Nowadays, converting your existing roller blinds into smart shades is possible. Replace the chain drive with a motor in your existing roller blinds. It will enable you to control the blinds with a remote control, smartphone, or voice commands. It offers vital advantages, such as creating convenience and luxury at the touch of a button, saving costs on your energy bills, and instantly modernising your home.

roller blinds

What are Smart Shades?

Smart shades, also known as smart blinds, automated blinds, and motorised blinds, are a type of roller blind that can be controlled remotely or through automation. They can be set by swapping the chain drive on your current roller blinds with a Li-ion rechargeable (automated) battery motor.

Why Should I Retrofit My Existing Blinds?

Retain & Enjoy Your Favourite Blinds

There is no need to invest in new blinds; instead, you can continue using your existing blinds. By upgrading your roller blinds, you can save money and time and curtail landfills.

Make Your Home Ultra-Modern

Add convenience and sophistication at the button’s touch affordably.

Switch to Smart Home Integration at a Modest Price Tag

There is no need to buy new blinds because you can create the ultimate ambience with smart home integration. Just buy the motor and a couple of accessories, like a remote control and 1x charger per household. That’s it!

We’ll walk you through the process and show you how affordable and straightforward it is to retrofit motors into your existing roller blinds!

Steps for Retrofitting Your Roller Blinds

Unclip Your Roller Blind and Remove the Chain Drive

Unclip the pelmet (valance).
Remove the pin end side of the roller blind from the bracket. It should quickly come out.
DIY roller blinds have a clear plastic component. Turn the cog anti-clockwise to pull back the pin away from the bracket, which will help you remove it.
Remove the chain drive end of your roller blinds from the bracket.
Take out the chain drive from the roller blind with a tender pull.

Insert the Motor

Take the motor and glide it into the chain drive end of your roller blind.
Ensure to line up your adapter and the tube profile so it glides in effortlessly.
The motor will remain level with the tube when inserted properly.
Before inserting the battery motor, remember to charge it.

Point Your Charging Port Down

Ensure the charging port on the motor is pointing down to the ground so you can effortlessly recharge it.

Put Your Blinds Back Up

Take your roller blind. Tenderly, slot the motor end into the chain drive bracket and slot the pin end into the pin end bracket. You’ll hear a click, which indicates it’s secure.
If you have a pelmet, fix it to one bracket and, using a small amount of force, clip it to the other side.
You can cautiously tape your aerial to the wall behind your roller blind (face-fit blinds) or down the inside edge of your recess (recess-fit blinds) so it remains concealed and isn’t visible.
Ensure the aerial does not touch the roller blind so it remains undamaged when you open and close your blinds.

Hurray, pat your back; you’ve successfully retrofitted motorisation.

Setting Up the Control

Now it’s time to set up your remote control for using your motorised roller blinds. You set it to control each blind individually or group your blinds to control them all at once.
Enable voice control – easily control all your blinds using your voice command – “Hey Google / Alexa / Siri – Open the blinds.” It requires a Wi-Fi hub.
Alternatively, you can download the free ‘Automate’ app and control your blinds using your smartphone. It also requires a Wi-Fi hub.

What Are the Benefits Smart Shades Provide?

Energy Savings

Smart shades can dramatically increase your home’s efficiency by syncing your blinds with smart devices. This strategic alignment works wonders for regulating your home’s temperature—keeping it cool during summer’s peak and cosy in the winter chill. The outcome? A significant reduction in energy consumption and, consequently, lower utility bills.

Scheduling Convenience

The beauty of motorised blinds lies in their ability to adhere to a schedule. Set them to welcome the morning sun or to shield your privacy as night falls, all without lifting a finger. This automation eradicates the need to manually adjust your blinds, streamlining your daily routines with a touch of modern convenience.

Accessibility for High Windows

Smart shades effortlessly manage previously hard-to-reach windows. With just a button press or a voice command, you can adjust your blinds from anywhere in the room, bringing unparalleled ease to controlling natural light.

Heightened Safety

The design of smart shades eliminates the need for chains and cords, which can pose risks to children and pets. By adopting this safer alternative, you protect your loved ones from potential harm, making your living environment not just smarter but safer.

Aesthetic Appeal

Ditching traditional chains for smart shades can significantly improve your home’s visual appeal. This modern touch not only makes your windows look tidier but also enhances the overall style of your space.

Enhanced Security

Smart shades offer a unique advantage in home security. By simulating your presence through automated opening and closing, they can deter potential intruders, providing peace of mind while you’re away.

Impress Guests

Showcasing your motorised blinds to friends and family can be a source of pride. It’s not just about the ease of installation; it’s about sharing the leap towards modern living and maybe even inspiring them to make a similar choice.

Modernisation at an Affordable Cost

Upgrading to smart shades doesn’t mean you have to start from scratch. By retrofitting your existing blinds with motors, you can enjoy the benefits of modern technology without a hefty investment, making smart living accessible and affordable.

Smart shades exemplify more than just an aesthetic upgrade; they are a multifaceted enhancement to your home’s functionality, safety and efficiency.

With these advantages, smart shades prove to be a wise investment for a modern, convenient and secure home environment.

Need Help – Contact Homeworx Australia

If you require assistance with motorised roller blinds or outdoor automated blinds, contact us at Homeworx Australia on 1300 538 800, and our experienced and friendly team will be delighted to assist you.

Gaurav Sethi

We are very happy with the quality of the blinds as well as the workmanship that Ravi and his team installed at our place recently. We wanted the job to be done before Christmas and they delivered on time and with minimal fuss. They gave us a detailed quote and also presented multiple options that could work in our pergola. Ravi also made some suggestions coming from his vast experience in this field, I am glad we listened to his advice as the final product looks awesome. All the crew were on time and cleaned up after them. We asked for some minor adjustments to the settings to suit our needs, the team again actioned without much fuss. We highly recommend them.

Hema Arora Sengupta

Ravi and his team did an excellent job of installing blinds in our outdoor deck, turning it into a beautiful entertainment area featuring warmth, style and privacy. I highly recommend their professionalism, efficiency and timely delivery. We are very happy with the end result, as it is definitely value for money.

Hari Viswanathan

Homeworx installed outdoor blinds at my place just before Christmas. Friends of ours referred Ravi from Homeworx who was easy to deal with and not only provided a competitive quote but also a very quick turnaround in installation within a week. The blinds are excellent and have added to the look and functionality of our outdoor area. Homeworx takes pride in ensuring customers are satisfied with a quality service and product.

Venkat Kajipuram

My friend recommended homeworx for my pergola. Ravi helped us to choose right product as per my light and wet needs.They delivered and installed on time. Value for money. We feel now an extra room for partying even if rain or shine.I strongly recommend Homeworx to anyone. The workmanship is excellent.

Brad Gow

2 weeks ago

Homeworx came out to do a quote, after talking through the options and agreeing to a price the next step was a check measure. During the check measure I was told what was discussed wouldn't work so the first consultation was a total waste of time. The quote increased by $3300 after another meeting. A date and time was organised to do the installation. Two hours after the agreed time I called Homeworx and was told the installation wouldn't be happening due to an injury. Three days later the installation was done but they had to come back to fix the bottom rails and weather strips because they weren't installed correctly. I still think one of the bottom rails has been cut too short and they also cracked one of the tiles around my pool. They didn't measure the side channel location correctly and now I have two rows of wall plugs you can see in my brickwork. I reported this to the company and was told they would come out to inspect but never did. I definitely wouldn't recommend Homeworx.