Roller Blinds & Motorised Blinds in Melbourne

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Upgrade your home with automation, motorised blockout blinds and more

Motorised blinds can transform your lifestyle, bringing you added convenience, comfort, safety and sophistication while helping to increase your home’s energy efficiency. SOM Blinds always recommends motorised blinds for Melbourne homes—they can be easily automated or programmed to operate via remote control, your phone or tablet while you’re away from home, even without a full home automation system in place.

With over 21 years of experience, we are an industry leader in motorising window furnishings. We specialise in providing high-quality motorised blinds, automated window furnishings and customised window treatments manufactured in Melbourne. We collaborate directly with builders, architects, interior designers and homeowners to provide complete, tailored solutions for properties across the city.

Manual vs motorised blinds: What to expect

Blinds can be heavy and tricky to operate manually on large or high windows that are difficult to reach. Motorising your roller blinds and window furnishings so you can operate them with home automation technology will make your home more comfortable and your life a lot easier. Motorising your roller blinds and window furnishings so you can operate them with home automation technology will make your home more comfortable and life a lot easier.

Consider these key factors when deciding between manual or electric blinds:

Convenience

Adjusting manual blinds requires physical effort which can be inconvenient, especially for those with limited mobility and the elderly. Motorised blinds operate effortlessly through the single touch of a remote or integration with a smart home system.

Energy efficiency

As energy efficiency becomes increasingly important, motorised blinds in Melbourne homes can regulate the temperature indoors. This reduces your home’s carbon footprint while helping to lower your energy bills.

Maintenance

While manual blinds are relatively easy to maintain, motorised blinds offer a greater advantage in functionality and convenience. We always recommend hard-wiring your motorised blinds as the ease of operation and added features make motorised blinds a superior choice for Melbourne homes. When hard-wiring is not possible or too difficult, battery-operated motors can be used, which require occasional battery recharging and replacements.

Design aesthetic

The chains and cords of manual blinds can create a cluttered, untidy appearance and pose a potential safety hazard for pets and small children. Motorised blinds, with their sleek, cord-free design, offer a more elegant and neat look that can enhance the overall aesthetic of your home’s interior spaces while improving ease of operation and reducing safety risk.

Four control options for motorised blinds

Multiple control options make operating your electric blinds simple and stress-free while complementing your home and lifestyle.

1. Home automation integration:

Control your blinds easily using a smartphone or tablet.
Operate your blinds remotely from anywhere, even while you’re on holiday, on a business trip or just out for the day.
Manage all your blinds and awnings from a central hub, eliminating the need for multiple devices and apps.
Customise the settings to adjust to your preferred position or angle automatically.
Schedule programming for automatic operation at specific times, such as opening at sunrise and closing at sunset.

2. Hand-held remotes:

Battery powered for convenient, wire-free control.
Easy to use—pressing the up and down arrows raises or lowers the blinds.
Manage multiple blinds simultaneously from a single remote with multi-channel controls.
Program a favourite setting for your preferred blind position, adding extra personalisation and convenience.

3. Wall-mounted switches:

Wired and wireless switches provide flexibility for different installation needs.
Perfect for those with limited mobility who may struggle with traditional controls.
Impossible to misplace your remote control–it’s in exactly the same spot every day.
Ideal for guest rooms as visitors may not have the necessary apps on their phones to operate the blinds.

4. LED time controller:

A set-and-forget control—select your preferred times to raise and lower your blinds automatically.
Choose between a handheld or a wall-mounted remote to operate your blinds.

What are motorised or electric roller blinds?

Electric or motorised roller blinds are roller blinds that can be operated remotely or automatically. They are versatile and can suit different types of windows and doors, so you can match the right roller blinds to your needs with choices such as blockout, flame and moisture-resistant materials. Electric and motorised roller blinds come in a variety of colours, fabrics and patterns, so you can customise your window furnishings to match your decor. When automated, motorised roller blinds are an excellent solution for large homes, high-reaching windows, people who find it difficult to open their blinds manually, or those who want to upgrade their premises and enhance their quality of life.

Motorised single and dual roller blind systems

Our motorised or manual roller blinds can be fitted using a single or dual blind system. Dual blind systems allow for a blockout fabric on one blind and a sun-filtering sunscreen or translucent fabric on the other. We recommend this combination for rooms where daytime privacy is a priority. It is also an excellent choice for large west-facing windows where the blinds can help protect your furnishings and flooring from the harsh late afternoon sun in the summer or prevent daytime glare on screens. If you love natural light, we suggest using sunscreen fabrics that give UV protection without blocking the light or your view.

SOM Blinds has a wide range of motorised and manual roller blind systems, plantation shutters, Roman blinds and curtains on display at our factory and showroom in Melbourne. Here we can show you how our custom-made blinds will work in your home.

Benefits of selecting automated and motorised blinds for indoor use

Smart home integration

Integrating your electric blinds with your home automation system adds unparalleled convenience and ease to your life. Either control your motorised blinds via the touch of a button, or program them to function independently and in your absence so you have one less thing to worry about in your day, or while you are away from home. Add up how long it takes twice a day to open, close and adjust all of your window furnishings and you might be surprised at just how much time automation could save you.

Increased energy efficiency

Automated roller blinds and window furnishings can increase energy efficiency in your home or office through light control and insulation. Having the blinds opened means letting in enough light to switch off additional lighting and admitting enough warmth from the sunlight to keep you comfortable indoors without the use of an air conditioner or heater. This results in lower overall energy consumption.

Safety and security

An additional benefit of removing cords and chains from your electric roller blinds and window furnishings is eliminating strangling and choking hazards for children and pets. By programming your blinds to operate when you are not around, you can also keep your home or office safe under the guise of being occupied. This increased security can deter trespassers and burglars, making your property safer for you and your family or employees.

Extended lifespan of blinds

Motorising window furnishings such as roller blinds can increase their lifespan by avoiding damage from excessive force or improper use. Removing the need for cords and chains also means fewer accessories to maintain or replace.

Improves sleep quality

Imagine falling asleep at night in your comfortable room with your motorised blockout blinds closed for maximum darkness and then waking up with the morning sun filtering through your blinds—how perfect! Setting up your motorised blinds to close at night and gradually open in the mornings will have you sleeping and waking up more naturally, while experiencing a better quality sleep. This setup can easily be programmed to operate automatically every day.

Maximise space

While blinds cannot increase the floor space in your home, rooms with motorised blinds can serve more than one purpose. For example, by closing your window furnishings and motorised roller blinds, your lounge can become a home theatre. This benefit is not only limited to indoor spaces. Outdoor spaces can also be maximised, with motorised folding arm awnings among our top-performing outdoor blinds for sale. They provide shade over patios, gardens and poolsides, making the most of your outside entertainment areas.

Protection against sun damage

Automated blinds protect you from UV rays and can prevent harsh sunlight from affecting your indoor spaces. By lowering your blinds during the brightest times of the day, you can protect your floors, carpets, furniture, art and even your wall paint from sun damage and premature ageing, as well as prevent your curtains and couches, or clothing in your walk-in robe from fading.

Why choose motorised blinds from SOM Blinds

Convenience of automation

The benefits of motorising and automating window furnishings cannot be overstated! All of our motorised blinds and automated window furnishings can be controlled using Somfy remote controls or by integrating them with your home automation system. We choose Somfy motors in conjunction with our SOM Blinds components, which have been developed by us, to deliver a sophisticated and reliable motorised blind system. Operate your blinds, curtains and awnings with the touch of a button—whether by remote control or a mobile device.

Complete motorised blind solutions

The SOM Blinds team will install your motorised blinds. We don’t use contract fitters, so we take full responsibility for all your blind system requirements from start to finish. This also means you don’t have to coordinate or deal with another company or third party. One company, one complete solution—all under one roof.

Vast range of premium options

SOM Blinds offers you the highest quality selection of translucent, blockout and sunscreen fabrics in Melbourne. Access to our extensive range gives you endless options, so get creative and explore the options available to develop the ideal look and feel for your property. Our fabrics are exquisite and our range of sunscreening options offer protection from harmful UV rays. We also have many recycled, sustainable fabrics available. Our in-house design team can prevent you from being overwhelmed by choices when selecting fabrics and colours, and easily help you match your requirements with the perfect fabric.

Consult during design phase

When you choose SOM Blinds for your renovation project or new build, make sure you speak to us during the design stage—the earlier you speak with us the better, so we can match the correct system with your needs. We liaise with your architect, designer, builder, automation specialist or electrician to find the best ways of incorporating motorised blinds and window furnishings into your home. Our experienced technicians can also work with your electrician to install the correct electrical wiring for the window furnishings and control system you have chosen.

Linked blinds and recessed pelmets

We can link blinds to ensure minimal light gaps between them, which also reduces the number of motors required for automated blinds. We can also link manual blinds to reduce the number of chains required.

Pelmet sizes will vary depending on your window width, drop and the window furnishings you select. Overall, they result in less clutter, and provide a more energy efficient solution, giving your windows a clean, sophisticated finish. We would love to discuss pelmet options with you and your builder before your project starts so you can choose the ideal option upfront, without any regrets. Our clients often wish they had thought about creating a pelmet for mounting their roller blinds earlier in the process.

Sustainable blinds

Our unique SOM Blinds motorised blind hardware is designed by us and made to last a lifetime. Some of our clients update their existing blinds with new fabric, because the hardware is still in excellent condition after many years. We also have recycled sustainable fabric options and are always trying new ways to minimise waste and run our business as sustainably as possible. When it comes to automation, Somfy provides a 5-year warranty on all their motors. However, many hard-wired Somfy motors that we’ve installed are still going strong even after 18 years!

Frequently asked questions about motorised blinds

We answer the most commonly asked questions about motorised blinds and electric roller blinds for your home.

Can existing manual blinds be motorised?

In short, yes they can be. The SOM Blinds team can assist you in motorising and automating your existing manual blinds where possible. We can inspect your blinds and advise you of your options, as some manual blind tubes are unsuitable for motorisation. While there are a few factors to consider before making the switch, it is highly likely that we will be able to motorise all your roller blinds and many of your existing window furnishings. There are so many advantages of motorising your manual blinds to upgrade and transform your space that it can feel like a lifestyle change!

How should I care for my motorised blinds?

Maintaining motorised blinds is similar to caring for other window treatments. Simply follow the fabric manufacturer’s maintenance instructions, ensure the motor adheres to their guidelines and keep the bottom rail clear of any obstructions. Keep bottom rails dust free with a gentle vacuum, or wipe down with a slightly damp cloth. We’ve found that a gentle rub with an artist’s rubber is often successful in removing small dirt marks from roller blind fabric.

What should I do if there is a power outage?

If your blinds are wireless or battery-powered, they can still be operated even when the power is out. If your blinds are hard-wired you will be unable to operate them whilst the power is out, just like all of the other appliances in your home. If you live in an area that experiences frequent power outages make sure you discuss this with us so we can offer you the best option for your home.

Can I control all my blinds with one remote?

Yes, depending on the number of windows in your home, you can control multiple motorised blinds with a single remote or home automation system.

Custom-made electric and motorised blinds in Melbourne

Furnishing your windows with premium quality blinds will enhance your home’s comfort and look, as well as helping to increase its energy efficiency. Motorised blinds add convenience to any home. SOM Blinds supplies and installs our custom-made electric blinds in homes all over Melbourne and its surrounds, from Port Melbourne to Sandringham. Key suburbs we service include Brighton, Caulfield, Glen Iris, Malvern, Camberwell, Kew and Glen Waverley, along with the Mornington Peninsula.

Make an appointment at our Melbourne showroom in Burwood to meet our team, see our automated blinds in action and view our wide range of styles and fabrics. Send us an online enquiry or call us on 03 9808 1807 today.