From the International Window Covering Expo held in April 2022

From customized designs and new colors to increased motorization and technology, read what some manufacturers are predicting for the future.

Expectations of traditional window treatments have changed due to the massive adjustment in the functionality of offices, health care, and other commercial spaces. Additionally, over the last two years, homeowners have also shifted to re-creating rooms and practical spaces to adapt to working from home. This has certainly led to an increased demand for motorization and other smart home technology, as well as personalized custom design, all of which are on a growth trajectory and constantly evolving.

Motorization and Roller Shades

While trends in colors, fabrics, and window covering styles are always developing in response to cultural, environmental, and other influences, some trends continue to remain at the forefront, especially motorization. Steve Wright, CEO and president of Forest Drapery, foresees “continued growth in motorized window treatments, especially in the roller shade category.” Tim Sanders, president of SmartPad Pro, concurs. “Roller shades and motorization will continue to be the mainstream product in the hospitality and commercial fields.”

Where roller shades were more predominantly specified for commercial spaces in the past, they are now a must-have for certain rooms in residential properties, including, but not limited to, the home office as the shift to working from home continues to grow. “Interior roller shades specified with blackout fabrics will continue to emerge as a necessity for homeowners,” says Market Manager Gregg Terry of Phifer.

Window Covering Trends: Performance and Color

In addition to continued growth in automation and the increased use of commercial window coverings in home residences, charting the benefits and performance qualities with customers becomes even more essential in 2022. Marketing Director Holly Bridwell of Mermet Sun Control Textiles USA stresses the importance of elevating the fabric selection process with clients by making the interaction a “design consultation on performance—not only about fabric aesthetics and color,” and adds that blackouts, notably in the popular gray, charcoal and white families, will continue to trend. Weighing in on color trends, Wright also notes that “color choices are varied, yet fabrics will be trending toward neutrals and textures.” Elegant and versatile white, beige and gray tones, as well as textured blackout and light-filtering color-coordinating options, will carry on as a widespread choice in both residential and hospitality environments.

Color Matching, New Aesthetics, and Customization

While grays and neutrals may be here to stay—at least for now—designers continue to experiment with color, including greens, rich blues, and other bold hues. These colors are often mixed with innumerous textures for a more engaging presentation. Ryan Crist, director of sales and marketing at Texton, explains how end-users and designers are increasingly seeking “exact color match” and “close pairing” of shades with drapery. “End users want to customize a drapery color to match an existing paint color or textile swatch.” They will continue their demand for customized products and color match to ensure their shades are unique and personalized.

Nevertheless, the overall minimalist, modern and casual aesthetic continues to be a fashionable choice for both commercial and residential spaces. Mikala Moller, vice president of marketing at Rowley, agrees that trend will persist. “From a design perspective, that aesthetic creates comfort and harmony in a space. It is also a trend that has had longevity in window treatment design with streamlined shades, grommet and ripple fold draperies, and plated metal and acrylic drapery hardware styles. These will continue to hold strong in 2022.”

On the other hand, the desire for increased personalization and layering of design elements is notable. From this movement, there has been a resurgence of maximalism and layered looks that tell a story, inspired by cultural influences like “House of Gucci.” It’s driving heightened demand for more traditional window treatment styles in soft shades, drapery embellishments, swags, and hand-painted and mixed-media drapery hardware.

Commercial and Residential Crossover Trends

Interestingly, design trends from the commercial world are now making their way into residential design. “This includes tonal textures, as well as large abstract graphic prints that are often macro-focused,” offers Crist. Additional trends from the commercial world are making their way to residential spaces, including more emphasis on bringing the outside and natural design aspects into textile, shade, and furniture design, which is often referred to as “biophilia.” Sanders suggests that the industry will continue to see an “increase in many architectural designs creating spaces with more natural light and interior experiences with the outdoor in mind.”

All trends considered, with current supply chain disruptions, it is reasonable that some in the industry are uneasy but hopeful. Depending upon the type of window covering system, shortage or delay in shipment of critical components will continue in 2022. “These could be as minor as the chains or fasteners used in roller shades to coatings and paints used for fabrics or header boxes,” says Terry. Therefore, it is key is to manage expectations about availability and deadlines to maintain customers’ trust and ongoing business and referrals.

The Future of the Window Covering Industry

The window covering industry, like all industries, continues to advance sustainability awareness in its products. And for many companies showcasing products at the IWCE show, this has been an ongoing initiative, not necessarily a new trend. Wright cites Forest Drapery Hardware’s longstanding commitment to sustainable sourcing. “Since the introduction of our wood drapery hardware more than 25 years ago, these products have been sourced from managed forests, a practice that will continue into the future.” Forest Drapery’s tracks and decorative metal hardware are also made with high-quality materials to extend the life of their products, reducing waste.

An expanded focus on technology is also critical to the industry’s future increase of new revenue and value-producing opportunities. Bridwell contends that growth will come from an intensified attention to digital marketing and sampling as well as leveraging data for growth. “In-person and live virtual design consultations will support higher prices and margins over DIY.” Judy Wong, president of Senbesta, agrees that having fabric swatch samples readily available to share with clients is essential, no matter how you meet. “Whether that be at an in-person meeting or a virtual meeting, by sending them a few 8 x 11 swatches by mail, these samples allow your client to see and feel the product up close.”

Likewise, collaboration with other professionals through social media and other virtual tools is of the utmost importance for the window covering industry. Over the last two years, the pandemic has put some hurdles in the way that people connect with each other, yet the industry has continued to thrive. Wong raves about how “refreshing” it has been seeing professionals come together on LinkedIn and Facebook to share information. “I am amazed by how quickly the industry is adapting to changes and how engaged our industry has become with social media. I think it is wonderful to see this community supporting each other and interacting on these platforms.”

Finally, the manufacturing and distribution of window coverings and accessories worldwide is an unquestionable facet of its future. “The window covering industry is expected to continue to grow worldwide with customer growth mainly coming from the U.S. and Asia,” acknowledges Sanders. Regardless of their global reach, companies in the industry who stay focused on offering new or innovative products, providing customer-focused solutions, and offering the latest advances in user-friendly technology should be positioned best for the future marketplace.

If You Like Some of These Window Covering Trends

If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve seen here (and I can assure you, this is just the tip of the iceberg), I’m always available for a consultation to help you determine the best kind of window coverings that would be best for your needs, lifestyle, and goals. I can guide you in choosing the perfect window treatment solution for what you might be envisioning. If this sparks your interest, let’s talk more about window coverings – I guarantee you’ll get very inspired by all the possibilities available. You can choose a contact method right below this blog post, or click this “contact” link. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com, and, of course, you can always call me anytime at (407) 743-2399.

Automation Welcomes Us Into the Future!

Smart homes are one of many great leaps we’ve made into the future; if you’re not already controlling your appliances, lights, HVAC, and security systems from your phone or tablet, you will be soon – and that includes motorized window treatments.

Voice-controlled devices like Amazon Alexa®, Google Home®, and Apple Homepod® are also quickly gaining popularity and becoming a staple in homes across the U.S. It’s no surprise either, with their ability to play music, set alarms, and tell you the weather forecast or latest news upon request – they simply make everyday life easier.

These innovative devices are fueling the growing trend to adopt smart home benefits and efficiency; and like many industries, window treatment manufacturers have taken notice of the need for automated products. “Alexa… open the living room shades” is now part of the smart-home mix!

The top window covering manufacturers that I represent have embraced emerging technologies, creating intelligent hubs and motorization that make it much easier to integrate your shades, blinds, shutters, or draperies with home automation systems. There are many benefits to going motorized; syncing your window treatments to work in perfect harmony with your smart lights, thermostat, and entertainment systems is only one of many highly sought-after advantages.

The Best Benefits of Having Motorized Window Treatments

1. Simplicity

With the push of one button, you can control single shades or every shade in the room simultaneously. No longer will you have to struggle with hard-to-reach windows that are behind furniture or up too high. If you have lots of windows, automation will help you save a little time every day and night that you can use however you’d like. Do you have elderly parents? Motorized shades and blinds eliminate the difficulty of reaching for or manually operating their window treatments. With Christmas just not too far away, right now is the perfect time to treat yourself or your parents to a simpler life.

2. Style and Sophistication

There’s something deliciously luxurious about using your voice or the push of a button to open or close your window coverings. Motorization and smart home automation allow you to easily respond to the mood of the moment, effortlessly and easily. And you can stay focused on what held your attention in the first place, without having to get up and manually open or close your coverings. It also goes without saying that there’s an inherent big “Wow!” factor as well. My clients tell me the convenience factor is worth its weight in gold!

3. Lower Energy Bills

Solar power, proper insulation, and more have been a growing trend in homeowners’ efforts to more effectively manage their energy consumption and lower their bills.Installing motorized shades, sheers, and blinds can definitely help you increase energy efficiency. With automated, hub-based systems, it’s easy to integrate your window treatments with smart thermostats, like the Nest® Ecobee® Lyric® or Honeywell®, allowing you to control room temperature with window adjustments before using the HVAC system to heat or cool your home. Integrating a sun sensor with your smart-home devices means your blinds can lower or rise on their own even if you’re away. This important feature helps manage your home’s heat gain during summer months and heat loss in the wintertime.

4. Improve Home Resale Value. with Motorized Window Treatments

Since most window treatments are attached directly to the home, more and more buyers expect that they’ll be included in their purchase. Today, motorized shades and blinds are especially desirable and in high demand by prospective home buyers for their ease of use, ability to synch with smart-home devices, and green features that boost energy efficiency. Definitely a win-win!

5. Set the Mood

Need some mood lighting for a special occasion or while entertaining? Your voice command, phone app, or remote-controlled window treatments will gladly assist. It’s easy to store predefined room “scenes” to orchestrate and manage your artificial light, favorite music, and more to create the perfect setting. I’d love to show you the options available.

6. Boost Privacy

Motorized window treatments are a favorite among homeowners who enjoy their privacy. Do you have windows in close proximity to a neighbor’s house or worry that passersby can easily peer through your windows from the street? Simply push a button to lower your shades at any time and even set up automated scenes to close your window coverings at the desired times daily. For these kinds of situations, many homeowners like the top-down, bottom-up feature of honeycomb shades the most, and they can also be easily motorized and automated.

7. Wake Up Peacefully

For many people, alarm clocks have been replaced by cell phones. Once motorization is added to your windows, you’ll have the option to get a peaceful wake-up call from nature. Adjust your shades to gently wake you each morning by letting in the sunlight when it’s time to get up. I can show you how to create your own natural alarm clock.

8. Motorized Window Treatments are Cordless & Kid Friendly

Motorization means no unsightly strings or cords. Say goodbye to those pesky tangled cords hanging from the shades; and more importantly, eliminate all possibilities of your children or pets playing with your blinds. Cordless window treatments are attractive, easy, and safe.

9. UV Protection

Motorized shades will help you protect your woodwork, upholstery fabrics, floors, and artwork from UV damage and inevitable fading. Your motorized window treatments can close and adapt automatically during the harshest part of sunny days.

10. Motorized Window Treatments are GREAT for Security

Window treatments can deter thieves and intruders when coupled with home automation systems, by giving the appearance that you’re still at home. Simply schedule the operation of your shades and blinds while you’re away on holidays or business trips. With hub-based systems, if you forget to preprogram things you can still easily control your shades and windows remotely via your mobile phone or tablet.

Thinking About Upgrading to Motorized Window Treatments?

Let me help you choose the right window treatments to motorize or automate. Power can be added to most types of treatments, in a wide variety of styles, textiles, and finishes. When you work with me, you’re choosing an expert who knows technology and design. You would never ask your electrician to pick out your chandelier! Don’t settle for function over design when you can have both! Let me show you how.

If you’re considering motorized window coverings, I’m always available for a consultation to help you determine the best kind of motorization for your specific needs, lifestyle, and convenience. There are a lot of issues to explore, and I can guide you to choosing the perfect motorization solution for what you envision. If interested, let’s talk more about motorization. Choose a contact method right below this blog post, or click this “contact” link. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com And you can always call me anytime at (407) 743-2399.

While my clients love to have their window treatments motorized, going that route is often accompanied by a lot of questions, which is understandable. I’ve compiled a list of the most common questions here, along with helpful answers and guidance.

What are some of the key benefits of motorized window treatments?

Here are three key reasons behind going the smart home/motorization route:

Safety: Smart window coverings make spaces safer, as children and pets can no longer get tangled in hazardous loops or control cords. And thanks to preset scenes and timers, smart window coverings are continuously in motion, making your home always seem inhabited. It creates a sense of security and helps to prevent break-ins.

Energy efficiency: Smart window coverings are able to automatically adapt to changing conditions inside and outside the home. This makes it possible for you to regulate the indoor climate and save energy by making the best use of the insulating properties of window coverings.

Convenience: Smart window coverings make everyday life even more enjoyable. As part of a smart home ecosystem, where various smart devices such as smart lighting and thermostats seamlessly work together, window coverings automatically move to the rhythm of your daily life, creating the perfect atmosphere at any time.

So you can see that the key benefits of smart window coverings perfectly align with the main motivators for people choosing to make their homes smart. The extra investment makes life safer, more energy-efficient, and more comfortable. These are major considerations when deciding upon motorized window treatments.

Motorization always seems expensive…I love the “wow” factor, but I’d still like you to help me justify it in my thinking.

Think about the benefits of energy cost savings that motorized shades provide. Many motorized platforms present unique features like sunrise/sunset detection to seamlessly automate a shading system. Also, energy-efficient homeowner rebate programs are currently in development through the Attachments Energy Rating Council and nationwide utility providers, further supporting the energy benefits of motorized window treatments.

In addition to energy savings, motorized window coverings deliver on their promise of convenience. Many popular motorized shading systems are designed with a wide range of features that enable effortless control of a motorized shade. Through devices such as push-button remotes, voice assistants, or home automation systems, my clients have greater flexibility to personalize how they interact with their shades.

Many existing manual shades, blinds, and drapery systems can be converted to a motorized operation with retrofit capabilities through motor offerings. My customers always have the option to purchase new motorized systems for key areas in the home and opt to upgrade existing systems now or later to spread out their investment.

Did you know I offer motorized plantation shutters too! Way cool convenience! Sorry for the pun. 

And let’s not forget, one of the key reasons for motorizing your window treatments is that it is a child- and pet-safe solution for the home, keeping our loved ones safe from the potential hazards chain and cord shading solutions present. That alone is very important to many of my clients.

The connected home continues to be a growing trend, and motorized window treatments are a natural fit to expand your home’s capabilities.

Do you need different motors to power different window treatments like shades, shutters, and drapes?

Yes, there are different motors for large or small windows and roller shades, draperies, roman shades, shutters, blinds, and even transitional shades. There are many reasons for this. A motor that powers a shade is different in form than a motor that powers a motorized drapery track. Other factors are the size of the shade and the weight of the fabric being motorized. All of that has to be taken into account. Plus, my clients need to decide whether they want a wired solution or a battery-powered solution.

Do I need my electrical system reworked to accommodate motorization?

Many motorized window treatments run on household batteries which means they can be installed anywhere in the home without requiring a nearby power socket. And they’re rechargeable, so you can get good functionality from battery operation. There’s no need for special electrical rewiring with the variety of options available. Since rechargeable batteries can last for many years without being replaced, these blinds require minimum maintenance – and they’re super quiet.

Tell me more specifically about motorizing my draperies.

Motorized drapery hardware’s control technology should be able to be controlled with the touch of a button, simple voice commands, and third-party devices. Motors should be quiet, so sound levels need to be checked upfront too, along with warranties.  And these days, even a manufacturer’s reputation is important.  

Another factor that I have to work with is matching the motor to the drapery’s weight. It’s essential to know and verify that your draperies can operate seamlessly no matter the length, weight, or area the treatment covers. Aesthetically, I look for decorative motorized products that complement my design and what my clients want to achieve. I choose motorized drapery products that offer the same details that decorative hardware does, as well as a wide choice of finishes, rod sizes, and a host of other specifics relative to the window covering process.

What do I need to know about motorizing very large shades, screens, or other window treatments?

Shades can be motorized practically without a size limit. In fact, motorization is key to enabling the proper function of the largest of shades, as they cannot easily be opened or closed by a person without motorization.

The good news is these systems for large window coverings still operate inexpensively with current radio frequency remote controllers and home automation hubs, so we can take advantage of all the systems currently available (e.g., Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant) to command even the largest of shades, shutters, and blinds.

It all seems very complicated. Is there anything simpler?

If you are looking for a more price-conscious way to motorize window treatments without the use of remotes, consider a motorized wand. It’s a simple and affordable solution, and motorized wands offer intuitive operation with a three-button controller. As a safer alternative to corded lift options, these wands can provide function as well as peace of mind.

When is it appropriate to use a solar battery charger?

Although solar panel efficiency relies on numerous factors (the direction it’s facing, shadows going over the window during the day, the height of the window, etc.), in most cases, solar panels are more than enough to charge a blind’s motor. Because solar chargers typically need a few seconds of some really good sun to get started, it can be difficult to get them working in some locations during darker months of the year (but we rarely have that problem here in Florida). However, newer solar systems are more efficient and can provide enough energy for proper functioning even in isolated conditions.

I was thinking about motorization for my office in a different location. Is there a difference between residential and commercial motorization?

Motorization is essentially similar between residential and commercial projects in that they both utilize motors to provide hands-free operation of blinds and shades. However, commercial and residential projects have several key differences.

Commercial projects are typically focused on energy efficiency and worker productivity. Utilizing the combined data from weather sensors, central control units, occupancy sensors, and temperature sensors, commercial window treatments become an integral part of keeping the workforce comfortable and the building sustainable.

While automation is still often an essential part of a residential project, the integrations are much simpler, easier to install, and focused on on-demand use and predictable scheduling. For example, residential motorization is often integrated into the Amazon Echo or Google Home system for voice commands such as, “OK Google, raise my living room shades.” Further, scheduling the window treatments’ movements in residential projects typically revolves around optimizing one’s home experience by coordinating the shades’ movements with routines, such as waking up, watching TV, and going to bed.

In a larger context, commercial solutions can dynamically manage the movement of shades across many zones to allow any size building to have highly specialized climate control depending on how each part of the building is impacted by the sun, occupancy, and temperature throughout the day. As a result, sophisticated commercial automated shading solutions also require a commercial specialist with greater expertise to design and install that kind of system.

What are the differences between indoor and outdoor motorization hardware? What about outdoor hardware in particular?

With motorized indoor shading, you typically attach the product—valance, rollers, headrail, brackets, etc.—at the top of the window only. Power (low voltage or high voltage) is typically routed down through the header to the motor location. For battery-powered systems, you might have a solar panel to consider. Radio motors are popular for many applications.

With outdoor shading, there are more considerations. The product will face the elements and wind, which means it will need side guides. In some products, these are guide wires and in others, they are metal channels. I have to consider the whole opening, including how to anchor side guidance to the structure, leveling, and aesthetics. Manufacturers carry channel adaptors to help install side channels secure and parallel, which is critical. Adaptors are aluminum pieces that help the installation look and perform its best.

Power is another important consideration. Due to the heavier product and environment, higher-voltage, slower-RPM motors are required. Radio obstacle detection motors are popular options for outdoor applications.

Any tips for a great smart hub experience with using my motorized window treatments?

The single most important tip I provide to my clients and customers is to keep it simple. I recommend that my clients keep their commands simple and specific. For example, a good command would be “Living Room Close” or “Ryan’s Room Open”. By keeping the commands simple, they become easy for all users to remember. Making statements difficult can lead to users forgetting the commands and make the automated hubs ineffective and less user-friendly.

I’m concerned about the security of the device that will be used to operate my motorized treatments. How can I be sure that this technology is safe and won’t get hacked?

In spite of recent events showing us that there are vulnerabilities in technology, there are a number of safety nets that should put you at ease.  

First, there are systems where all actions and equipment are encrypted. This keeps them protected at a very high level. The software is constantly being updated, both so it performs at its best and security stays very strong. These updates are done wirelessly, are encrypted, and require no additional effort by the user.  

Like smartphones, many automation systems have privacy features that can be turned on and off. For example, some systems have an option for geolocation accessibility so my clients can have the motors go up or down based on sunrise and sunset. This location information is set to a low-precision value (specific to a city or region, for example, but not an address) so that the data is efficient while not being invasive. There are no logs kept of product usage. This feature can also be turned off.  

And finally, we can look for manufacturers who don’t monetize the data they get from smart home devices. Many companies these days will give you a low-cost product in exchange for your private information. Others will not ask for or collect personal data, which gives you the greatest option for protecting your data and home. This can (and should) be verified upfront if this is a major consideration.

I hope this has given you a better understanding of various aspects and considerations for the motorization of your window coverings. If you’re considering going this route, I’m always available for a consultation to help you determine the best kind of motorization for your needs, lifestyle, and goals. As you can see, it’s a very complicated process, but I can guide you to choosing the perfect motorization solution for what you envision. If this has sparked your interest, let’s talk more about motorization. You can choose a contact method right below this blog post, or click this “contact” link. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com And, of course, you can always call me anytime at (407) 743-2399.