What can you actually automate?
With motorised blinds you can set them to open, close or stop at a chosen position without touching them. That can happen at a set time, from a remote, or from a button that moves several blinds at once. How much you can do depends on the motor and control system you choose, so treat the ideas below as a menu to pick from. Our motorised blind basics guide covers the fundamentals first.
Timers: the simplest place to start
A timer tells a blind to move at a particular time of day. Many people begin with just one or two, because a small routine you actually notice is worth more than a complicated plan you never use.
- A gentle wake-up. Bedroom blinds that open a little in the morning let daylight in gradually, which some people find kinder than an alarm. If you work shifts, you'll want an easy way to pause it.
- Evening privacy. Blinds that close at dusk mean you are not the last person in the house still thinking about the front window.
- A fixed routine for school days. Open downstairs blinds before the first person comes down.
Some systems can follow sunrise and sunset rather than the clock, which is handy as the seasons change. Ask whether the control you are considering does this, because not all do.
Scenes: one press, several blinds
A scene is a saved set of blind positions that you trigger together. Instead of walking round the room, you press one button. Some practical examples:
- Morning: bedroom blinds open fully, kitchen blinds halfway.
- Film night: living room blinds closed, other blinds left alone.
- Leaving the house: every blind goes to the same position in one go.
- Bedtime: downstairs blinds close and the bedroom ones move to whatever you prefer for sleeping.
The names are yours to choose, and it is worth keeping them simple so everyone in the household can use them.
Using blinds to manage heat
On a warm day, a blind that lowers on a sunny window can reduce how much heat enters a room. Automating this means it happens while you are out. A few things to bear in mind:
- Which way the window faces matters. A south-facing window usually gets the strongest sun through the middle of the day, while a north-facing one may not need this at all.
- Fabric colour and construction change how much heat is held back. See our guide on keeping rooms cooler with blinds.
- Some systems use a sun sensor so the blind responds to actual brightness rather than the time. This is an add-on and needs to suit the blind and the window, so ask about it at the measure.
Looking occupied while you are away
Blinds that move at slightly different times from day to day can make a house look lived in. Some controls offer a setting for this and some do not, so check before relying on it. A blind pattern is only one part of home security, and it works best alongside locks, lighting and common sense.
Keeping it manageable
- Start small. One room, one timer, then add more once you know what you like.
- Keep a manual option. A wall switch or handheld remote means you are never stuck if a phone or app is not to hand.
- Think about who lives with you. A schedule that suits you may not suit a teenager, a night worker or a pet that naps in the sun.
- Allow for change. Timers are easy to adjust, and you'll probably tweak yours when the clocks change.
Which blinds suit automation?
Roller blinds, Roman blinds, vertical blinds, pleated blinds and some roof window blinds can all be motorised. Which controls you can use depends on the motor and on whether the blind is powered by a battery, a plug or a fixed cable, so it helps to decide on automation before ordering. Somfy is a well-known maker of the motors themselves, not of the blinds, and we cover that range on our Somfy motorised blinds page. The wider options are on the motorised blinds page.
Features vary between models and generations, so ask us what a given control system can do before you choose.
Talk it through at the window
The most useful thing is to work out which rooms would really benefit. We can discuss that, and how each window is built, during a visit. Book a free measure and tell us what you would like your blinds to do for you.
