Motorised curtains in a smart home: what to plan early

In a smart home, motorised curtains open in the morning, close as the sun goes down and follow the same scene as the lights. For that to work, a few things have to be decided during the renovation: where the cable goes, where the motor sits, how it connects to the home network and which system controls it all. This guide covers what to plan and when, so that nobody has to open the ceiling or change equipment later.

How do motorised curtains work in a smart home?

The curtain hangs on a ceiling track with a motor fitted at one end. The motor pulls the gliders along the track and stops at set end positions. It is powered by a 230 V cable in the ceiling or by a built-in battery.

Control works on two levels. The remote talks to the motor directly by radio and the wall switch is wired to the motor's switch port (the Brel manuals), so neither needs the internet or a phone. The app, schedules and voice assistants need a Wi-Fi connection: either the motor has it (the BG-980), or a Brel Home Box hub connects the radio motors (BG-45, BGLE-980) to the home network. If the internet drops, the remote still works.

What should you decide while the renovation is under way?

1. 1Which windows get motorised curtains: usually the large, tall or hard-to-reach windows and the bedroom.
2. 2Where the track goes (on the ceiling or in a ceiling recess) and on which side of the window the motor sits.
3. 3Power: a 230 V cable to the top of the window or into the recess, 10–15 cm from its end, on the motor side.
4. 4Access to the motor: in a closed suspended ceiling, a 30 cm × 30 cm access hatch beneath it.
5. 5The position of a wall switch, if you do not want to rely on the remote or the phone alone.
6. 6Wi-Fi coverage at the windows: the home network has to reach the motors or the hub.

Cable or battery: which suits your home?

A wired motor is always ready, so it suits scenes that run every day: morning, evening, leaving the house. A battery motor suits a home that is already finished, but then the motor has to be easy to reach.

Which curtains suit a motorised track?

Wave heading suits a motorised track best. The curtain hangs on gliders at even spacing, so the motor pulls it evenly, and when it is open it stacks back into a narrow bundle. A wave heading takes 2.0× the track length in fabric.

• —Each track needs its own motor. If you hang a sheer and a lined curtain, you can motorise both layers or only one, usually the lined one.
• —For a heavy, long curtain, work out the weight in advance: for a Brel motor the maker gives up to 40 kg.
• —A very wide window can be split into two parts with two motors. The curtains then open faster and put less strain on the mechanism.
• —Leave 1–2 cm between the edge of the curtain and the floor, so that the fabric does not drag as it moves.

How does it work with Google, Alexa or another system?

Electric tracks are fitted with Brel Home motors. They are controlled by the Brel Home app over Wi-Fi, and the app can be linked to the Alexa, Google Home and Siri voice assistants. If the home already runs another system (Apple Home, KNX, Loxone or Home Assistant), check compatibility before ordering: it depends on the exact motor and hub model.

• —First decide which system will be the main one in the home, and only then choose the motors.
• —Professional systems such as KNX usually need a separate interface module. Discuss this with whoever designs the electrical system.
• —If the home already uses motors from another maker, Somfy for example, tell us in advance, and we will agree how the new curtains are controlled together with the existing equipment.
• —Do not buy a hub or an interface until it is clear which motors will be fitted.

Can curtains, roman blinds and roller blinds run on one system?

Yes, if all the motors are controlled from the same app or home system. One evening scene then closes the curtains in the living room, lowers the roman blinds in the kitchen and the roller blinds in the bedroom. When the motors come from different makers, check for each one that it connects to the same hub or system.

Which scenes should you set up?

• —Morning: the bedroom curtains open at a set time or at sunrise.
• —Evening: at dusk all the windows in the house close and the lights come on with them.
• —Away: the curtains open and close at different times, so that the house does not look empty.
• —Summer sun: windows on the south side are drawn during the hottest hours.
• —Film night: in the living room the lined curtains close and the sheers stay open.

How much do motorised curtains cost?

An electric track costs from €170 per metre, with fitting and programming. The shortest track, 160 cm with a single-sided Brel motor, costs €420, and a remote costs €74. For the app and voice assistants the motor connects to Wi-Fi: the Wi-Fi motor (BG-980) directly, a radio motor such as the battery BGLE-980 through a Brel Home Box hub. The curtains are made separately, in the fabric you choose. From order confirmation to fitting the track takes 1–2 weeks. The motors carry a 24-month warranty.

Frequently asked questions

Do motorised curtains work without the internet?

Yes. The remote controls the motor directly by radio and the wall switch is wired to the motor, so both work without the internet. The internet and a Wi-Fi connection (the motor's or a hub's) are needed only for the app, schedules and voice control.

Can motorised curtains be fitted without a new cable?

Yes, with a battery motor that is charged with the maker's charger. It suits a home that is already finished, but the battery has to be charged now and then, so the motor must be easy to reach.

Can motorised curtains be controlled by voice?

Yes. Through the Brel Home app, Brel motors answer Alexa, Google Home and Siri voice commands. For other systems we check compatibility before the order.

When is the best time to plan motorised curtains?

During the renovation, while the ceiling is still open: that is when the cable is run and the recess and access hatch are built. Later is possible too, but usually only with a battery motor.