Simple Hacks to Make the Most of Your Smart Window Treatments
Smart window treatments have been turning things around and making things better lately. There are a lot of actions that a smart window shade can perform, with the least amount of intervention from us. However, like most of the smart gadgets and devices, smart window shades and blinds too can be used a lot better than it is actually being used now. The trick lies in understanding all of the capabilities and advantages of the smart shades and finding simple hacks to make the most of them. You must also know what smart shades are, how they work and why they are better than the traditional window shades and blinds.
Basics of smart window coverings
Traditionally, window shades, blinds and curtains are operated physically. Be it for opening or closing the shades, one needs to walk up to the windows and pull open the curtains in order to let some light in. This was then followed by strings and cords which were pulled accordingly based on the position you want the window shades to be in. Motorization was the first greatest advancement of window shades and blinds. Instead of walking up to the windows to operate them, motorization allowed us to operate the shades and blinds with the click of a button using remote control system.
Automation is the combination of motorization of the window shades and blinds with the Internet of Things (IoT) where window treatments too could be integrated into an automation system that was on the same Wi-Fi network. This way, the shades could be operated using simple voice commands like “open” and “close”. We need not leave our seat or search for the remote controls to operate the shades and blinds anymore. This is how the smart window shades came into being.
Integrate the window treatments throughout the house into the automation system
Moving on the simple hacks to make the most out of the smart shades, the first and foremost would be integrate all the blinds and shades of your home into the smart home system. Being able to open or close all the window shades and blinds throughout the house with a single command from your bed, almost feels like a superpower. What would otherwise have taken the better part of half of your morning can now be done in a matter of seconds, without your interference either. When you wake up after your 5 minutes of snooze time, you will be greeted by bright sunlight streaming into your home and filling you with freshness.
Name each and every window shade distinctively while integrating them into the smart home hub
While integrating the shades and blinds all over the house into the smart home automation system, you will have the advantage of operating them all at the same time. That could be a great advantage at times when you need it. At other times when you want to single out a shade or blind in a particular room and operate them, it would be easier when they are named distinctively during the integration process. You will have the chance to name the product when you are integrating them into the smart home automation hub. At this stage, you could give simple and particular names like “bedroom shades 1”, “kitchen shades”, “bathroom blinds”, etc. differentiate between the smart window coverings using words and numbers so that it is easier to handle them one at a time too. This doesn’t mean you cannot handle all the window shades at a time. You can do that too with commands like, “close all shades”.
Use timers so that the shades work automatically at the programmed timings
What is better than having your window shades listen to your commands and act accordingly? It is having your window shades and blinds operate on their own, even without any command from you! That is how smart the smart window coverings are, but it is up to you to understand and use this feature properly.
There is an option to program the smart shades with timers. It is a onetime thing and then, your window shades and blinds will act accordingly until you re- program them. For example, you could program the shades to open automatically at 7 A.M. and close at 8 P.M. and so on. This feature also helps secure your home when you are out of town as the automatic movement of your shades will promote a sense of occupancy and steer away any burglars and thieves.
Create simple routines on your smart home hub to get most of your work done
There are amazing options to create routines on your smart home hub where you specify a set of actions for a single command. For example, when you wake up, you say “good morning” to your smart home hub and automatically, the window shades in your living room and kitchen slide open, your home alarm system is turned off, outdoor porch lights are turned off, the coffee pot turns on and the oven goes on pre- heat, while your smart speaker recites about the weather and the latest news. All of these actions getting done when you are still in your bed is the epitome of comfort and convenience.
Smart shades can be both interior as well as exterior
Interior smart shades and blinds make the interiors of the house look very luxurious and sophisticated. But sometimes they could seem too distracting and look like a hassle. As far as smart automated shades are concerned, they can be mounted on the outside of the windows too and yet work the same magic. Exterior smart shades make the interiors look more spacious and they also add a lot of aesthetic value to the outdoors of your home. As far as operation of these shades are concerned, they work the same, over simple voice commands or timers.
Exterior smart solar shades are known to be a great addition to any household as they are able to block the harmful UV rays from the sun and keep them from harming the people or décor inside the house. They also tone down the harshness of the sunlight, filling the interiors with a soft glow of light. They can provide complete privacy when they are closed and yet, keep the view from the windows intact.
These are just the few smart ways to make the most of your smart window shades and blinds. There are still a lot of advancements going on in this field and staying up to date on these could help us out a lot.
