Electric curtains are devices used to automatically regulate natural lighting in a room. The main feature of such a system is the ability to control it remotely or locally.
The following types of electric curtains are available on the market:
- With a lifting mechanism — they open and close vertically. Suitable for attics or balconies;
- Automatic blinds or roller blinds — convenient for offices, studies, and modern living room interiors;
- With a sliding mechanism — the most popular model of smart curtains, in which the curtain opens and closes horizontally.
Once you have decided on the type of fabric, you can move on to other parameters.
Ways to control electric curtains
There are several ways to control curtains:
- Using a switch — it is usually located next to a sofa, bed, desk, or door. The curtains are controlled by pressing a button;
- Using a radio remote control — it can be single-channel or multi-channel, depending on the number of radio-controlled curtains;
- From a smartphone — the Smart Home system is available on modern smartphones and allows you to control various devices, including curtains, using mobile applications;
- Using sensors — if the electric curtain rail has a light and temperature sensor, the smart curtains will automatically open and close depending on the level of light and temperature in the room.
Many models of smart curtains allow you to set up automatic operating scenarios, which makes it possible to completely abandon manual control. This is especially relevant in a large house, where many curtains need to be opened and closed every day. In this case, you can set up scenarios depending on the set time, information received by sensors, or when the owners are not at home to simulate their presence.
What to look for when choosing smart curtains
There are a number of criteria that should be considered when buying electric curtains:
- the power of the electric drive — it determines the speed at which the curtains open or close and the cost of the product. Its choice depends on the weight of the fabric. For example, for light curtains, it is enough to choose an electric drive with a power of 30-40 W, for heavy curtains, it is better to opt for 250 W;
- Fabric type — this determines the weight of the product. If the material is heavy, it is better to choose a metal structure. If it is light, a plastic profile will suffice.
- Noise level — this indicator is mainly closely related to the price category of the product. Particular attention should be paid to the noise level when designing a children’s room or bedroom, for which the ideal indicator is 35-40 dB.
- Power supply — remote-controlled curtains can be powered by mains electricity or a battery. If your apartment has high ceilings, it is better to choose stand-alone models, as you will not need to use extension cords. However, it is worth noting that these models are expensive.
- Components — the standard set includes an electric drive, profiles for moving the curtains, a metal chain, and a controller that allows you to control the curtains remotely.
What additional features can smart curtains have?
Some remote control curtain models have additional features:
- Manual control — if the system fails or there is no electricity in the house, this feature will be very useful.
- End stops — they help to fix the curtains in one position.
- Light sensors — allow you to set the curtains to open and close automatically.
- Temperature sensors — if the room temperature is high, a system with such sensors can automatically close the curtains to prevent sunlight from entering. This feature is especially useful in hot weather in the summer.
- Timer — you can set the curtains to open and close at a specific time. For example, you can wake up in the morning with the first rays of sunlight and fall asleep at night in complete darkness;
- memory — smart curtains can remember frequently used positions, which is convenient in everyday life;
- Emergency shutdown — some models of blinds have a feature that allows the system to shut down when an obstacle appears on the curtain rod or when there is a high load. This helps prevent damage to the product.
- “Finishing” feature — this feature allows you to set the fabric in motion after a normal touch.
Additional features help to facilitate the use of curtains. They allow you to forget about the need to manually adjust the level of lighting each time, completely automating this process.
Why you should buy automatic curtains
Thick curtains help to regulate the level of lighting in a room, which affects a person’s well-being. For example, sleeping in complete darkness promotes the production of melatonin, which is considered a sleep hormone. And waking up with natural light helps you avoid the annoying sound of an alarm clock in the morning.
You can improve your well-being by automating the lighting in your bedroom. To do this, simply set up scenarios or choose a specific model of curtains that are equipped with sensors. You can also buy a model that can be controlled with a remote control or your phone. With it, you won’t have to adjust the curtains yourself before going to bed when you’re already in bed or in the morning when you need to get ready for work quickly.
