Are Motorized Shades Worth It? An Honest Look for Utah Homes
By Braxton Hatch, TruShade 6 min read
Motorized shades used to feel like a luxury for big custom homes. Today they’re one of the most common things people ask us about, especially in newer homes across Utah County and the Salt Lake valley with two-story great rooms and walls of glass.
They aren’t the right choice for every window. Here’s where motorization is worth it, where a good cordless shade does the job just as well, and what to ask before you decide.
Where motorized shades are worth it
- Tall and hard-to-reach windows. Two-story great rooms, high transoms and windows behind a tub or kitchen sink. If you’d need a ladder or a long wand to reach it, motorization is usually the single best upgrade you can make.
- Big banks of glass. A wall of five or six shades in a living room is a chore to adjust one by one. Grouped motorized shades move together with one tap, so they all line up evenly every time.
- Sunny west and south windows. Utah’s strong afternoon sun heats rooms and fades floors and furniture. A schedule can lower the shades during the hottest hours and raise them again in the evening, even when no one is home.
- Homes with young kids or pets. There are no cords or chains to hang down, which is one of the safest setups you can have around little ones.
- Bedrooms and media rooms. Lower blackout shades from bed or the couch, or set them to open slowly with your morning alarm.
Where you may not need it
A small bathroom window, a laundry room or a bedroom window you open once in the morning and close once at night is easy to reach and rarely adjusted. A quality cordless shade works great there and keeps more of your budget for the windows that matter.
Many of our customers mix the two: motorized in the great room and other tall or sunny windows, cordless everywhere else, in the same fabric and color so the whole house still matches.
How motorized shades are powered
- Rechargeable battery motors. The most common choice for existing homes. No wiring or drywall work is needed, and the motor recharges with a simple cable.
- Hardwired motors. A good fit for new builds and remodels, when the electrician can run power to the windows before the walls are closed. You never think about charging.
If you’re building in Lehi, Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain or anywhere else, the best time to plan for motorized shades is before drywall, so wiring can go exactly where it’s needed.
Ways to control them
- Handheld remote or wall switch. Simple, and great for guests and kids.
- Phone app. Control any shade or group of shades from anywhere.
- Schedules. Open at sunrise, close against the afternoon sun, and close at dusk for privacy.
- Voice and smart-home. Depending on the system, shades can work with popular voice assistants and smart-home setups you may already use.
What to ask before you buy
- Which windows really need it? A good consultant should help you motorize where it counts, not everywhere.
- Battery or hardwired? And how does charging work for the shades you’re getting?
- What controls are included? Remote, app hub, wall switch, or all three?
- Who handles setup? Programming groups and schedules should be part of the installation.
- What’s the motor warranty? Ask who stands behind it, and for how long.
Already have a quote?
Send it to us before you sign. With our Price Beat Guarantee, we’ll beat a comparable written quote by $500 on 5+ windows or by $1,000 on 10+ windows. We’ll measure for free, confirm the product match, and give you our price in writing.
Common questions
Are motorized shades worth the extra cost?
For tall, hard-to-reach, very sunny or frequently adjusted windows, most homeowners find they are. For small windows you rarely adjust, a quality cordless shade usually makes more sense. Mixing the two is common.
Do motorized shades need to be wired?
No. Most shades in existing homes use rechargeable battery motors with no wiring. Hardwired motors are a great option for new builds and remodels.
Can I add motorized shades to just a few windows?
Yes. Many homes motorize only the great room or tall windows and use matching cordless shades everywhere else.
What kinds of shades can be motorized?
Roller, solar, honeycomb (cellular) and zebra shades are all commonly motorized, in light-filtering and blackout fabrics.
