Electric or manually operated blinds and curtains for Melbourne homes
As you explore different window treatments for your home, you’ll eventually reach the big question: Should I choose a motorised or manual operational style for my blinds and curtains? Although both options work well, each offers a different day-to-day experience. To help you select the right fit for your home and lifestyle, we break down the benefits and drawbacks of each option.
What are motorised window furnishings?
A motorised window furnishing opens and closes using a built-in electric or battery-operated motor. It’s either controlled by pressing a button on a remote or programmed to operate using automation.
Motorised window furnishings, such as motorised roller blinds, offer convenience, especially when integrated with your home automation system. Once connected to your smart home setup, automatic window shades and curtains can be programmed to open and close at specific times, requiring no effort on your part.
What are manual window furnishings?
Pros of motorised window furnishings
Ease of access
Improved safety
Clean and neat aesthetics
Automation for the ultimate convenience
Many properties are now being upgraded to the automated blinds Melbourne homeowners love, which have seen popularity surge over the past few years. Integrate your window treatments easily with numerous home automation systems, including Fibaro, Dynalite, SOMFY TaHoma, CBus, Control4, Bond Bridge, Google Home and Apple Home. Automated blinds also connect seamlessly to smart home systems via your Wi-Fi network. For instance, some setups use Zigbee, available through SOMFY, a system our SOM Blinds team works with regularly.
Advantages of smart home blinds and curtains include:
- Controlling your window treatments via an app, from anywhere in the world.
- Using a timer to automatically open and close them at set times, such as sunrise and sunset.
- Adding an extra layer of security with scheduled movements that make your home appear occupied while you’re away.
- Triggering automatic opening and closing of blinds via light and temperature sensors, ideal for Melbourne’s unpredictable weather.
- Using voice control for a completely hands-free way to operate your window treatments through apps such as the Google Home App, SOMFY Tahoma and Acmeda Automate.
- Optimising energy use by opening and closing at specific times of day to block or admit direct sunlight. This minimises the need for cooling in hot weather and helps retain warmth on cooler days.
- Maximising natural light by programming automated blinds to follow the sun, thereby cutting down on the need for indoor lighting.
Most motorised window furnishings can be converted to automatic window shades. Roller blinds and Roman blinds are often go-to favourites because they’re neat, practical and come in a wide range of fabrics. External Venetians can also be automated to control light, privacy and thermal control through their adjustable slats.
Motorising and automating other types of external blinds and folding arm awnings is now very popular, with very few old fashioned crank-handled external blinds or awnings being sold anymore.
For more information on which window treatments will work best for each room in your home, browse our basic guide about when to use different types of blinds and curtains.
Cons of motorised window furnishings
While motorising your window furnishings has many advantages, there are a few considerations to take into account for both electric and battery operated motors.
Downsides of using electric motors
Potential drawbacks of hard-wired electric motorised window treatments include:
Installation by an electrician
You will need a qualified electrician to get power to the window for hard-wired motor operation, at an additional expense. However, for new homes, wiring can be installed before the plastering or external cladding stage. For existing homes, SOM blinds can recommend electricians who are experienced in getting wires to existing windows.
Maintenance and repair costs
While motorised blinds need far less upkeep and servicing than manual blinds, there are maintenance and repair costs when required. At SOM Blinds, we offer a five-year warranty on all our blind motors, and have many clients with blinds 15+ years old which are still working perfectly without requiring maintenance.
Dependence on power
Just like home appliances, such as garage doors and gates, motorised window furnishings that rely on electricity won’t be able to operate during power outages. This can be frustrating for users, especially in areas such as The Dandenong Ranges with frequent power outages or interruptions. Fortunately, this isn’t a common problem in most of Melbourne and the surrounding areas.
Higher upfront costs
Motorisation requires a higher initial investment for components, technology and installation, but we regularly hear from homeowners who appreciate the long-term convenience and savings on energy bills. Our customers often tell us they love their motorised blinds and that the extra upfront cost was worth it.
Downsides of battery powered motors
Pitfalls of using battery powered motors to motorise your window furnishings include:
Regularly recharging batteries
The batteries that operate your motor will require regular recharging. There can also be a decline in power as the battery depletes which may affect functionality.
Access to windows
Battery-operated motors are often used for hard-to-reach windows, where electrical wiring can be difficult to install, but this also means that it may be difficult to access these windows to charge batteries. You may require a ladder, or even a scaffolding to reach them and attach the charge cord. If you don’t have a suitable ladder or are unable to climb a ladder, you may have to pay a technician to do it for you. This can be costly, as the technician would need two visits, one to connect the charger and again to remove it.
Power for heavy curtains and blinds
Battery-powered motors are generally less powerful, making them unsuitable for heavy curtains and blinds. A higher-quality battery-powered motor can be more expensive.
Which is better: Mains-powered or battery-powered motors?
The short answer? Whether you choose hardwired electric or battery-powered motors depends on your needs and lifestyle.
Mains-powered blinds ensure consistent power, making them especially suitable for large, heavy blinds or high-use areas. They also integrate easily with smart home systems, offering reliability, convenience and streamlined control without requiring battery replacements or recharging. For these reasons, we would always recommend hard-wiring window furnishings if your electrician is able to get wiring to the window.
Most battery-powered blinds now use rechargeable batteries. Because they don’t require hard-wiring by a qualified electrician they can be installed more easily, making them more suitable for existing homes where it appears to be difficult or impossible to get wiring to existing windows. In these cases, we recommend consulting an electrician who may be able to get wiring to your window. You will still need to be able to access the windows in order to recharge the batteries.
Our SOM Blinds window furnishings with motorised systems can effectively handle linking 3-4 blinds up to a combined width of 12 metres wide using a single motor to power them. Since not all motors are equal, we work with trusted brands like SOMFY, with a wide range of products tailored to different needs.
Benefits of manually operated window treatments
Cost effectiveness
Always operable
Disadvantages of manually operated window treatments
More frequent maintenance
Physical effort
Limited indoor climate control
SOM Blinds: Premium battery, electric or manually operated blinds and curtains
With plenty of high-quality window furnishing options available, from manually operated sheer curtains to automated blinds, Melbourne’s leading custom blind and curtain manufacturer, SOM Blinds, can tailor a solution to your requirements. Request a window furnishing design consultation with us or call 03 9808 1807 to speak to our team today. Whether you’re working on an architectural build, renovating or building your dream home, we can help with personalised solutions tailored to your property.
