The best smart blinds for 2023

Smart blinds are the unsung heroes of the smart home. Having access to voice commands and programmable schedules makes it easy to control your blinds and optimize their performance. They also look incredibly stylish and come in a wide variety of styles.

But how can you figure out which smart blinds are best for your smart home? According to Tracy Christman, executive vice president of product development and strategy at Budget Blinds, you’ll want to consider several different factors when shopping for smart blinds. One important aspect to consider is the motor. More specifically, you’ll want to find a motor that’s built to last.

“Making the decision to invest in motorized blinds and shades is an investment in your home,” said Christman. “Look for a product that comes with a complete warranty. Some brands will provide a limited warranty that does not cover all of the parts.

” Christman also says that picking the right smart blinds can “absolutely” save you money. When programmed on timers to open and close automatically throughout the day, they offer a simple way to keep out the sun and regulate your home’s temperature. Other factors to consider include ease of installation (oftentimes a professional install is best), available smartphone apps, and support for platforms such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home.

If you’re unsure where to start your search, here’s a look at some of the best smart blinds of 2023. Available in several colors and material types (including blackout options), the are an ideal option for those looking to dive into the world of smart shades without the burden of overly-complicated tech. The shade motors are powered by solar-charged battery packs, which means no worrying about recharging your power source throughout the year.

Once installed with compatible windows 23 inches to 74 inches wide, all of your main controls are handled by the Tilt MySmartRollerShades app. The iOS and Android apps connect via Bluetooth. Set schedules, enable sunrise/sunset functions for raising and lowering your blinds, and make adjustments all from your preferred mobile device.

Keep in mind that because the app is powered by Bluetooth and not Wi-Fi, you’ll need to operate your motorized blinds while at home. If you want on-the-go controls, there are several options. If you’re using an Amazon Alexa or a Samsung SmartThings smart device, you can also control your Tilt shades with voice commands.

Doing so does require the additional purchase of the Tilt Bridge, but once installed it’s convenient to automate your shades with simple raise and lower prompts. Serena motorized shades are one of the most popular brands for smart blinds. Lutron’s totally customizable coverings come in either honeycomb or roller styles with over 150 fabric, color, and opacity options.

Use the free Lutron app to create custom mood scenes with your blinds and set schedules for opening and closingl. It also supports geofencing, where the blinds will automate based on your daily routines. Serena shades also are compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, and Logitech Harmony.

The Lutron Smart Bridge is required for all Wi-Fi features. Buying the Lutron Serena or other Serena coverings is easy. Just go to , hover over , and select Plug in your measurements, power preferences, and choice of material, and then have your finished window treatment sent directly to your home.

One of our favorite hardwired options of this roundup, are customizable blackout curtains that can be controlled with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, and IFTTT programming. The best part? There’s no need to purchase an additional bridge. After you’ve installed the shades, download the Graywind app and start creating schedules and automation routines for your new smart shades.

If you’d prefer to keep things simple, you can use the included remote to control up to nine different pairs of Graywind shades. Better yet, you can purchase additional Graywind remotes and copy your settings from one remote to the other. Initial programming of the motors for this window covering can be a bit tricky.

If you have any issues with setup though, Graywind offers exceptional customer support for any install glitches you may encounter. Soma’s latest motor pack is another stellar retrofitting option for your existing blinds. Just make sure your coverings have a beaded chain.

Once installation is finished, download the Soma app to easily automate the shades. The app lets you create “triggers” for the pack to respond to, including the time of day, sunrise/sunset, and general lighting conditions. The pack is solar-powered and comes with a USB charging cable for quick battery re-juicing.

Once you add the Soma Connect to your smart home, intelligent voice commands are available through Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri. Once enabled, you can ask Alexa to do things like open your Soma Smart Shades halfway or create routines where your blinds will always close at 7 p. m.

just as your smart lights to turn on. What we love about Yoolax is its catalog is entirely custom-fit to match your exact window dimensions. Just plug in your sizes and order online.

Installation is painless and the low-noise motor keeps the shades operating smoothly. Like most of our picks, the Yoolax motor runs off of an easy-to-recharge battery pack. You can control the with the provided remote or Yoolax app.

Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri can join the fun, too. Just make sure to purchase the Yoolax hub to unlock the additional voice command features. If you happen to be handy and don’t mind a little DIY, the MySmartBlinds kit might be your best bet.

The kit can only be used to retrofit 2- to 2. 5-inch corded horizontal blinds, but adding the low-profile motor and battery is such a cinch that it felt silly not to include My SmartBlinds on our list. Once you install your motors and batteries, you’ll need to download the SmartBlinds app to your phone or tablet.

Use the SmartBlinds app to raise and lower your blinds or set daily and weekly schedules that work with your routines, so you never have to worry about remembering to close your blinds again. Users can deviate easily from their schedules by using the manual override option. You can also automate your blinds using the solar monitor and temperature sensors.

These sensors will operate your blinds automatically by monitoring the sun rays as well as your home’s indoor temperature. The battery is also solar-powered, so if you’re looking for ways to , the is an ideal option. IKEA is known for its high-quality, low-priced catalog – and the Fyrtur Roller Blinds are a welcome addition to the family.

Offering IKEA’s usual minimalist design, these smart shades are little more than a roll of fabric on a simple frame. You can actuate the blinds with the included remote control, or you can sync them with the IKEA Home smartphone app to gain additional features. There’s also not a cord to be found, making them child-safe and offering a less-cluttered look than traditional blinds.

Best of all, the polyester fabric used in the blinds provides full blackout coverage, allowing you to get a good night’s rest or block out the sun in your home theater. They’re not cheap, but the Graber Motorized Shades give you incredible flexibility to build them however you’d like. Solar shades, cellular shades, pleated shades, natural shades – the list of available styles is impressive.

And, like all smart shades, the Graber Motorized Shades are easy to control with the accompanying smartphone app or through Amazon Alexa or Google Home. What makes these motorized shades extra appealing is their quiet motor, Z-Wave technology (which alerts you when batteries are low), and a cord-free design that’s great for homes with kids or pets. Consider checking them out if you need a high-end look to pull together your room.

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