How Do Motorised Blinds Work? Are They Worth It?

homeowner adjusting motorised blinds

Motorised blinds have revolutionised window furnishings, offering convenience, energy efficiency, and modern style. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your existing blinds or install new blinds, integrating automation into your window treatments provides added convenience and aesthetic appeal. 

But how do motorised blinds work, and are motorised blinds worth it? 

Let’s take a closer look at the benefits, operation, and options available for motorised blinds.

Understanding how motorised blinds work

 homeowner adjusting their blinds

At their core, motorised blinds use an electric motor to move the fabric up and down or side-to-side without needing chains or cords. Instead of manually adjusting your roller blinds, Roman blinds, or outdoor blinds, you can operate them using a remote control, wall switch, or even through smart home systems like Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit.

The motor is housed inside the blind tube, allowing it to rotate smoothly and control the fabric’s movement. Depending on the type of blind and your preferences, different power sources are available, including battery-operated or hardwired blinds that require an electrician for installation.

The benefits of motorised or smart blinds

homeowner adjusting his blinds

Complete control at the touch of a button

Gone are the days of struggling with unsightly chains or tangled cords. With motorised blinds, you can easily close your blinds using a wall switch, remote, or even voice control via smart home devices.

Ideal for hard-to-reach windows

Motorised blinds work well for tall windows or those in tricky locations. You can control them remotely instead of stretching or using a step ladder to adjust your window coverings

Increased energy efficiency

Automating your window treatments can help keep your home cool in summer and warmer in winter. With set timers, you can automatically close your blinds when the sun hits during the hottest part of the day, reducing reliance on air conditioning and saving on energy bills.

Enhanced child safety

Traditional blinds with cords and chains can be a safety hazard, especially for children and pets. By eliminating these, motorised blinds offer peace of mind for families.

A valuable investment

While motorised blinds may come at a higher initial cost than manual blinds, their benefits make them a worthwhile investment. Their convenience, energy savings, and aesthetic appeal add value to your home, making them a smart choice for modern living.

How to motorise blinds: options for new blinds

Somfy expert showing homeowner how to use blinds

The best option for seamless automation is installing new blinds with integrated motors. At Blinds-N-Shutters, for example, we offer Somfy-motorised roller blinds, zip screens, roller shutters, pivot arm awnings, Markilux awnings, and Roman blinds—a complete catalogue of clever, convenient, and energy-efficient window treatments. 

Somfy is a global leader in motorisation and automation solutions for window coverings, bringing decades of innovation and expertise to our product range. Their electric motors are designed for reliability, smooth operation, and more: 

    • Control your blinds from a single app, remote, or via your voice assistant 
    • Set times so your blinds automatically close at your preferred time
    • Adjust your window treatments without disruptive noise
    • Benefit from a long-lasting motor system backed by industry expertise. 

Blinds-N-Shutters is the local Somfy Expert in Newcastle, Maitland, and Port Stephens, offering professional installation, maintenance, and support. Contact us to learn more about Somfy products and the possibilities for your home or business!

Are motorised blinds worth it?

The question of “Are motorised blinds worth it?” depends on your lifestyle and needs. If you value convenience, child safety, energy efficiency, and smart home integration, then motorised blinds are a fantastic investment. They make adjusting blinds effortless while boosting your home’s overall style and functionality.

For expert advice on choosing the best motorised blinds for your space, Blinds-N-Shutters provides tailored solutions with Somfy motors. Whether you’re upgrading existing blinds or installing new ones, our design consultants can help you find the perfect window treatments to suit your needs.

Contact us to book a free measure and quote today! We offer a mobile service so you can visualise the design possibilities in your own home and receive tailored advice based on your specific windows.

Your Styling Guide for Blinds: Inspiration, Colours & More

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From Venetian blinds to roller blinds, panel-glide blinds, sheer elegance blinds and more, a good set of blinds are the perfect finishing touch for any space!

When looking at blinds for your home, it’s important to choose the right design, material and colour to complement your room. Plus, spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need blinds that can handle moisture, heat and other elements, which limits the number of designs available for these rooms.

So, how do you style a set of blinds in your home?

We’ve got you covered. In this blog, we’ll walk you through how to style a set of blinds in your space based on your room, colour scheme and material of choice. Read on to find your next blinds inspiration for your home!

Choosing blinds for bedrooms

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The bedroom is a special place in every home and sets the mood for us to relax, unwind and sleep. When choosing blinds for bedrooms, it’s important to choose a set that matches the tone, atmosphere and ambience of the space.

Designed to look like two separate blinds on one roller, duo roller blinds offer exceptional privacy and flexibility. One blind is designed with functional mesh fabric that provides total privacy from the outside world, without sacrificing visibility. This roller gives you plenty of light and still provides a clear view of the world outside your window — while preventing neighbours and passers-by from looking into your home. The second duo roller is made with blockout material that completely blocks the light from outside, perfect for light sleepers, shift workers or anyone looking for extra privacy.

If you prefer a classic timber look, Venetian blinds are a great all-rounder for everything from bedrooms to kitchens, living rooms and more. While they provide less coverage than duo-roller blinds, Venetian blinds still offer excellent privacy and solid light control and can be made with versatile materials including timber, timber-look Ecowood and aluminium.

Choosing blinds for bathroom windows

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When choosing blinds for bathroom windows, we recommend materials that can stand up against the humidity, steam and moisture present in your bathroom. From hot showers to messy baths, everyday splashes and more, it’s essential to always check the materials being used before selecting your blinds for bathroom windows.

Venetian blinds are a great choice for bathrooms as they can be made from various moisture-resistant materials, including timber-look Ecowood and aluminium. These materials offer the same classic look and design of timber Venetian blinds while providing moisture resistance and heat resistance, perfect for long-term bathroom use.

Choosing blinds for living and entertaining rooms

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Image: Pexels

For the living room, we recommend choosing blinds that are quick and easy to adjust to let plenty of light and air into your space. Large rooms like living rooms and rumpus rooms need plenty of air to stay cool in humid springs and scorching Aussie summers. Plus, natural light helps make your living areas look spacious and more inviting to guests.

The classic Venetian blind is a popular choice for living spaces thanks to its elegant, timeless design and wide slats. Venetian blinds also offer improved insulation and temperature control compared to material blinds like Roman blinds and vertical blinds.

Roller blinds and duo roller blinds allow for improved privacy while still letting in plenty of light. The included blockout roller makes it easy to keep all harsh sunlight out of your home in summer.

How to choose the right blind colour for your space

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The perfect colour blinds will complement your existing home styling and flatter your paint colour, decor theme and decorations. When choosing your blinds, it’s important to find the right colour to match your space.

Before installing a set of blinds, we recommend viewing them in person and taking a sample home to compare with your existing wall colour. Check your sample in a range of different lighting conditions including natural light, electric light, early mornings or at dusk. This way, you can avoid accidentally adding a clashing colour blind to your home!

Plus, viewing the material in person can help you find your dream blinds inspiration before you start planning your next redecoration.

Check out our guide to adding blinds to your existing wall colours.

What colour blinds go with white walls and ceilings?

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When it comes to what colour blinds go with white walls, the sky’s the limit for your blind colour! From deep walnut wood to smooth greys, clean whites and vibrant colours, most blind colours will complement your white walls.

We recommend choosing a set of blinds that won’t clash with your existing decor. For example, a set of timber-look blinds will perfectly complement your timber furniture. However, timber blinds might not look flattering behind a mahogany dining table.

Avoid using variations of white like off-white and eggshell, as this can be confusing to the eye.

What colour blinds for grey walls?

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Image: Pexels

Grey is a versatile colour that suits a range of decors — but not all greys have the same effect. Each shade of grey carries a cool or warm tone, so it’s important to match the tone of your grey with your blinds. When choosing what colour blinds for grey walls are suitable for your space, always choose a blind colour with the same tone as your wall.

For example, white is a great choice for cool greys, but off-white or eggshell-coloured whites are better for warm-toned greys.

Grey blinds are great for grey walls and can create a sense of layering within your space. However, we don’t recommend using the same shade of grey for your wall and your blinds. Choose a darker or light grey for your blinds to create an eye-catching, complementary colour scheme in your space.

What colour blinds suit colourful walls or walls with patterns?

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Image: Pexels

If your room features colourful walls, vibrant wallpaper or busy patterns, keep it simple with your blinds. A set of white blinds will go with just about any shade on your walls and create a clean, calm contrast, great for creating a focal point in the middle of a busy pattern.

Greys and neutral shades are also good for busy walls, but always match your blinds to the tone of your walls. If your wallpaper features warm and cool tones, use a colour swatch to find a complementary shade of blinds.

Avoid putting two vibrant shades alongside each other, as this can make your space feel disjointed and muddled.

Get the best blinds inspiration for your home with our gorgeous Venetian blinds, Roman blinds, duo rollers and more

Whether you’re redecorating your space, building from scratch or replacing your old window coverings, we’ve got the right blinds for your home at Blinds-N-Shutters.

At Blinds-N-Shutters, our expert installers go the extra mile with precise fittings and dedicated after-sales care for every installation. From classic Venetian blinds to elegant Roman blinds, modern duo roller blinds, affordable vertical blinds and more, we’ve got the perfect pairing for your space. Plus, our team can deliver samples straight to your door at your free measure and quote with our convenient mobile showroom!

Browse our full range of blinds online and discover the perfect blinds inspiration for your home today.

Book a free measure and quote for your new blinds with Blinds-N-Shutters