Are Motorised Curtains and Blinds Worth It?
The short answer: Motorised curtains and blinds are most worth it for large, high or hard-to-reach windows, for homes with young children (because there are no cords), and if you want curtains to open and close on a schedule or from your phone. For one small, easy-to-reach window, a manual cordless covering may be all you need.
Motorised curtains and blinds used to be a luxury reserved for show homes. Today they are a practical option for ordinary homes — but they are not the right answer for every window. Here is how they work, how they are powered, and when they are worth it.
How motorised curtains and blinds work
A small motor is concealed inside the curtain track — or, for a blind, inside the roller tube — and moves the covering open or closed on command. From the room you see the same curtain or blind; there are simply no cords or wands to pull.
Power options: wired, rechargeable battery or solar
Mains (hardwired). Wired motors never need charging and are best planned into a new build or renovation. They need an electrician to install the power supply.
Rechargeable battery. A built-in battery keeps the look completely wire-free. A charge typically lasts around 6 to 12 months, and recharging takes around 5 to 6 hours. Battery-powered motors are available for curtain tracks as well as blinds, which avoids running a mains connection.
Solar. A small panel at the window trickle-charges the battery. It needs around 6 to 8 hours of direct sun a day, so it suits sunny, unobstructed windows.
The child-safety case for going cordless
Corded window coverings are a strangulation risk for young children. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission says the safest option when young children are present is to go cordless. Industry safety standards have also pushed the vast majority of window coverings sold in the US to cordless or inaccessible, short-cord designs, according to the Window Covering Safety Council. A motorised curtain or blind is one of the simplest ways to remove cords altogether — see our guide to child-safe blinds and cord safety for the full picture.
Convenience, scheduling and smart-home control
Motorised coverings can be controlled in several ways: a handheld remote, a wall switch, timed schedules, sun sensors, a smartphone app, and voice assistants such as Alexa or Google Home. That means you can open and close them from anywhere — handy for large, high or hard-to-reach windows such as double-volume glazing or stairwell windows.
Scheduling also helps with comfort and energy. The US Department of Energy reports that window attachments can save around 15% of a household’s annual heating and cooling energy compared with vinyl blinds, and notes that automated shades offer further savings potential. The savings come from the covering itself; automation simply helps make sure it is actually closed against the summer sun or the winter cold when it should be. Pair that with blackout fabric and you have light control on autopilot — see blockout curtains vs blockout blinds.
Things to weigh before you buy
Power: decide early between wired, battery and solar — wired is easiest to plan during building work, while battery and solar suit existing homes.
Weight and size: every motor has a maximum weight it can move, so very heavy or very wide curtains need checking against the motor.
Installation: a motorised track needs to be fitted correctly to run smoothly, and wired systems need an electrician.
Do you need it everywhere? Many homes motorise only the windows that are large, high or used daily, and keep simpler cordless coverings elsewhere.
Cape Curtains installs motorised curtain tracks for homes across Cape Town and the wider Western Cape, and we can make curtains to measure to suit them. Book a consultation to talk through which windows would benefit.
Frequently asked questions
How do motorised curtains work?
A small motor concealed in the curtain track (or in the roller tube of a blind) moves the covering open or closed when you press a button, use an app or trigger a schedule.
How do you control motorised curtains and blinds?
Options include a handheld remote, a wall switch, timed schedules, sun sensors, a smartphone app and voice assistants such as Alexa or Google Home.
Should I choose wired, battery or solar motorised blinds?
Wired (mains) motors never need charging and suit new builds or renovations but need an electrician. Rechargeable battery motors are wire-free and suit existing homes. Solar motors trickle-charge from a window panel and need around 6 to 8 hours of direct sun a day.
How often do motorised blind batteries need recharging?
A built-in rechargeable battery typically lasts around 6 to 12 months per charge, and recharging takes around 5 to 6 hours.
Are motorised blinds safer for children?
Yes. They have no operating cords, and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission says going cordless is the safest option when young children are present.
Are motorised curtains worth it for large or hard-to-reach windows?
Yes — this is where they make the most sense, because you can open and close them from anywhere. Check that the motor’s maximum weight suits very heavy or very wide curtains.
Do motorised blinds save energy?
The savings come from the window covering itself: the US Department of Energy reports window attachments can save around 15% of annual heating and cooling energy compared with vinyl blinds. Automation helps capture those savings by closing them consistently on a schedule.