Why Motorised Blinds Are More Popular Than Ever

Not long ago, motorised blinds meant rewiring, a big budget and a fiddly remote. Today, most of our customers can have them fitted in a single visit, with no electrician and no mess, and control them from their phone or simply by asking Alexa.

That’s a big part of why more and more homeowners are asking us about them. Here’s what’s changed, how they work, and how to decide whether they’re right for your home.

No rewiring needed: rechargeable battery and solar options mean most windows can be motorised in one visit.
Works with your smart home: control them from an app, a timer or Alexa and Google Home.
Year-round comfort: close against the summer sun, and at dusk in winter, automatically.
Safer: no cords or chains for children or pets.
Made to measure: all of our blinds and curtains, fitted free, with a five-year guarantee.

red bathroom motorised blinds - Blinds Norfolk - Norwich Sunblinds

Powershade Roller, Single Channel Remote

Five Reasons More Homes Are Choosing Motorised Blinds

1. No Rewiring Needed
The biggest change is power. Rechargeable battery motors sit hidden inside the blind, so there are no cables to run and no walls to chase. For most homes, that means motorised blinds can be fitted as easily as standard blinds.

2. They Work With the Smart Home You Already Have
If you already ask Alexa to turn on the lights, controlling your blinds the same way is a natural next step. Connected to a smart hub such as Somfy TaHoma, your blinds can be controlled from an app, set on timers, grouped into “scenes”, or moved by voice with Amazon Alexa or Google Home. Find out more about our smart blinds.

3. Comfort in Hotter Summers and Colder Winters
Blinds work best when they’re closed at the right time, which is exactly when most of us are out or forget. A timer or sun sensor can lower your blinds when the sun is strongest, so south- and west-facing rooms stay cooler and furniture doesn’t fade. In winter, set them to close at dusk to help keep the warmth in.

4. Bigger Windows Need a Better Way to Control Them
Bi-fold doors, lantern roofs and floor-to-ceiling glazing look wonderful, but opening a row of blinds by hand is a chore, and some are simply out of reach. With motorisation, one button moves them all together and in line. A single remote can control up to 14 blinds.

5. The Safest Choice for Children and Pets
Motorised blinds have no operating cords or chains, so there’s nothing for small children or pets to get caught in. That makes them one of the safest options for nurseries, children’s bedrooms and family rooms. Read more about child safety and blinds.

Thinking about motorised blinds? Book your free home visit and we’ll show you how they work at your windows.

Green and cream electric roller blind showing tidy cassette at top of blind.

Which Blinds and Curtains Can Be Motorised?

Most of our made-to-measure range can be motorised, so you don’t have to choose between the look you want and the convenience.

Roller blinds: a simple, versatile choice, with the motor hidden in a neat cassette.
Roman blinds: soft, tailored folds with no cords at the side.
Venetian blinds: raise, lower and tilt the slats at the touch of a button.
Pleated blinds: ideal for conservatories, lantern roofs and awkward shapes.
Vertical blinds: motorised tilt for wide windows and patio doors.
Day and Night blinds switch between light and privacy without getting up.
Curtains: motorised tracks open and close even heavy, full-length curtains smoothly.

Where Motorised Blinds Make the Biggest Difference

Living rooms and bi-fold doors. Cut glare on the TV and shade large glass doors in one movement. See our ideas for bi-fold door blinds.
Bedrooms. Pair motorised blackout blinds with a morning timer, so your blinds open at the same time every day without you getting up.
Conservatories, lantern roofs and skylights. Roof blinds are hard to reach and easy to forget. Motorisation, with a sun sensor if you like, keeps the room usable on bright days.
High and hard-to-reach windows. Stairwells, galleried landings and tall windows can be controlled from the floor, with no stepladder.
For anyone with limited mobility. Motorised blinds and curtains let you adjust light, privacy and draughts from your chair or bed. They’re also a practical choice if you’re planning to recover at home after an operation.
When you’re away. Your blinds can keep opening and closing at the usual times, so your home looks lived in while you’re on holiday
Offices and commercial spaces. One switch controls a whole room of blinds, and they can close automatically at the end of the day. See our motorised blinds for the workplace.

Are Motorised Blinds Worth It?

For the right windows, yes. But they’re not for every room, and we’d rather you knew that before you buy.

They’re worth it when:

the window is large, high or awkward to reach
you want blinds to open and close at set times, whether you’re home or not
you have young children or pets
you already use smart home devices
someone in your home has limited mobility

Worth knowing:

You don’t have to motorise every window. It often makes sense to motorise the windows where it matters most and keep manual blinds elsewhere, and your advisor can help you decide.
Battery motors need recharging from time to time, unless you add a solar pack. Allow up to 6 months between charges but this is dependent on the size of the blind. The bigger the blind the more frequent the charging required.
Because motorised blinds run smoothly and aren’t tugged by hand, there’s less wear and tear on the mechanism. Every motorised blind we fit comes with our five-year guarantee, and we do all the measuring, fitting and setting up for you

See Motorised Blinds in Your Own Home

The easiest way to decide is to see them working. One of our advisors will visit you, measure up, bring fabric samples and show you how motorised blinds and smart controls would work at your windows. There’s no charge and no obligation.
• Book your free home visit
• Call us on 01603 334 085
• Visit our showroom in Attleborough, open 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday, Saturdays by appointment
• Download our motorised blinds brochure (PDF)
We make and fit motorised blinds and curtains for homes across Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.