Enjoy the flexibility of custom-made roller blinds

Roller blinds come in a variety of colours and patterns. Some are semi-transparent and others completely black the light out. These blackout blinds can be designed in a colour that matches the home; they do not necessarily have to be black or another dark colour. They often have a backside that does not let light through, while the front can have a different colour – even white.

Roller blinds can be purchased from various types of retailers, including home-goods shops and hardware stores. There are usually a couple of fixed widths and lengths to choose from, often in two or three colour options. These basic models do the job, but they may compromise the overall style of your home. Operation is usually performed manually through a ball-chain mechanism or a rod. The latter are often preferred over ball chains if there is a danger of young children becoming entangled.

When you start looking at custom-made roller blinds, a whole new world opens up.

One of the options is to invest in motorized or electric roller blinds. This way you not only get a neat and stylish solution, but also the opportunity to control the roller blinds in a variety of ways.

Customize and motorize your roller blinds for increased comfort

You can also choose to combine a variety of the features that are common in modern roller blinds. In this way you can customize a blind to blend in nicely with your other home decor. With the right measurements, your blind will not allow light leakage at the sides and will be a beautiful installation to your home. The colour can also be chosen to blend in well.

A motorized roller blind can be operated in a variety of ways. The most common method is via a standard remote control that conveniently lets you control the blind from the comfort of your sofa. Another type of remote control is a wall-mounted unit that works wirelessly and can be placed anywhere it fits. Right next to the light switch is a popular choice, but it could also be next to your bed or somewhere else.

The most convenient way to control roller blinds is not to have to control them at all, but to automate their operation. This can be done either with the help of sensors or by programming their behaviour into a smart controller, such as the TaHoma switch from Somfy. By automatically rolling up when you get up in the morning and rolling down before bedtime, a smart roller blind can quickly become a convenient part of your everyday life.

Save energy costs with smart roller blinds

Did you know that using motorized sunshades can also lower your energy costs? Combining electric roller blinds with, for example, sun sensors or a smart controller makes it possible to use solar energy to lower your heating costs.

The principle is simple. On winter days when the sun comes out, the sunshades are opened so the heat can radiate through the windows and warm up your home. Towards evening the sunshades are closed again to keep the heat from escaping through the glass of the windows. This reduces your heating costs and you end up with more money in your pocket over the longer run.

During the summer months, the system works in the opposite way. When the sun's rays are at their hottest, the sunshades are closed to keep your home cool. This means you do not need to turn on the air conditioning when you come home – again reducing your energy consumption.

Lowered energy consumption is not only good for your wallet, it’s better for the environment too.