion kits are available for current blinds. Solar power is not the best option for mostly shaded rooms, homes in cloudy climates, or windows with awnings.
Battery Powered. The motors in these window treatments are powered by batteries. The battery tube is hidden easily behind the window treatment or along with the window frame, and this discreet design allows the window and room design to shine since there's no need to hide wires or cords. Battery power works best for smaller windows, and lithium-ion batteries are recommended, as they have a longer life than regular batteries. As the batteries drain, the blinds may stall, and batteries can be recharged as needed.
How to Control Your Motorized Blinds or Shades
The final decision in installing motorized window treatments in your home is determining how you’ll control them. There are three options: remote, wall switch, or programmable timer. By using a smartphone app for smart blinds, you blend several of these elements.
A remote allows you to control the blinds from anywhere in a particular room. Certain manufacturers allow channels with remotes; single-channel and five-channel options are the most commonly available options. Single channels are best for individual windows or small groups of windows. A single channel would work best in a bedroom or a home office. For multiple rooms or rooms with numerous windows, a five-channel is preferred. The remote can program group arrangements of blinds or shades or control them individually.
A wall switch is exactly like a light switch, but for motorized blinds. For larger rooms like living rooms or media rooms, it is a great choice. For single-channel wall switches, only one blind is controlled or a group of multiple blinds is controlled in unison. With a five-channel wall switch, you can control either five separate windows or groups of windows in various rooms with the flip of a switch.
To open or close your blinds at a predetermined time each day, a programmable timer is your best option. These timers are similar to ones that you would use with a lamp or a Christmas tree. There are no remotes or wall installation required in this setup, and it's perfect for traveling out of town when you don’t want the neighborhood to know that your house is vacant. You can set your shades to allow the morning sun in and to shut before the intense afternoon rays warm up the room too much.
Are Motorized Blinds Right for Me?
Motorized curtains are a more considerable investment than standard curtains, so it’s essential to ensure they will be a good fit for you. They are great for families with small children since you don’t have to worry about the choking hazard of cords or pull strings on traditional blinds or shades. Motorized shades are ideal for larger homes with many window because you can control all the windows through one seamless system. If you travel a lot, you can control your windows from any location for added security.
Schedule a Consultation with Our Window Treatment Experts
Since 1952, Rudolph’s Interiors experts have offered homeowners in San Mateo a completely custom experience to design and install the right window coverings. We work with the top brands in the industry, and will always match a price quote from a competitor. Our experts will help you design your perfect solution, no matter your style or taste, and we offer 24/7 customer support. Let us put our expertise to work for you with new motorized shades in your home.
Schedule an appointment by filling out our contact form.