SmartWings shades are the accessory I didn’t know I needed for my streaming setup
SmartWings shades are the accessory I didn’t know I needed for my streaming setup
Motorized shades aren’t essential (or cheap!) until you see how much they improve everyday streaming.
I keep looking for newer, cooler ways to outfit my streaming setup (and my entire smart home), but I often run into different versions of the same products I don’t really need. I had long considered adding shades to a few of my rooms, mainly to help darken the bedroom, where I often lazily watch movies.
In the midst of my ongoing pursuit, late last year, I added SmartWings motorized shades to my home, and they’ve quickly proven how much control over light can change the streaming experience. Whether it’s cutting glare during daytime sports, creating a pitch-dark room for movie nights, or automating everything so the room adjusts itself, these shades feel purpose-built for people who care about how and when they watch. They’re subtle, but they make a premium setup feel truly finished.
Everything you need to know about SmartWings
What is SmartWings?
SmartWings offers a variety of motorized shades and blinds that can be fully customized in style and fabric, down to size and color. There are plenty from which to choose — roller, cellular, and zebra shades to start — and the customization options are more than one would expect. Honestly, the most grueling part of the process is ordering — which isn’t necessarily a bad thing — but it’s also well worth it in the end.
The buying process
Where SmartWings immediately stands out is in the buying process — and it’s extensive. These are fully custom, made-to-order shades, and nearly every detail is decided upfront, so make sure you’re comfy and have plenty of time to get things squared away. It starts with precise measurements, which can be inside- or outside-mount depending on the window and the look you’re going for. If you’re like me, you’ll most likely come across questions you don’t already have answers to, like which direction you want the shades to roll.
Accuracy matters here because the shades are built to exacting specifications, but the site is good at explaining what you need to do, like adding a few inches to your overall totals. From there, buyers choose materials ranging from light-filtering fabrics to true blackout options, with different textures, colors, and openness levels that affect both light control and aesthetics.
The customization doesn’t stop at fabric. SmartWings also lets you choose the shade style, valance options, and even roll direction — whether the fabric rolls from the front or back of the tube. That might sound minor, but it can make a big difference for clearance around window trim, crank handles, or decorative molding. There are also decisions around bottom bars, mounting hardware, and overall finish, which all contribute to how seamlessly the shades blend into a room.
Then comes the tech side. Buyers select from multiple motor options depending on power preferences and smart home compatibility. Battery-powered motors are popular for their clean look and easy installation, while hardwired options are available for more permanent setups. You can opt for add-ons like solar panels to avoid having to charge the motors, but I’ve also found the battery life to be good with regular use, and charging every few months isn’t really an issue for me.
SmartWings supports a variety of smart home protocols, including Matter, Z-Wave, and Zigbee, enabling integration with voice assistants, automation hubs, and custom scenes. I personally went with Zigbee since it plays nicely with Home Assistant. It’s a lot to think through, but that depth is exactly what makes the final result feel intentional instead of generic.
The buying process — the hardest part of this entire endeavor — is both daunting and extremely satisfying. Knowing you’re getting exactly what you want in the end makes it worth it. I was honestly blown away when, after installing my shades, they rolled down within the exact 1/4” I specified when ordering, with no adjustments, so take your time here, and it will be very much worth it in the end.
Obviously, adding size and features or changing fabrics will change the price — at times drastically — but you very much get what you pay for with SmartWings.
Ease of installation
You wouldn’t think that installation would be the easiest part of the process, but it is. It was actually almost quicker to install the shades than it was to unpack them. Despite the lengthy ordering process, mounting the shades is refreshingly straightforward. Each shade took about 15 to 20 minutes to install and set up, from attaching brackets to pairing the motor and testing automation. Your mileage may vary here depending on your platform of choice, but once you get the first one installed (if you have more than one), the subsequent ones are just repeating the process. There’s no need for professional installation, and once mounted, the shades feel solid and well-balanced, with smooth and quiet operation right out of the box.
Each shade comes with a remote that can be used to control it. You can program a single remote to control multiple shades individually, or group shades for more control. In addition, you can use your favorite smart home protocol (if you opted for smart motors) to control them as well.
Automate my life
From a streaming perspective, the real magic is in automation. SmartWings shades can lower automatically when you start playback, close at sunset, or activate as part of a “movie night” scene alongside lights and audio gear. Blackout models completely eliminate glare, while lighter fabrics strike a balance between visibility and comfort for casual daytime viewing. It’s one of those upgrades that doesn’t call attention to itself — it just quietly makes everything better.
For the first few weeks, I was enamored with the shades and how well they worked, and couldn’t wait to start a movie so I could put my fancy shades down. A few weeks in, I was genuinely satisfied with how well they fit with my smart home and continued to just work with my automations. SmartWings are set-it-and-forget-it when it comes to integrating with your smart home, and very much hands-off once you’re installed and set up.
Yeah, but how much?
Price is the hardest pill to swallow — by far. SmartWings motorized shades are undeniably expensive, and outfitting multiple windows — not to mention an entire house — can quickly become a serious investment. Compared with standard roller shades or basic blackout curtains that you can find at your local home store, the cost difference is significant. You could outfit multiple windows with standard dumb shades for the price of a single window from SmartWings, so it’s definitely something to consider before you start the process.
The shades I ordered, for reference, started at around $180 each but topped out at nearly $400 after fully customizing size, fabric, and other options. So yeah, not cheap.
That said, the shades are extremely high-quality from top to bottom, and the features and customization are unmatched. They are on the borderline of “blowing the budget” for most people, but for those who have the means, they really are one of the coolest, most functional accessories you can add to your streaming setup.
For many rooms, traditional options will still get the job done. But there’s also not much else that offers this level of customization, automation, and polish in a single package. I love that my shades are automated and work so well with my setup, while also significantly reducing the light in my rooms. They blend well with my decor, and the installation couldn’t have been easier.
As part of an ultimate streaming setup, SmartWings motorized shades make a strong case for themselves. While the price is extremely high for accessories — arguably as much as I paid for my entire Sonos surround setup — they are still an amazing option if you have the budget.
They don’t replace a great TV or sound system, both of which I’d prioritize over motorized window shades, but they enhance both by removing distractions and friction. If you’re already investing in premium gear and smart home automation, these shades feel less like a luxury add-on and more like the final piece that ties the room together.