Buyer's Guide
for electric blinds
Our electric blinds
Add an elegant yet cutting edge twist to your home with electric blinds from Blinds Direct, powered by Somfy. Now available in more styles than ever before, our comprehensive range of electric blinds offer luxury and convenience for an affordable price. Representing a significant move forward in the world of window furnishings, electric blinds are incredibly quick and easy to fit and set up, without the need for an electrician. Without cords, chains or clips of any kind, electric blinds are aesthetically pleasing and completely child safe, making them the perfect modern addition to any home!
Somfy Electric Blinds
Why buy electric blinds
Quick and simple to fit and setup with the need for an electrician.
Convenience: Control multiple electric blinds from one remote with the push of a button
Smart home integration with the Tahoma App and Somfy TaHoma Switch or Somfy Connectivity Kit.
Energy efficiency: Program to open and close at specific times, to regulate indoor temperature and save energy.
Enhanced privacy and security: Adjust them even when you're not at home Rechargeable batteries and no wiring required!
Available for a range of popular blind styles from Romans to rollers!
Styles of electric blinds
Electric roller blinds - Electric roller blinds are a stylish and exciting way of adding a futuristic twist to your decor. We offer electric options, or motorisation, on all of our roller blinds, but they also include other functional benefits including blackout, noise absorption, thermal and moisture proof to name but a few!
Electric Day & Night Blinds - Day & night blinds offer an ideal balance between light and privacy. These blinds feature alternating strips of fabric that slide against one another, allowing you to move between a block colour for privacy - and stripes that gently filter the light. Motorise your blinds and enjoy the perfect balance of light in a space as the sun moves throughout the day!
Electric Roman Blinds - Enjoy the twin benefits of traditional style and modern convenience with electric Roman blinds. Offering the neat, sleek style of Roman blinds and the technological edge of electric blinds, these window furnishings are the ideal choice for any modern home. Any Roman blind can be motorised so you don’t have to compromise on style.
Electric Day & Night Blinds - Day & night blinds offer an ideal balance between light and privacy. These blinds feature alternating strips of fabric that slide against one another, allowing you to move between a block colour for privacy - and stripes that gently filter the light. Motorise your blinds and enjoy the perfect balance of light in a space as the sun moves throughout the day!
Electric Roman Blinds - Enjoy the twin benefits of traditional style and modern convenience with electric Roman blinds. Offering the neat, sleek style of Roman blinds and the technological edge of electric blinds, these window furnishings are the ideal choice for any modern home. Any Roman blind can be motorised so you don’t have to compromise on style.
Electric Wooden Blinds - Bring the benefits of traditional wooden blinds to your window while improving the comfort of your home with electric wooden blinds. Available in a range of responsibly sourced natural woods and faux woods, you can learn more about the benefits of Wooden Blinds in the wooden blinds buyers guide
Electric Double Roller Blinds - Make the most of your relaxation spaces with quality electric double roller blinds. With a simple touch of a button on a multi-channel remote, you can effortlessly control either or both layers of your electric double roller blinds, raising or lowering them to find the ideal amount of natural light. What could be better?r
Electric Double Roller Blinds - Make the most of your relaxation spaces with quality electric double roller blinds. With a simple touch of a button on a multi-channel remote, you can effortlessly control either or both layers of your electric double roller blinds, raising or lowering them to find the ideal amount of natural light. What could be better?r
Get Smart! Maximise the convenience of electric blinds
There is a lot that you can do with simply your electric blinds and the remote control you select, but there is even more functionality available to you!
By adding a Somfy TaHoma Switch or Somfy Connectivity Kit, you can maximise the convenience and functionality of your electric blinds, enjoying further comfort and improved security.
A Connectivity Kit opens a world of possibilities, allowing you to control your blinds via the TaHoma app, or by voice with a compatible voice assistant, such as Alexa or Hey Google! You can control one or multiple blinds with ease, helping you relax in even greater comfort.
For the pinnacle of smart home technology, a Somfy TaHoma Switch lets you benefit from a fully customisable system, where you can create your own routines and control them with simplicity. Controlled via a smart control, app or voice, a Somfy TaHoma Switch will revolutionise your home for less than you might expect. Moreover, you have the freedom to schedule times for your blinds to open which is great for waking up with the sun in the summer or opening and closing your blinds while away improving your home’s security
By adding a Somfy TaHoma Switch or Somfy Connectivity Kit, you can maximise the convenience and functionality of your electric blinds, enjoying further comfort and improved security.
A Connectivity Kit opens a world of possibilities, allowing you to control your blinds via the TaHoma app, or by voice with a compatible voice assistant, such as Alexa or Hey Google! You can control one or multiple blinds with ease, helping you relax in even greater comfort.
For the pinnacle of smart home technology, a Somfy TaHoma Switch lets you benefit from a fully customisable system, where you can create your own routines and control them with simplicity. Controlled via a smart control, app or voice, a Somfy TaHoma Switch will revolutionise your home for less than you might expect. Moreover, you have the freedom to schedule times for your blinds to open which is great for waking up with the sun in the summer or opening and closing your blinds while away improving your home’s security
Connectivity comparison
| User features | Connectivity Kit | TaHoma Switch | |
|---|---|---|---|
| App | Tahoma app | ||
| Scenes | Control independent scenes or by group | ||
| Manual Scenes | |||
| Scheduled Scenes | |||
| Advanced Scenes | |||
| Scene capacity | 20 manual |
40 manual 20 scheduled 20 advanced |
|
| Home equipment compatabilities | Connectivity Kit | TaHoma Switch | |
| Capacity | 20 connected devices | > 200 connected devices | |
| Blinds Direct Electric Blinds | Roman Blinds | ||
| Roller Blinds | |||
| Double Roller Blinds | |||
| Wooden Blinds | |||
| Day & Night Blinds | |||
| Other Somfy operated devices / fixtures | Motors |
External roller shutters Garage doors |
External roller shutters Garage doors |
| Lighting | |||
| Cameras and alarms | |||
| Thermostat | |||
| Sensors | |||
| Protocols | See icons on Somfy table | See icons on Somfy table | |
| Compatible third party technologies / devices | Cloud | ||
| Local API | |||
| io-homecontrol | |||
| Philips Hue | |||
| Zigbee 3.0 | |||
| Voice assistants and user interfaces | Connectivity Kit | TaHoma Switch | |
| Voice asssistant | |||
| Other | Connectivity Kit | TaHoma Switch | |
| Back up in case of internet disconnection | Manual & scheduled scenes | ||
| Internal clock | |||
Accessorise your electric blinds
Beyond your remote control and either the TaHoma Switch or Connectivity Kit, there are some innovative, useful and energy saving accessories available for your electric blinds!
Somfy TaHoma Switch - Maximise your home comfort with this smart home system. Create schedules, configure events and control your smart devices through user-friendly buttons on the TaHoMA unit.
Somfy Connectivity Kit - Seamlessly connect to and and centralise control of your electric blinds via the TaHoma smartphone app and experience a new level of convenience with the Somfy Connectivity Kit.
Somfy WireFree LI-Ion Solar Panel - Use the power of the sun to charge any Somfy-powered electric blinds while helping to protect the environment and reduce your energy costs!
Somfy Smoove Origin RTS - Avoid the panic of misplacing your remote by adding a single channel wall mounted control to your room.
Somfy Smoove Origin 4 RTS - Enjoy the benefits of a wall mounted control that can control multiple electric blinds either individually or in unison making life even easier!
Somfy Situo RTS - Take charge of your Somfy-powered devices with ease with this ergonomically designed single channel remote control.
Somfy Situo 1 RTS Pure II - Upgrade the style of your remote control and enjoy the added benefit of a sleek integrated wall mount!
Somfy Situo 5 RTS Pure II - Enjoy a sleek remote control featuring an innovative integrated wall mount with capacity for up to five channels!
Somfy External Li-Ion Battery Pack - Prevent unexpected power loss for your Somfy-powered electric wooden or Roman blinds by having a spare external Li-Ion battery pack on hand. Please note that this battery pack is not compatible with electric roller blinds.
Somfy Li-Ion Charger UK Plug - A universal charger for all styles of any Somfy-powered electric blinds featuring a 2.4m charge cable for easy access.
Somfy TaHoma Switch - Maximise your home comfort with this smart home system. Create schedules, configure events and control your smart devices through user-friendly buttons on the TaHoMA unit.
Somfy Connectivity Kit - Seamlessly connect to and and centralise control of your electric blinds via the TaHoma smartphone app and experience a new level of convenience with the Somfy Connectivity Kit.
Somfy WireFree LI-Ion Solar Panel - Use the power of the sun to charge any Somfy-powered electric blinds while helping to protect the environment and reduce your energy costs!
Somfy Smoove Origin RTS - Avoid the panic of misplacing your remote by adding a single channel wall mounted control to your room.
Somfy Smoove Origin 4 RTS - Enjoy the benefits of a wall mounted control that can control multiple electric blinds either individually or in unison making life even easier!
Somfy Situo RTS - Take charge of your Somfy-powered devices with ease with this ergonomically designed single channel remote control.
Somfy Situo 1 RTS Pure II - Upgrade the style of your remote control and enjoy the added benefit of a sleek integrated wall mount!
Somfy Situo 5 RTS Pure II - Enjoy a sleek remote control featuring an innovative integrated wall mount with capacity for up to five channels!
Somfy External Li-Ion Battery Pack - Prevent unexpected power loss for your Somfy-powered electric wooden or Roman blinds by having a spare external Li-Ion battery pack on hand. Please note that this battery pack is not compatible with electric roller blinds.
Somfy Li-Ion Charger UK Plug - A universal charger for all styles of any Somfy-powered electric blinds featuring a 2.4m charge cable for easy access.
How to motorise your blinds
Motorising your blinds couldn't be simpler. Once you’ve found the perfect blind for your home, you can simply select the motorisation option on the right hand side of the page! Once your order arrives, you can easily pair your blinds to your remote and, if you’ve purchased one, wall switch too.
If you invest in a Somfy TaHoma Switch or Somfy Connectivity Kit, your new electric blinds can also be controlled via your smartphone, with free apps available for iOS and Android, and voice control through Hey Google or Amazon Alexa. The flexibility enables you to set timers to open or close your blinds while away from home - at work or on holiday, providing you with peace of mind and extra security for your home
If you invest in a Somfy TaHoma Switch or Somfy Connectivity Kit, your new electric blinds can also be controlled via your smartphone, with free apps available for iOS and Android, and voice control through Hey Google or Amazon Alexa. The flexibility enables you to set timers to open or close your blinds while away from home - at work or on holiday, providing you with peace of mind and extra security for your home
How To Measure For Electric Blinds
Measuring a window for electric blinds is as simple as 1,2,3. Here you can find all our useful advice for both Recess and Exact options.
Inside Recess (RECESS SIZE) – YIf your blind is to fit within the window recess, you’ll need this measurement. To begin with, measure the drop and width from three positions and supply the smallest size. Once we have your measurements, our team will make the required deductions to ensure the blind fits seamlessly within the window’s recess.
Outside Recess (EXACT SIZE) – AFor a blind that will sit outside of the window’s recess, you’ll need to provide an exact size measurement. Firstly, decide how much you’d like the blind to overlap the recess - on both sides, top and bottom - we recommend 7.5cm each as a minimum. Secondly, measure the width and drop in three positions and again, provide the smallest measurement. If you’re uncertain about measuring for your blinds, add our Surefit guarantee, for further peace of mind.
Inside Recess (RECESS SIZE) – YIf your blind is to fit within the window recess, you’ll need this measurement. To begin with, measure the drop and width from three positions and supply the smallest size. Once we have your measurements, our team will make the required deductions to ensure the blind fits seamlessly within the window’s recess.
Outside Recess (EXACT SIZE) – AFor a blind that will sit outside of the window’s recess, you’ll need to provide an exact size measurement. Firstly, decide how much you’d like the blind to overlap the recess - on both sides, top and bottom - we recommend 7.5cm each as a minimum. Secondly, measure the width and drop in three positions and again, provide the smallest measurement. If you’re uncertain about measuring for your blinds, add our Surefit guarantee, for further peace of mind.
How To Fit Electric Blinds
Fitting your new electric blind is much easier than you may expect! The only additional tools you’ll require are a drill, cross-head screwdriver, a pin for reaching small “prog” buttons on the remote and motor, and a pencil.
Beyond that, to fit your electric blinds, follow the standard steps for fitting your style of blind.
How to connect electric blinds to remote operation
Once you’ve fitted your electric blinds, you can then begin the process of connecting your blinds to your chosen remotes. You can connect multiple electric blinds to a single channel on your remote, and there are cool accessories including wall switches too! The process is very simple and quick to complete and you can find all the information you need to set up your electric blinds below
Powered by Somfy
Our range of electric blinds, and the amazing accessories we have available, are powered by Somfy. Somfy has spent the last 50 years assisting and making life easier for millions of users around the world. Day after day, the company imagines for and with customers the home of tomorrow, more comfortable, more responsible and safer. Somfy creates new solutions that are reliable and sustainable, improving life and well-being
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