Best Smart Shades, Blinds, and Curtains (2026): Motorized, Tailor-Made, and More

Automated motorized shades may sound frivolous, but they offer practical benefits.

Beyond scheduling and voice commands, you can enjoy greater privacy, regulate the temperature by keeping the sun out or the heat in, and be gently awakened by natural light.

But even our favorite smart shades have their pitfalls, so check out my tips at the end so you can avoid them.

Note: I list starting prices here, but these always rise substantially when you begin to customize your shades.

Updated April 2026: I added PowerShades, honorable mentions for Kincmo, Weffort, and Brignnox, longer-term impressions for some entries, and a note on brands to the FAQ.

I also removed discontinued products and updated prices.

I've used Lutron's pricey made-to-measure Serena shades in my living room for more than a year—they were simple to install and set up, and I have never had a single connectivity issue.

They reliably open and close twice a day, 30 minutes after sunrise and sunset.

But I don't think you need to go for the Serena series anymore, now that Lutron has introduced the cheaper Caseta smart shades .

For a choice of understated, Scandi-style shades, Swedish OmniaBlinds offers a lovely range of fabrics named after world cities.

My review shade was the textured and translucent Panama fabric in light gray.

This shade affords privacy but allows some light through when the shade is closed, which was perfect for my kitchen.

OmniaBlinds also offers blackout shades, and you can request free fabric samples before you buy.

I tried a made-to-measure shade fitted in my kitchen window frame with two brackets screwed into the PVC frame to hold the shade securely in place.

A USB-C port at one end enables you to recharge the shade, and a handy beaded pull cord opens and closes it.

I love the look of this shade, and little details like the black brackets, cord, and cylinder weight on the bottom add a touch of class.

Over a few months, I have had no issues with the OmniaBlinds shade.

They have stayed connected, and both automation and voice control work perfectly.

The battery is supposed to last up to a year (mine is still going strong).

There aren’t as many customization options as some other shades, though this makes ordering straightforward, and the only thing I missed was a valance option for the top (you will want a snug fit to avoid light leakage).

This shade can also be a little noisy when opening or closing, up to around 60 decibels.

Prices are relatively high, starting from around $350.

With a similarly enormous range of shades and finishes, Canisteo is a slightly more budget-friendly option than SmartWings.

I decided to test a dual shade for the bedroom, which includes a blackout shade to keep things dark at night and a translucent, light-filtering inner shade for a softer, diffused light during the day.

It’s a versatile combo that I highly recommend, but it does almost double your costs.

These shades came with special brackets, and it was seriously fiddly to slide them into place.

Thankfully, once in, you shouldn’t need to touch them again.

There’s a USB-C port and control button at one end, and the Matter code is on the weighted strip at the bottom of each shade.

This strip is quite large and has the Canisteo logo on one side, which I do not like, but I appreciate the brush strip on the bottom to prevent any sound when it touches down on your windowsill.

There’s an optional metal cassette valance that you can slide over the top for a neat finish and to block any light leakage.

I have only had these shades for a couple of weeks, but so far, so good.

They respond to voice controls and open and close on schedule.

The battery life is supposed to be between four and six months, and you can buy a solar panel to stick to your window if you don’t want to have to plug in.

Operation is impressively quiet (I measured 46 decibels), and I can sleep through this shade opening.

These are some of the most affordable custom-fit smart shades on the market, starting from around $120.

PowerShades stands out for a couple of reasons.

First, it is a US company that develops its products and manufactures them in the United States.

Second, it offers an excellent range of options, so you can tailor your shades to your exact specifications.

I like that the company offers Power over Ethernet (PoE) shades as an option, enabling you to install a single cable for reliable power and internet connection, but hardwired shades are tricky to set up.

I tested some regular battery-powered wireless smart shades.

I got a set of three shades for a bay window, and they were easy to install and work very reliably, with a handy remote that can control the shades separately or as a group.

Battery life is reasonably good.

(I had to charge after two months.) I used a power bank, and the shades have a clever magnetic charging connection that is far easier to hook up than a standard USB port.

They are also reasonably quiet at around 40 decibels.

Unfortunately, the software is not user-friendly, and the business model is a little old-fashioned.

You tailor and set everything up when you buy and, in theory, never have to think about it again.

But if you want to tinker or change your routine, it’s not as straightforward as I would like.

I needed a hub connected via Ethernet to set up automations, and I had to talk to someone at PowerShades to get them working.

The shades are also relatively expensive.

If you want to try them, you’ll need to find a dealer near you.

Best Adjustable Size Smart Shades
Measuring up accurately and ordering bespoke window treatments can be tricky and expensive.

If you mess up your measurements, you end up with window shades you can’t use or gaps that let natural light pour in.

SwitchBot’s answer is DIY window shades that you can adjust for a perfect fit.

The SwitchBot Roller Shades come in four different size ranges, covering windows from 22.8 to 72.8 inches.

I tested the Large (43.3 to 55.1 inches) model.

The sleek aluminum enclosure can be adjusted, and the 100 percent blackout fabric can be cut, so you can fit the shade to the exact size you want.

It’s a finicky process, but SwitchBot provides most of what you need, including a fabric cutter, stapler, and screwdriver.

Follow the instructions very carefully (I recommend reading everything and watching the video all the way through before you begin), take your time, and you can install these in an hour or so.

They only come in gray or white, but you can replace the fabric.

The adjustability is good, but the bottom bar doesn't look as neat as custom shades and the top section of this shade is big and blocky.

Best Retrofit for Roller Blinds
Because you can pair the Eve MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit with any roller, you can get the exact size, color, and finish you want.

A few suppliers ship the Eve MotionBlinds ready fitted into their made-to-measure shades or blinds.

While the pull chain is much easier than trying to fumble with a tiny button, the shade occasionally catches on it when closing.

It is also quite noisy in operation, sometimes going above 60 decibels, which is enough to wake you.

Best Retrofit for Venetian Blinds
Folks with venetian blinds can use this clever gadget from SwitchBot to add automation and remote controls.

Provided you have horizontal blinds with a rotary control rod, you can fit the SwitchBot Blind Tilt yourself, but I recommend watching the instructional video , as it can be fiddly.

You get a solar panel in the box that can go behind the blinds to keep the battery topped up.

It connects to the SwitchBot app on your phone via Bluetooth to set the Blind Tilt function up and to set your preferred positions and schedules.

There is a built-in light sensor, so you can have the blinds close automatically when the sun is shining.

The SwitchBot Blind Tilt is quite chunky and only comes in white, which is fine if your blinds are white, but stands out like a sore thumb otherwise.

You also have to run a cable from it to the solar panel, which doesn’t look great from the outside of your chosen window.

Normal operation is speedy and not terribly loud (around 50 decibels), but there is a quiet mode that moves slowly and keeps the volume under 35 decibels.

Because Bluetooth is a bit slow and flaky, a hub is advisable for the best performance, but that adds to the cost.

Combining drapes and shades is a great way to achieve total darkness in a bedroom, and you can automate your curtains too.

The SwitchBot Curtain 3 comes in a few varieties for rod or U-rail curtains.

I tested the rod version with my bedroom curtains and was surprised to find how well it works.

You can chart SwitchBot’s progress in our reviews from the original Curtain (4/10, WIRED Review) through the SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) .

The third time's the charm with the SwitchBot Curtain 3, which addresses all my complaints about the earlier versions.

Installation is easy, but take your time and make sure to fit the curtain beading for spacing and the magnetic stickers that mark the endpoints for your curtains to be closed.

If your curtains open in the middle, you will need two SwitchBot Curtain 3 devices.

I tested them with the new solar panels ($26) , which clip into place (the old ones relied on adhesive and tended to fall off after a short time).

Other improvements with the Curtain 3 include “QuietDrift,” which keeps the volume below 25 decibels (I can sleep through this).

What Do You Need to Know Before Buying Smart Shades?

Tailor-Made vs.

Off-the-Shelf : Few things look smarter than perfectly fitted shades in a window frame, and few things look worse than shades that don’t quite fit.

If you’re lucky enough to have window sizes that match the exact proportions of off-the-shelf shades then go for it, but most folks will be better served by going the made-to-order route.

The downside is that tailor-made options are always going to be more expensive.

Measure Properly : Look at your chosen manufacturer’s website to find their measuring guide and take your time.

You should measure, measure, and measure again, then ask someone else to measure and compare your results.

The only way to avoid unsightly gaps or the horrible discovery that your shade is just a bit too wide for the space is to measure up properly.

This is less of an issue if you decide to go the outside mount route.

Inside or Outside Mount : For the cleanest look, you should install your shades or blinds in the window frame.

Measure the depth and account for window handles or anything else that might collide with the shade.

Think about where you can drill holes to fit the mounting brackets and whether your chosen spot can handle the weight of a shade.

An outside mount doesn’t look as good, but it is easier to install and can cover the window completely to block more light.

Inside-mounted shades always have small gaps that light can get through.

If you are after a pitch-dark bedroom, combining inside mount shades with curtains is the best way to go.

Material and Finish : You can get shades and blinds in so many different styles.

Take your time choosing the material and color you want and think about the opacity.

If you just want a privacy shade for a street-facing living room, then choose something that lets a lot of light through.

If you’re trying to conserve or block heat or reduce noise, a thicker shade can help.

For the neatest look, it’s worth thinking about a valance that will cover the top of the shade (some manufacturers offer these as an added extra).

Power : Smart shades and retrofit smart blinds and curtains all require power.

Most come with a rechargeable battery and they can generally be charged in situ with a long enough cable (if you don’t have an outlet close, use a power bank ).

Some shades take standard batteries you can swap in and out, though we recommend rechargeable batteries for these.

Small solar panels are another common option that will keep your shades topped up, but you might not like how they look from the outside.

In any case, always fully charge the battery before installation.

Automation : The number one reason to get smart shades is automation, so make sure you research what is possible when shopping.

While any smart shade can be automated to open and close at set times, some can adjust to close at sunset and open at sunrise.

You can also have motion sensors to trigger some shades to open when you walk into the room in the morning, or have your shades close automatically when a certain temperature is reached in the room.

You may need some extra gadgets for more complex automation.

Having tested several smart shade brands now, it’s clear that many have virtually identical designs, use the same internal motors and control systems, and give you the same choice of fabrics and styles.

SmartWings, Yoolax, Kincmo, Weffort, and Bringnox have a lot in common.

Sometimes all that’s different is the brand name and software.

I recommend running through the customization process for each brand to find out how much your tailored shade will cost and then just go with the best price.

We have tested a few other smart shades and retrofit devices.

Here are a few that narrowly missed out on a place above.

Ryse SmartShade for $200 : This is a retrofit gadget to convert any roller shade with a beaded chain into a smart shade.

It’s easy to fit, but you will need a roller shade with an uninterrupted chain because a plastic spacer joining the two ends of a chain can cause problems (my chain came apart), and it’s noisy in operation.

The removable battery pack is a smart idea, but if you want to remote control the shade from your phone, you must be in Bluetooth range.

To get scheduling and voice controls, you need to buy the Ryse SmartBridge ($50) , and I had issues with connectivity dropping in and out.

After testing a couple of these retrofit designs for the beaded chain roller blinds (I also tested the Aqara E1) and having problems both times, I can’t recommend them.

This one is also way too expensive.

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