Author: Jegor Janockin
Reviewed by: Curtain.lt editorial team
Last updated:
Motorised roman blinds: motors, power and when they pay off
A motorised roman blind has a motor built into the headrail, and the chain gives way to a remote, an app or a voice command. A manual roman blind cannot be converted: it needs a new mechanism, not just a motor added to it. This guide compares the motors from Somfy and Brel and weighs a battery motor against a wired one.
Motor makers: how Somfy and Brel differ
Somfy (France) and Brel are the two motor makers compared here. The choice depends on budget, how often the blinds are used and how long you expect them to last:
| Maker | Price range | Main advantages | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Somfy (France) | Higher | The widest smart-home control, through its own hub (TaHoma, bought separately); quiet running | Higher price; the TaHoma hub is an extra |
| Brel | Middle | A European maker; the same mechanism is used in day and night roman blinds; good balance of price and quality | A smaller smart-home ecosystem than Somfy |
Our suggestion
If the Somfy price seems too high but you do not want the cheapest option, Brel is a sensible middle: a European maker, reliable quality, a fair price. Choose Somfy when wide smart-home control matters or the blinds will be in heavy commercial use.
Battery or wired motor: an honest comparison
This is one of the questions asked most often when choosing motorised roman blinds. Each option has real advantages and limits, and it helps to know them before you decide:
| Point | Battery (rechargeable) | Wired (mains power) |
|---|---|---|
| Price difference | The motor itself costs more, but no electrician is needed | The blind itself costs less, but an electrician's work is added |
| Fitting | Simple: no cables to run; suits renovated flats | Needs a power point by the window or cables run through the ceiling or wall |
| Charging | About every 6 months (depends on the weight of the fabric and how often it is used) | None: powered from the mains all the time |
| Scale | 1–3 blinds: an easy routine. 6–8 or more: each one has to be charged separately, which becomes a chore | Best for all the blinds at once: none has to be charged |
| Old renovated flat | Fits with no extra electrical work | You need to check there is a power point at every window |
The problem of charging many blinds
A battery motor on one or two bedroom windows is convenient and easy to manage. But anyone fitting 6–8 motorised blinds in every room should know that each one has to be charged on its own, and different blinds run down at different rates. A wired motor does not have this problem, so choose one once there are more than 4 motorised blinds.
Can a manual roman blind be converted to a motorised one?
No. This is asked often, and the answer is clear. A motorised roman blind has a different cassette and a different internal structure from a manual one: the motor is not an add-on that can be pushed into an existing mechanism. Going from manual to motorised means a complete replacement: a new mechanism, a new cassette and often a new fabric.
What this means in practice
If you plan motorised roman blinds, the best time to decide is when a new flat is being fitted out or renovated, so that power points can go in at once and you avoid extra cost later. Replacing a manual blind that is already fitted with a motorised one means replacing the whole blind.
How motorised roman blinds are controlled
- Remote control: supplied with the set; works without the internet, up to 20 m away.
- Phone app (iOS and Android): control from anywhere with an internet connection.
- Voice commands: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Siri (through HomeKit).
- Wall switch: a physical alternative for family members who would rather not use an app.
- Somfy TaHoma hub: central control of all the blinds, with scenes and automation.
The smoothest smart-home setup is with a Somfy motor: its TaHoma system works directly with Alexa, Google Home and Apple HomeKit. Brel motors can be connected too; whether an extra hub is needed depends on the type of motor. Check that the motor works with the system you already use before you buy.
What can be automated
- Schedules: the blinds open in the morning and close in the evening at set times.
- Sunrise and sunset triggers: the system follows the sun for your location.
- Scenes: "Leaving" (all close), "Film night" (darkens, with the lighting), "Morning" (opens gradually).
- Temperature sensors: on hot days the blinds close by themselves and cut the heat coming through the glass.
When are motorised roman blinds worth it?
- Tall or hard-to-reach windows (an upper floor, over a staircase, high ceilings).
- A bedroom: opening automatically with the sunrise replaces an alarm clock.
- A smart-home system: if you already have Alexa, Google or Apple HomeKit, the blinds join it.
- Four or more roman blinds in one flat: one button for all of them saves time every day.
- Limited mobility: a remote or voice commands give independence.
When motorised roman blinds do not pay off
- A limited budget: a motorised mechanism makes each blind dearer, and over several windows the extra soon adds up. Ask for a quote with the manual and the motorised version side by side: if everyday comfort does not justify the difference, a good manual mechanism is the better buy.
- An old flat with no power points at the windows (wired motor): an electrician has to run a cable, which means extra cost and work. A battery motor solves that, but you have to remember to charge it.
- Occasional use: a motorised system wears more slowly, but the mechanism needs looking after. A manual system is simpler and lasts longer when it is used rarely.
- No smart-home system, and none planned: Somfy's main advantage falls away, and a wired Brel motor gives the same everyday comfort at a lower price.
See the motorised roman blind options
Prices worked out for your number of windows and your smart-home setup. Measuring is free in Vilnius. In Kaunas and Klaipėda it is free on orders of €200 or more. Elsewhere in Lithuania the visit is paid, and the price is agreed beforehand.
Motorised roman blinds: all the options