3 Things to Consider When Installing Smart Shades

A lot of thought goes into the furnishings, decorations, and technology you bring into your home. You want it all to be perfect: reflecting your unique style and particular needs. Your shades, drapes, and blinds should be no different. They not only protect your family's privacy, but they also enhance your Woodlands, Texas home's style. To get the most out of them, we recommend incorporating them into a home lighting automation system. But before you purchase the latest models, make sure you answer the following questions:

SEE MORE: Complement Your Home's Interior Design with Shading Control

What is Your Home's Unique Style?

Just because you're upgrading to a smart shading solution, doesn't mean you have to sacrifice aesthetics. Lutron makes it easy to find the perfect fit with a large variety of color, fabric and design options. There's roller shades, drapes, roman shades, Venetian blinds and even wood blinds. Figure out which rooms you want to include in your home lighting automation system and see which models fit best in them.

What Function Will Your Shades Serve?

With so many models, you need a guiding hand to find the ones that will work best. The experienced integrators at SES Design Group help you find the best models, colors, and fabrics to fit your needs. For example, sheer fabrics eliminate glare while still allowing light to enter a room. If you want to use your shades to regulate your home's temperature, use opaque fabrics to keep heat out. Do you want to see outside when the shades are closed? Use a darker mesh fabric that will let you look out while still blocking sunlight. In your bedroom, opt for full blackout shades that shut out all light so you can sleep in.

How Do You Want to Control Your Shades?

By incorporating your shades in a Lutron home lighting automation system, it's easier than ever to manage them. Check out the most popular control options below. Which one do you think would work best for your family?

• Remote Control: Instead of having to walk up to the shades or deal with heavy drapes, just press a button on a remote to adjust your shades.
• Scheduling: Schedule them to open or close at a given time every day to match your daily routine.
• Scenes: Incorporate your shades into scenes within your home lighting automation system. For example, a "Wake Up" scene turns lights on and opens the shades when it's time to get up.
• Photo Sensors: Reduce your energy bills with photo sensors that direct your shades to close when hit by direct sunlight. This way it is easier to keep your space cool during the hottest times of the day.
• Smart Devices: Instead of using a remote, you can download the Lutron app to manage your shades from your smartphone or tablet.

If you're going incorporate shades in your home lighting automation system, you need to work with a professional to find the models that best match your needs. SES Design Group can help; contact us to set up a consultation.