Everything You Need to Know About Electric Blinds
Your Guide to Choosing Electric Blinds
Electric blinds offer a modern solution for controlling light and privacy in your home. With operating options like remote controls for electric roller blinds and smart control options for motorised blinds, you can easily adjust your window coverings at the touch of a button or through voice control. These automatic window coverings are not only convenient but also elevate the aesthetic of any room.
In the UK, electric blinds are available in various styles, including blackout motorised blinds and Velux automated blinds, catering to a wide range of needs and preferences. Whether you're searching for electric blinds for bifold doors or remote control window blinds, there’s a perfect option for every space. Discover the benefits of integrating electric blinds into your home for a seamless blend of functionality and style.
Types of Electric Blinds
Choosing the right electric blinds can enhance your home’s comfort and style. With various options available, it’s essential to understand the different types to find the perfect fit for your needs.
Electric Roller Blinds
Electric roller blinds are a popular choice for their sleek design and functionality. They can be easily operated with a remote control, making them ideal for hard-to-reach windows.
Motorised Blackout Blinds
For those seeking complete darkness, motorised blackout blinds are an excellent option. These blinds effectively block out light, making them perfect for bedrooms or media rooms.
Velux Electric Blinds
Velux electric blinds are specifically designed for skylights and roof windows. They offer convenience and style, allowing you to control natural light effortlessly.
Remote Control Blinds
Remote control blinds provide ultimate convenience, allowing you to adjust your window coverings from anywhere in the room. This feature is especially beneficial for large windows or hard-to-reach areas.
Electric Blinds for Bifold Doors
Electric blinds for bifold doors combine functionality with aesthetics. They can be customised to fit your doors perfectly, enhancing both privacy and light control.
5 Things to Consider Before Choosing Electric Blinds
When selecting electric blinds for your home, it's essential to weigh various factors to ensure you make the best choice. Here are some key considerations that highlight the benefits of electric blinds:
- Control Options: Consider how you want to operate your blinds. Remote control blinds offer convenience, allowing you to adjust your blinds from anywhere in the room and smart hardware for Google Home® and Amazon Echo® and added option.
- Energy Efficiency: Electric blinds can help regulate indoor temperatures, reducing energy costs. By blocking out heat in summer and retaining warmth in winter, they enhance your home's energy efficiency.
- Safety Features: Unlike traditional blinds, electric options eliminate the need for cords, making them a safer choice for homes with children and pets.
- Customisation: Electric blinds come in various styles, colours, and materials, allowing you to tailor them to your interior design while enjoying the benefits of remote control functionality.
- Installation Requirements: Ensure you understand the fitting process. The motors in our electric blinds are all now pre-fitted and their own battery so professional fitting is not required. Just plug and play.
Electric options for your blinds
Many core blind ranges can be upgraded to electric or motorised control, giving you a modern way to manage light and privacy. Instead of browsing a separate "electric blinds" category, you simply choose the motorised or smart control option on the relevant product page. This lets you pick the blind style you love first, then decide how you want it to move.
Electric roller blinds
Electric roller blinds are ideal for living rooms and bedrooms where you want simple, smooth control at the touch of a button. They offer excellent light control and privacy, and can often be grouped so several blinds move together on one remote or smart control. Choose the electric operation upgrade on the roller blinds product page if you like a clean, contemporary look with minimal fuss.
Electric pelmet roller blinds
Electric pelmet roller blinds suit spaces where you want the mechanism completely hidden, such as dining rooms, lounges or home cinemas. The pelmet conceals the roller and brackets for a sleek, built-in finish, while the motor handles the lifting for you. If you want an elegant, hotel-style feel with push-button or app control, opt for electric control on the pelmet roller blinds product page.
Electric no-drill roller blinds
Electric no-drill roller blinds are perfect for renters, tiled recesses or uPVC frames where you want to avoid screws. They clip or clamp in place, then the motor takes care of the lifting, so you still get the benefits of electric roller blinds without permanent fixings. Choose the motorised or smart upgrade on the no-drill roller blinds product page if you need an easy, reversible installation.
Electric day & night blinds
Electric day & night blinds are ideal when you need flexible light levels throughout the day, such as in home offices, living rooms or nurseries. With alternating sheer and opaque stripes, you can fine-tune privacy and daylight with precise motorised control, or tie everything into a smart home system. Select electric operation on the day & night blinds product page if you want both daytime privacy and night-time blackout from the same blind.
When choosing between these electric blind options, think about how you use the room, how much light control you need, and whether you prefer simple remote control or full smart integration. Each style offers its own mix of appearance, installation method and motorisation features, so you can find the electric solution that fits your home and routine perfectly.
Manual vs Electric Blinds
When you’re choosing between traditional manual blinds and electric blinds, it’s not just about the motor. Use this side-by-side comparison to weigh convenience, control, safety and long-term practicality before you decide.
| Factor | Manual control blinds | Electric blinds (remote / smart) |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday use | Raise and lower using a chain, cord or wand. Fine for occasional adjustments but can feel repetitive on larger windows or multiple blinds. | Operate at the touch of a button or via an app or voice command. Ideal if you adjust blinds often or have several in the same room, or just like technology. |
| Convenience | Simple and familiar, but you need to be at the window each time you want to change the position. | Control from the sofa, your desk or even when you’re away from home. Great for hard-to-reach windows and tall installations. |
| Smart features | No automation – what you see is what you get. Any “scheduling” is down to you remembering to adjust them. | Can be paired with a smart hub for timers, scenes and voice control (for example, “Alexa, close the blinds”). Helps keep light and privacy consistent without thinking about it. |
| Power & wiring | No power needed. Just brackets and fixings, so there are no cables or chargers to think about. | Usually battery-powered motors with discreet charging. Initial setup is more involved but day-to-day use is easier. |
| Installation | Quick fit for most DIYers: measure, drill, fix brackets and hang the blind. | Very similar fitting for the blind itself; motors are pre-fitted. Set limits and possibly connect to a hub or app. Still manageable for confident DIYers. |
| Child safety | Requires safety devices for chains and cords to meet current regulations. | No hanging cords with most systems, so it’s a very clean and child-safe option with fewer visible controls. |
| Reliability & maintenance | Very little to go wrong – an occasional clean of the hardware is usually enough. | Motors and batteries are designed for regular use, but you will need to recharge or replace batteries and may occasionally re-pair remotes or hubs. |
| Noise level | Silent apart from the sound of the fabric and hardware moving by hand. | Modern motors are smooth and reasonably quiet, but you will hear a low hum as they move. |
| Cost | Lower upfront cost and a good option if you just need a simple, reliable blind. | Higher initial investment for the motor and controls, but adds comfort, accessibility and a more premium feel to the room. |
| Best for | Smaller homes, guest rooms and spaces where blinds are only adjusted occasionally. | Living rooms, bedrooms, home offices and hard-to-reach windows where comfort, accessibility and smart control really pay off. |
| Watch-outs | Can become fiddly if you have several blinds in a row or very wide windows to lift regularly. | Plan ahead for power (battery access or sockets), Wi-Fi coverage and how you’ll control multiple blinds together. |
In short: manual blinds are simple and cost-effective, while electric blinds add comfort, accessibility and smart home control that you quickly get used to.
Choosing how to control your electric blinds
Modern electric blinds give you several ways to manage light and privacy, from simple remote controls to fully smart electric blinds you can run from your phone or voice assistant. Window blinds use systems from brands such as Somfy®, Louvolite® and Cruze® all offer different combinations of handsets, apps and hubs, but the overall offering is the same regardless, they allow you to operate your motorised blinds day to day.
Handheld remotes for everyday convenience
If you want something straightforward, a handheld remote control is often the best place to start. Most Somfy®, Louvolite® and Cruze® style motors pair with compact remotes that let you raise, lower and stop the blind with a single touch. Multi-channel handsets can control several blinds in the same room, or even the whole front of the house, so you can open or close groups of blinds together without walking from window to window. Different colour handsets are available and are offered to choose from on each product where available.
App control on your phone or tablet
For more flexibility, look for electric blinds that work with an app. Using a Somfy TaHoma-style app or a Louvolite One Touch home hub, you can control each blind individually or create “rooms” and scenes such as movie night or weekend lie-ins. App control is ideal if you like to adjust your blinds from the sofa, your desk or even when you’re away from home, and it makes it much easier to fine-tune light levels throughout the day.
Smart home integration and voice control
If you already use smart speakers or a wider smart home system, smart electric blinds are the most seamless option. Many Somfy and Louvolite hubs can be linked with platforms such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Apple Siri, so you can ask your blinds to open, close or move to a favourite position using simple voice commands. You can also build routines, for example closing the blinds and dimming the lights at sunset, or opening them automatically in the morning.
Battery powered or mains powered motors
How your motor is powered also affects day-to-day usability. Battery powered blinds, including integrated Li-ion options and solar-assisted systems, are wire-free and ideal for retrofitting with minimal disruption. They’re perfect for most standard windows and can usually run for months between charges. Mains powered motors suit very large or heavy blinds where you want maximum lifting power and never need to think about recharging, particularly in big open-plan spaces or on wide bifold doors.
When you’re comparing electric blind controls, start with how you live: do you just want a simple remote, or would you use app control, voice commands and timed schedules to make the most of your smart electric blinds? Once you know how you prefer to control them, it’s much easier to choose the right combination of motors, remotes, hubs and smart features for your home.
Comparing electric blind control options
| Control Type | Best For | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Remote control | Simple daily use, single rooms, straightforward setups |
• One-touch up/down/stop • Multi-channel options to control several blinds • Compatible with most Somfy, Cruze and Louvolite motors • No internet required |
| App control | Users who want flexibility, room grouping and on-the-go control |
• Control blinds individually or in groups • Create rooms, favourites and scenes (e.g., Movie Night) • Scheduling options (timed open/close, sunrise/sunset) • Works with TaHoma, Louvolite App and Cruze-via-Somfy app |
| Smart home integration | Whole-home automation, hands-free control, advanced routines |
• Voice control via Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri • Create home-wide routines and automation • Integrates with lighting, heating or security (Somfy ecosystem) • Requires a hub (e.g., TaHoma or Louvolite Home Hub) |
Below you can view and download the brochures for the three main electric blind motor systems we use – Somfy®, Cruze® and Louvolite®. These guides go into more technical detail on motor types, remote controls, smart home options and installation, so they’re ideal if you want to dig deeper into how each electric motor system works.
|
Cruze® Electric Blinds Brochure
|
|
|
Louvolite Electric Blinds Brochure
|
|
|
Somfy® Electric Blinds Brochure
|
|
Why choose Electric Blinds from Lifestyle Blinds?
With over 30 years in the blinds industry – and 20 years online – we’re one of the UK’s most experienced made-to-measure specialists. Every blind is crafted to order and backed by quality you can trust.
- Expertly made-to-measure in the UK
- Free fabric samples so you can choose confidently
- 5-year guarantee for peace of mind
- Motorised and child-safe upgrade options
- Most orders dispatched in around 7 working days
- Secure checkout and friendly specialist support
How to Clean & Maintain Electric Blinds
Electric blinds are just as easy to care for as manual blinds — you simply have a few extra steps to keep the motor, battery and controls working smoothly.
Cleaning the Fabric
Most electric blinds use the same fabrics as standard roller blinds. Wipe gently with a damp microfibre cloth from top to bottom. Avoid soaking the motor end or any charging ports — keep moisture away from the headrail.
Battery Care (Rechargeable Motors)
Recharge the blind when movement slows or when the LED indicator flashes. Avoid letting lithium batteries run completely flat. For best performance, give the blind a full overnight charge every few months.
Replaceable Battery Tubes
If your blind uses replaceable batteries, swap all cells at the same time to keep power output consistent. Always use high-quality alkaline batteries for longest life.
Remote Control Maintenance
Wipe the remote with a soft cloth to keep buttons responsive. Replace the coin-cell battery when the range shortens or the blind only responds intermittently. If the remote loses connection, re-pair it using the blind’s pairing button or by following the manufacturer’s reset sequence.
Smart Hub & App Care
If you use voice control or app control, ensure your hub is within good Wi-Fi range. Restart the hub if routines or automations stop working. Some hubs update firmware automatically — occasional restarts help keep performance stable.
Motor & Bracket Checks
Once a year, check that the brackets remain tight and secure. A slight hum during movement is normal, but loud vibration usually means a bracket needs tightening. Never spray lubricant directly into the motor, but you can use silicone spray on the roller tube and moving hardware if needed.
Tip: Keep the charging cable in a consistent place so you never have to hunt for it when the blind needs a top-up.
Explore electric blinds for motor options, remotes and smart home compatibility.
Ready to explore electric options?
If you’d like to see the full range of styles that can be upgraded to electric or motorised control, browse our most popular blind categories below. Simply choose the electric operation option when configuring your blind.
- Roller blinds – a clean, modern look with smooth electric operation.
- Pelmet roller blinds – a premium finish with concealed mechanics.
- Day & night blinds – layered fabric with precise motorised control.
- No-drill roller blinds – easy to install, with optional motorised upgrades.
Not sure where to start? You can always contact our team for help choosing the right electric option for your home.
Electric Blinds FAQs
Electric blinds operate using a motor that adjusts the position of the blinds at the touch of a button. They can be controlled via a remote, smartphone app, or integrated smart home systems, allowing for convenient operation without manual effort.
Electric roller blinds function similarly to standard roller blinds but include a motorised mechanism. This allows you to raise or lower the blinds effortlessly, often with remote control or smart technology integration for added convenience.
Remote control blinds are equipped with a receiver that communicates with a handheld remote. When you press a button, the remote sends a signal to the blinds' motor, allowing you to adjust them from a distance.
If your electric blinds are not functioning properly, check the power supply and ensure the remote is working. For more complex issues, such as a malfunctioning motor, it may be best to consult a professional for electric blinds repair.
