Roller Blinds & Motorised Blinds in Melbourne
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. Our team at SOM Blinds will always recommend motorised blinds for Melbourne homes, they can be easily automated or programmed to operate via remote control, your phone or tablet even while you’re away from home, or without a full home automation system in place.
With over 24 years of experience, we are an industry leader in motorising window furnishings. We specialise in providing high-quality motorised blinds which we manufacture ourselves here in Burwood, automated window furnishings and other customised window treatments manufactured in Melbourne and overseas. We collaborate directly with builders, architects, interior designers and homeowners to provide complete, tailored solutions for properties across the city. As recognised SOMFY Experts we are able to offer extended 7-year warranty on all of our hard-wired motors.
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.
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 with a remote control 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. We can demonstrate the potential savings using window furnishings using the new Wincover program only available through WSAA (Window Shading Association of Australia) members.
Maintenance
Manual and motorised blinds are relatively easy to maintain, motorised blinds offer greater advantages 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. Battery powered blinds will require at least annual battery recharging. Consider the use of battery blinds carefully if your blinds are up high. Being SOMFY Experts we can now offer a 7-year warranty for all of our hard-wired motors.
Design aesthetic
The chains and cords of manual blinds can look cluttered and untidy especially when you have dual blinds. Chains can also pose a potential safety hazard for pets and small children. Motorised blinds, with their sleek, cord-free design, offer a more elegant, modern refined 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
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.
- Create an effortless, healthy sleep routine with automated morning wake up
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, mounted safely 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?
Motorised single and dual roller blind systems
Our exclusive SOM60 motorised blind system or the manual roller blind systems we offer 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 light during the day, 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 Burwood, 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
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.
We are now able to provide you with a comparison of the energy saving different types of window furnishings can provide using the new WSAA Wincover program available exclusively to WSAA (Window Shading Association of Australia) members.
Safety and security
An additional benefit of motorisation is the removal of cords and chains. Electric roller blinds and window furnishings eliminates 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. No more broken chains.
Improves sleep quality
Imagine falling asleep at night in your comfortably darkened room with your motorised blockout blinds closed for maximum darkness and then waking up with the morning sun filtering through your windows. Your blinds or curtains already open allowing you to wake to the natural rhythm of the sun rising, 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
Protection against sun damage
Automated blinds protect you and your home from harmful 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 indoor or external motorised blinds and awnings. 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 for complete window furnishing solutions. We can also reccommend expert electricians and automation specialists for the bits we aren’t qualified to do.
Vast range of premium options
SOM Blinds can offer you a wide range of all the best quality translucent, blockout and sunscreen fabrics directly from our factory and showroom in easy to reach suburb Burwood in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. 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 home or project. 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
The ideal time to talk to us about window furnishings for your new home or renovation is during the design stage, the earlier you speak with us the better, so we can match the correct system with your needs. We can liaise with your architect, designer, builder, automation specialist or electrician to find the perfect way to incorporate motorised blinds and window furnishings into your home. Our experienced technicians can also work with your electrician to they install the correct electrical wiring for your window furnishings and the control system you have chosen.
Linked blinds and recessed pelmets
Our exclusive SOM60 motorised blind system allow us to link blinds spanning up to 12 metres, linking blinds can minimise the light gaps between them. Linking blinds will 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. To get the greatest benefit from pelmets they need to be sized to suit the window furnishings they are built for. Blind fabric, curtain headings and tracck types all have different requirements.
Sustainable blinds
Our unique SOM60 motorised blind hardware is designed by us and made to last a lifetime. After 20 plus years we are able to help clients update their existing blinds with new fabric and sometimes a new motor, because the hardware is still in excellent condition.
We now have some amazing recycled sustainable blind fabric options.
We are always trying new ways to minimise waste and run our business as sustainably as possible. When it comes to automation, as SOMFY Experts we are able to offer an extended 7-year warranty on hard-wired motors. Battery motors have a 5 year warranty, another reason why we reccommend hard-wiring motors whenever possible. Having said that many of the hard-wired Somfy motors that we’ve installed are still going strong even after 20 years!
Frequently asked questions about motorised blinds
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, adhering 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?
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, Surrey Hills, 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.
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