Motorized shades aren't one product. They're a combination of three decisions: the motor system, the control platform, and the shade fabric. Most buying frustration comes from picking the shade fabric first (which is what most retail websites show) and then trying to retrofit a motor and control system that fits. The order should be the opposite. This guide walks through the decisions in the right sequence.
Battery or hardwired?
Choose hardwired
When the walls are open (new construction, major remodel, or a renovation where the wiring can be added). No battery to recharge or replace, indefinite operation, default for whole-home systems.
Choose battery
When retrofitting an existing home. Running new low-voltage to a window in a finished wall often requires drywall work more disruptive than the shade install itself. Battery packs are accessible at the headrail.
Decision 2: Control platform.
The control platform is what runs the scenes, schedules, integrations with voice assistants, and ongoing service. Three platforms dominate residential motorized shading.
Lutron Caséta
Wireless, entry-tier, app-controlled. Good for retrofits and partial-home systems.
Lutron RadioRA 3
Wireless, professional-tier with keypad control. For larger homes wanting room-level scenes.
Lutron HomeWorks QS / Sivoia QS
Wired, top-tier. For new construction and whole-home automation projects.
Somfy
Reliable motors and a control hub (TaHoma). Good for single-room installs where lighting integration isn't a priority. Less common in luxury whole-home projects.
Hunter Douglas PowerView
Hunter Douglas's proprietary motorization for HD shades. App and remote control via Pebble Pro. Often integrated into broader Lutron systems on larger projects.
Lutron vs Somfy
We've written a detailed comparison covering when each platform makes sense.
Pick the motor and control platform first. Only after that should you pick the fabric.
Decision 3: Shade fabric.
Only after picking the motor and control should you pick the fabric. The fabric depends on what the shade has to do in the room.
Solar shades
In 1%, 3%, 5%, or 10% openness factors. Glare control without losing the view. Best for west- and south-facing glass.
Light-filtering
For daytime privacy with soft diffused light. Good in living rooms and dining rooms.
Blackout
For bedrooms and theaters. Side and top channels recommended for true blackout.
Dual roller
With both solar and blackout in one pocket. Common in primary bedrooms with views.
Cellular / honeycomb
For thermal performance. Hunter Douglas Duette is the standard.
Roman
For soft fabric layering. Hunter Douglas Vignette and Pirouette are common.
Sheer shading
Hunter Douglas Silhouette for filtered light with privacy.
Scenes and programming.
The thing that turns motorized shades from a luxury into a daily convenience is scenes. A scene is a saved combination of shade positions (and lighting, if integrated) that the system runs on command or on a schedule.
Morning
Shades raise at sunrise plus a per-room offset.
Glare control
Solar shades drop automatically when direct sun hits west glass. The astronomical timeclock built into Lutron and HD PowerView adjusts the schedule daily.
Entertaining
Sheers down, blackouts up, accent lighting on.
Cinema
All blackouts down, full dim.
Goodnight
Bedroom blackouts down, all other shades down.
What this typically costs.
We don't publish prices because the right number depends on the system tier, the shade type, the fabric, the number of openings, the motor count, and whether the home is wired or wireless. We walk through ranges at the consultation so you know what you're committing to.
Motorization premium
Motorization typically adds 30-60% to the cost of an equivalent manual shade install.
What that covers
The motor, the controller, the programming, the install labor (more involved than manual), and the ongoing service that keeps the system working over years of use.
More on motorized shading.
Motorized shades in Orange County
Service overview for motorized shading installations across OC.
Explore →Lutron installer in Orange County
Lutron Platinum Dealer service for whole-home shading and lighting.
Explore →Hunter Douglas dealer in Orange County
Authorized dealer for the full Hunter Douglas motorized line.
Explore →Lutron vs Somfy comparison
Side-by-side on when each platform makes sense.
Explore →Call (949) 407-9114 to schedule a complimentary consultation. We walk through the three decisions (motor, platform, fabric) in your home with your actual windows. We're a Lutron Platinum Dealer and authorized Hunter Douglas dealer, which means we can spec and program a single-brand or hybrid system (including HD shades on Lutron motors through the Triathlon program) depending on what fits.
Start with a walkthrough.
Schedule a complimentary in-home consultation. We design, source, and install across Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Corona del Mar, Laguna, San Clemente, and the rest of Orange County.