Smart Curtains

It’s curtains for you and the only question is, what kind? Well, assuming that you’ve seen the title, you can probably take a guess, which begs the question -- what’s so great about motorized curtains? I love decorating and hate hassle, and curtains are a perfect example of how to make that happen. They are the perfect accent item for a room’s décor, being just noticeable enough to have an impact without being overpowering. What’s more, curtains are fantastic for lending a sense of ambience to any room. Edgar Allan Poe knew what he was talking about when he mentioned the “the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain” in The Raven. The color, texture, and movement of curtains can add enormously to a room’s overall mood, whether you’re going for gothically Poe-esque overtones or something a bit more summery. Still, Poe or no, smart curtains mean saying “Nevermore” to curtain hassles. After all, for as much as I love curtains, I also love convenience. The ambience of a quality set of curtains won’t count for much if they’re a hassle to open or won’t stay in place. On the one hand, there’s something magical about being able to throw open your curtains and let in the sun or look out onto a beautiful city below. On the other hand, some of that magic might dissipate if you have to wrestle with the curtains to get them into place or close them again afterward. All of which brings me back to motorized curtain options. They look great, can open and close with the press of a button, and, if you have a smart home, you can take the smarter route and transform them into smart curtains with a single ask to Alexa or Google Home. Yes, even our curtains are smart home-savvy these days but this doesn’t mean that home decorating has to lose its human side. With that in mind, follow me as we open the curtains to reveal what you should look for in motorized curtains, smart curtains, electric curtains, automatic curtains, or whatever else you choose to call this latest way to spruce up your home and enjoy added convenience while doing it! What to Look for in a Motorized Curtain? That being said, smart home compatibility is indeed one of the biggest features now being employed in the best remote control curtain options. Thankfully, many motorized curtains today are compatible with smart phone control. Before you choose one, you’ll want to make sure if they have a corresponding app, and, if so, how well that app functions. Whether you control it via your phone or an included remote, all motorized blinds and curtains are remotely controlled, so you’ll likewise need to make sure that the remote control works well. I mean, who doesn’t hate it when their remote control runs out of batteries or isn’t responsive while watching TV? Now imagine that same problem when controlling your curtains. The whole point of looking for a motorized electric curtain is to reduce hassle, not add to it. No one needs more remote control aggravation in their life, so make sure that the remote control in question works well. Sometimes a model will give you different control options, such as allowing a remote control or your phone to control the curtains, or giving you different controls for different curtains if the model offers more than one. Research each setup and find the match that fits your needs best. Quality and Durability Then there is the issue of motor quality and durability. The last thing you want is to invest all that money in something only for it to burn out in a few weeks. At the same time, I know that I hate it when the loud buzzing of a motor disrupts me when I’m in the middle of doing work, enjoying a movie, or wistfully drawing the curtains and looking out the window to remember a time before COVID. But I digress. The point is, if you’re going to spend all that money on a motorized curtain, you should probably make sure that the motor’s good. Warranty One of the most important aspects of choosing these kinds of curtains is, perhaps surprisingly, the warranty. True, you want to purchase motors and curtains that are of such high quality that you won’t ever need that warranty, but you definitely want to be covered in case you do. Just as the best-laid plans of mice and men can be blown asunder by the unexpected (again, COVID), even the best motors, for curtains or otherwise, can suffer breakdowns. As such, you want to make sure that your curtain comes with at least a three- to five-year warranty. If nothing else, a long warranty such as that suggests that the brand is confident that the motor will actually last three to five years. Anything shorter, and you might well wonder if the manufacturer is just hoping that the motor won’t blow out in the first few months so they can make off with your money and not have to worry about the mechanical issues that they know are all too possible with their model. That said, you don’t want three to five years of your living room or bedroom’s balcony sounding like the plane’s propeller starting up, which brings us back to noisiness. Thankfully, technology has come a long way in recent years and many models now offer motors that are pretty quiet. That said, it’s still something to pay attention to while shopping. Automatic Curtain Mechanism At this point, you might think that we’re done talking about motors. I hate to inform you that, no, there’s still one huge motor-related topic to tackle: how you’ll be powering it and this whole automatic curtain mechanism in the first place. Many motorized curtain options are powered by three main options: solar, battery, or plug-in. Battery-powered motors tend to be the most affordable and they last a long time, while solar-powered options are, of course, the most eco-friendly choice. Plug-in motors are often the easiest to operate since all you’re doing is plugging it into the wall. Of course, you don’t want to have cords snaking across your room, tripping people up and wrecking the verisimilitude of your interior décor. That’s why I’d recommend making sure that you have a way to conceal the cord before considering a plug-in option. Make sure that your curtains are close enough to an outlet and that the curtains themselves or some other furnishing will be able to obscure it from view. Placement Then there’s the question of window placement. After all, curtains exist to cover windows, so you need to give a thought as to where your curtains are in relation to the rest of the room and what impact they have on your room’s décor. That said, you not only need to make sure that the automatic curtains fit your windows but also that they’re compatible with the type of blinds or curtains that you wish to attach to the motor. If you have your heart set on a certain style of blinds or curtains but they can’t attach to the motors, you’ll be stuck with an impossible choice. Security Security is also no small matter when it comes to evaluating motorized drapes. In fact, it’s one of the biggest advantages of ordering them since, in the case of a smartphone app, you can control the drapes from anywhere in the world. On vacation but want to keep the blinds drawn in your home so as to ward off burglars? Want to open those same blinds during the day to let in sunlight for any plants or pets you may be keeping? No problem. You can even turn on timers so that they open and close automatically. Convenience This same degree of convenience also makes these kinds of drapes a good choice for the elderly or those living with disabilities. For those unable or unwilling to walk to or reach up towards curtains to open and close them, the ability to do so remotely is a lifesaver and one of my personal favorite features. Every little bit of compassion towards our fellow man and woman is welcome, especially these days, and it’s little things such as this that have the potential to make a big difference in someone’s life that makes me view the future of smart home potential in a positive light. Pricing Finally, there’s the question of pricing. This is always going to be a balancing act between what you want and what your budget is; for that reason, there’s no one right answer here. The “smarter” the curtains are in terms of smart home compatibility and the more features they offer, the more expensive they’re bound to be. It’s up to you to decide how much functionality you want and how much you’re willing to pay for it. In addition, you’ll want to consider how many actual motors and blinds or curtains you get. On the one hand, you certainly don’t want to break the bank; however, on the other hand, you get what you pay for as well. Remember that it’ll probably cost more to buy two cheap motorized curtain sets because the first one broke down than to buy a quality one from the start. The Top Five Motorized Curtain Options Taking the above factors into consideration, I think it’s time we take a look at what’s behind Curtain #1… and the other four curtains on this list. 1. Quoya Smart Curtains System Check Price on Amazon When I think of a smart curtain model, this is exactly what comes to mind. These smart curtains from Quoya are compatible with Alexa, IFTTT, Google Home, and SmartThings, giving you plenty of options when it comes to linking it to a smart home control setup using either your phone or the remote control provided. The curtains themselves are even touch-sensitive, activating whenever they detect your hands making an opening or closing motion. This makes them a spectacular choice for elderly or disabled individuals who may struggle to close the blinds all the way. With this auto detection feature, a simple wave of the hand may be enough. Thanks to the smart home setup, you can also use voice commands to open and close them. As I said above, I’m really a huge fan of smart home setups in general and their potential to help some of those most in need of assistance, so features such as these really excite me. You can also link the curtains to your smart phone hub, giving you one more feature that you can pre-program into your morning and evening routine. That said, it is worth noting that these motorized options are more highly specific about the kind of drapes they’ll take, working only with hook-on curtains. If you have grommet or other kinds of curtains, chances are you’re out of luck. The motor is nice and quiet, so you don’t have to worry about a loud buzzing sound bothering you. The unit can fit onto windows as large as 3.2 meters. On the technical side of things, the model can support a weight of up to 70 kilograms and has eight hooks per meter. It is easy to install, with everything required included in the box. There is even an installation video Quoya provides to make the process go more easily. 2. Curtain Call Motorized Curtains Check Price on Amazon With three-channel operation making it possible to operate three separate curtains with a single remote, allowing for advanced decorating at the touch of a button, this model is indeed well worth a curtain call. It also means that this model can open your curtains starting from the left, right, or center, affording you maximum control in opening them just the way you want them. The curtain rod can fit long and wide windows, though you’ll likely need a helping hand if that’s the case. Otherwise, these should be relatively easy to install and can be mounted to either a wall or ceiling, with mounting brackets included for the latter option. One downside to this model is that it requires you to get an extra WiFi Smart Plug as well as the Curtain Call Adapter Cable 1450 to enjoy the full set of smart home features via Alexa, Google Home, or Siri. Once you do so, however, you’ll be able to access a wealth of features, including automatic opening and shutting capabilities for the elderly, which I’ve already said is a huge plus for me. The remote has a huge range as well, with a radius of up to 100 meters. You can choose to have the track custom made to fit your specific spacing needs and the quality of the construction is at the high end. The track can support a lot of weight, making this an ideal choice if you have heavy drapery, all while operating quietly. The Curtain Call doesn’t come cheap at around $400, more than double other models on this list, but if you care about precision and consistency, it should be worth every penny. 3. Homesupplier Smart Home Curtain Rod Check Price on Amazon A huge selling point with this model is the fact that it’s compatible with a ton of smart home setups including Alexa, Google Home, Smart Life, Tuya, Siri, and IFTTT. The track itself is well constructed, durable, and should last for years to come. It’s also another model that can be controlled via remote, smartphone app, or voice command when using either Alexa or Google Home. You can control a staggering 16 curtains with a single remote. Adding another layer of “smart” to this smart home extravaganza, these smart curtains can remember the precise distance from previous settings. If you’re a stickler for having things in your room arranged just so, this option can save you a lot of stress and agony over trying to get your curtains just right -- get them right once and they’ll remember forever. This is also another model that can open automatically with a timer that you can set to open and close these curtains at the same time every day. The model can support a lot of weight at 100 pounds and features a long 9-foot power cable. Remember how important I said choosing the right power options could be? This is a perfect example of why. While a power cord this long might be a problem if you let it dangle all over the floor, as long as you have a way to conceal it, this model extends the possible range of nearby power sockets that can power it, thereby giving you greater freedom in choosing where to put it. 4. SimpleSmart Electric Curtain Tracks Check Price on Amazon This is by far the quietest model on this list, so if you are looking for electric curtains that are whisper-quiet, these would be a great option to consider. The track is incredibly smooth, allowing curtains to open and close with ease. What’s more, this model can hold a wide range of different kinds of curtains, including pinch pleat and ripplefold varieties. There are also plenty of customization options available, including motorized tracks with bends. Alexa is the smart home setup of choice with this model, allowing you to open and close the curtains with just a voice command. They can also be controlled remotely via a smartphone app. One big drawback, however, is the lack of timer settings that you find with other options on this list. 5. Yoolax Motorized Zebra Blinds with Remote Check Price on Amazon As the name would imply, you get both zebra blinds and a remote along with the motorized track for this smart curtain system. One of the most intriguing elements of this model, however, is the fact that it takes customization to the next level, with each one being made to order to fit your space and style needs perfectly. You can choose from a wide range of colors for the polyester-blend blinds as well. One the one hand, this means that you should get a perfect fit, but on the other hand, if you are for any reason dissatisfied, the custom nature of this model precludes returns and refunds, so make sure that you get it right the first time. You can control the blinds via remote control or smartphone app. The motorized curtain rod is compatible with Alexa and Google Home. Buyer’s Guide So which of these models is best? Well, the real question is which is best for you? There isn’t a single clear winner in this race, with each option offering its own distinct advantages. For example, the Yoolax goes the extra mile in actually offering you custom curtains to go with your smart curtain setup. You might already have some curtains lying around that you plan to use for this decorating setup, but if you don’t, this can be a tremendous cost-cutting move to get your motorized track and curtains all at once. At the other end of the cost spectrum is the Curtain Call. While it’s the most expensive item on this list, it is arguably the most advanced and comes with the most features. Yes, it’s a bit annoying that you have to pay a bit extra to take full advantage of them, but once you do, you’ll have a smart curtain setup that can handle just about anything. The Quoya Draper System offers a more affordable version of that with features to rival Curtain Call’s. However, it has its own limitation in only being compatible with hook-on curtains. Perhaps the smartest option belongs to the Homesupplier with its ability to actually “remember” the exact distance apart you prefer your curtains to be. If you’re an extremely detail-oriented person, this is exactly what you want to see in a curtain. What I want to see most of all, as mentioned, are smart curtains that use their features to help people, which is why I’m glad these curtains all come with voice and/or touch-sensitive options that make it easy for the elderly and disabled to open and shut curtains without having to struggle with them. Home décor is all about creating a mood, and each of these options should definitely put you in the mood to decorate and innovate with improved smart home convenience.