Smart Home Gifts That Aren’t Gadgets: Motorized Shades for the Holidays

Written by Travis Ballenger
Smart HomeDecember 1, 20266 min read

Another speaker, another gadget, another charger in the junk drawer. If you want to give your household something everyone will use every single day, look at the windows.

The Short Answer
  • Motorized shades open, close, and follow a schedule on their own, so the house runs itself from sunrise to bedtime.
  • Wire-free rechargeable motors mean no new wiring for most existing homes. Hardwired options are best for new builds.
  • One hub, the Bond Bridge Pro, runs every shade from one app and works with the major voice assistants.

Why Shades Beat Another Gadget

Most smart home gifts get used for a week and then forgotten. Shades are different, because your windows are already part of every day. Motorized shades simply take a chore you already do, twice a day, in every room, and do it for you.

That matters more in Greater Houston than almost anywhere. The sun is strong most of the year, west-facing rooms heat up fast in the afternoon, and many homes in The Woodlands, Spring, and Montgomery have tall two-story windows that no one can reach without a ladder.

  • Used every day. Morning, afternoon, and night, by everyone in the house.
  • Nothing new to learn. Press a button, ask your voice assistant, or let the schedule handle it.
  • It protects what you already own. Closing shades during the hottest hours helps shield floors and furniture from the sun.
  • It solves the hard windows. High windows, wide patio doors, and heavy drapery become one-touch.
Interactive

Which Routines Would Your Home Use?

Tap everything that sounds like your house.

Wire-Free or Hardwired: Which Fits Your Home?

The first question most people ask is whether they need an electrician. For most existing homes, the answer is no.

Wire-free rechargeable

Lithium battery-powered Somfy motors are built into the shade, so there is nothing to run through your walls. They are the easiest way to add motorization to a home you already live in, and they only need an occasional recharge.

How Often to Charge

Raised and lowered once a day, most motors go about a year between charges. Plan on closer to nine months the first year, since everyone in the house may be learning or showing off their newest technology.

Hardwired

If you are building or remodeling, plan for hardwired or low-voltage motors before the drywall goes up. You never think about batteries, and the wiring is hidden for good. Our Somfy pre-wire guide walks your builder through exactly where every wire should go.

Houston Note

Just like in my new home, the late-afternoon sun is what makes my living and dining rooms uncomfortable and also over time will fade my furniture. So I set a schedule in the Bond app that lowers those shades every day at 3 PM.

One App, Not Five

A smart home only feels smart if it is simple. We connect motorized shades to a Bond Bridge Pro, a small hub that runs every shade in the house from one app and works with the major voice assistants and whole-home systems.

You can group shades by room, set schedules, and build scenes like “Good Morning” or “Movie Night” once, and they just keep working. If you already have a home automation system, we can coordinate with your integrator so the shades fit right in.

The best smart home gift is the one nobody has to think about.

More Than a Shade App

The Bond Bridge Pro runs more than your shades. One hub controls your interior shades and drapery, your MagnaTrack exterior screens, and compatible ceiling fans, lights, and fireplaces, all from the same app and the same voice commands.

Gift Tip

Custom shades are made to measure, so they are not something you can wrap and put under the tree. The gift is the consultation: we bring samples to your home, measure every window, and design the system around how your family actually lives.

Book early in the season if you want to plan around holiday guests.

Schedule a Free Consultation

Outdoor living space in Friendswood with recessed MagnaTrack Defender screens
From Our Projects

Motorized Shades & Screens in Friendswood

Friendswood, TX · Motorized shades & MagnaTrack Defender screens
“Absolutely very dependable, did an awesome job on our custom MagnaTrack screens for our back outdoor addition as well as our electric shades.”— Shannon & Scott Tracy, Friendswood, TX
See the project →

Frequently Asked Questions

Do motorized shades work with Alexa or Google?

Yes. A Bond Bridge Pro hub connects your shades to the major voice assistants and whole-home systems, so you can open and close them by voice.

Do I need an electrician for motorized shades?

Not for most existing homes. Wire-free rechargeable Somfy motors are built into the shade. Hardwired motors are a great choice for new construction and remodels.

Can I start with one room and add more later?

Yes. Many clients start with the room they use most, like the living room or primary bedroom, and add rooms over time on the same hub.

Can you motorize drapery too?

Yes. We motorize drapery as well as shades. See our drapery hardware page for motorized track and decorative options.

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Travis Ballenger