Anyone who’s stood on a step stool to reach a skylight curtain wand knows the feeling. So does wrestling a wide curtain into place before guests arrive. Manual curtains have their limits, especially when windows are high, hard to reach or cover large areas. Motorised curtains Melbourne homeowners are choosing can make these awkward windows much easier to manage, while also giving you more control over how and when your curtains open and close.

A button, wall switch or scheduled setting can do the work without you having to walk across the room each time. Depending on the system, you can also control curtains individually or manage several at once. But convenience is only one part of the decision. Before choosing motorised curtains for your home, it helps to understand how they work, what installation involves and which features will actually suit your space.

At its simplest, a motorised curtain runs on a small electric motor fitted to the track. The motor takes over the job of opening and closing the curtain. It drives the fabric open or shuts on its own. Power comes from a rechargeable battery or a hardwired connection. Battery systems are usually the simpler retrofit for an existing home. There’s no wiring to run.

A hardwired setup usually gets planned during a renovation or new build. Many systems can be operated with a handheld remote, while others add app, wall-switch or voice control. Scheduling and multi-room control usually come through the app when included.

A single motorised track is one option. A full smart-home setup is another. Both are options offered by suppliers of automated curtains in Melbourne. Considering smart curtains that homeowners in Melbourne can control from their phones, app and voice controls are common additions. Which end of that range suits you depend on how much control you want.

There’s also a safety upside to losing the cord.

Pull cords and chains have been linked to child strangulation incidents in Australia. Motorised curtains can eliminate the need for an accessible operating cord, which can help reduce one potential hazard around young children. Pets can also catch, chew or play with accessible cords, potentially damaging the covering or creating a hazard. Motorisation removes the need for an accessible operating cord, reducing one potential hazard around children and pets.

Scheduled curtain movements can make a home appear occupied when you’re away. A motorised system can move curtains at roughly the times you normally would. That keeps a pattern going while you’re at work, travelling or away for weeks. It’s a small deterrent rather than a substitute for proper home-security measures. Locks, alarms and other measures still do the heavy lifting.

Curtains affect two different things, summer heat gain and winter heat loss. In Melbourne, the amount of direct summer sun a window receives depends on its orientation. North-facing windows could receive strong sunlight, while east- and west-facing windows may receive intense low-angle sun. Closing curtains there before the afternoon peak can ease how hot a room gets.  

The same curtains, if reasonably insulated, help hold warmth in during colder months. Opening them on sunny winter mornings lets in some free warmth instead. Actual performance depends on glazing type, orientation, shading and fabric. It’s one part of a home’s thermal performance, not a fix on its own.

Plenty of windows were never designed with hand operation in mind. A skylight two storeys up is one example. So is a floor-to-ceiling pane behind a couch. A curtain wide enough to stretch unevenly when pulled by hand is another. A cord or wand was a poor fit for these from the start. This is one reason electric curtains that apartment owners in Melbourne choose can be a practical alternative to manual tracks. The motor covers the distance and weight evenly, no matter how the window sits in the room. Climbing and stretching to reach an awkward curtain becomes unnecessary.

Getting a motorised curtain installed comes down to a few practical choices. Power is the first one.

Cost is worth weighing either way. Motorised curtain installation generally costs more than a comparable manual track. You’re paying for the motor, controls and, where required, electrical work. It helps to know upfront which system fits your budget and window.

Motorised curtains aren’t the right call for every window in a house. For a few situations, they’re worth serious consideration.

• Choose motorisation for high, wide or frequently used windows.
• Consider battery power for retrofit situations.
• Consider a hardwired system during a renovation or new build.
• Prioritise insulated fabric where thermal performance matters most.
• Get a professional measurement for large or unusual windows.

Ravi Blinds measures, makes and installs custom window coverings for homes across Melbourne. Its range includes motorised curtains, blinds, plantation shutters and outdoor blinds. Every curtain is custom- made to the window rather than cut to a standard size. That’s backed by a 7-yea r warranty. Ravi Blinds is also an authorised Norman® retail partner, for anyone after that specific brand.

If you’re weighing up motorised curtains for your own home in Melbourne, the team can help. A free in-home measure and quote covers which windows would benefit most. The team can also recommend whether a battery-powered or hardwired setup makes more sense for your space.

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