There’s a Right & Wrong Way to Design Motorized Drapes. Here’s How to Do It the Right Way 

If you’ve spent any time online researching motorized drapery, you’ll know there are endless posts and videos out there of people’s DIY projects. And many of them… do not look great. 

We’ve seen drapes that leave a one-inch gap when closed. Visible cables plugged into outlets. Exposed battery packs. Drapery racks and fabrics that do nothing for the room’s interior design. The list goes on. 

The truth is, many moving parts go into designing, installing, and programming a shading system that looks like true luxury. Even if you’re partnering with an interior designer, they likely don’t know the technology side required of motorized drapery. For a true seamless look, take the following advice. 

SEE ALSO: 5 Frequently Asked Questions About Motorized Shades – Answered!

1. Drapery Track: Hide or Leave Visible? 

There’s nothing per se wrong with a visible drapery track. In fact, our partner Lutron offers customizable tracks to match your room’s interior. But there is something so sleek and minimalist about a hidden, in-ceiling system. 

Lutron’s recessed track system hides the rod mechanism within your ceiling, so drapes appear to nearly float in mid-air. The effect is a stylish, architectural finish that reduces any clunkiness from the system. Homeowners undergoing a new build or renovation are at the perfect stage to plan for hidden Lutron drapery tracks, before the ceilings are finished over.  

2. Your Control System Matters 

It’s in the little details: closing drapes without a gap. Aligning drapes and shades across all your windows. Controlling drapes in precise increments, and automating schedules that follow even the most complex daily routines. 

Only an advanced processor can accommodate such precision. The truth is, lower-end, DIY smart hubs often leave homeowners disappointed, believing motorized drapes “aren’t worth it.” But a higher-quality control system like Lutron offers all the performance and control options you’re looking for. 

A professional-grade system like Lutron has a higher price tag, sure. But the technology “just works.” If you want a premium experience, don’t underestimate the control system you choose. 

3. Find Fabrics & Materials That Complement Your Home 

Don’t fall for the trap that all smart curtains need to look like plain polyester. With a smart drapery brand like Lutron, you have virtually limitless fabric options. Lutron can even automate your existing drapes and curtains if you already own a set that you love. 

Beyond fabrics, Lutron’s wall control keypads can also be customized to match your home’s aesthetics. That means you don’t need a clunky white remote mounted against your carefully-chosen wallpaper. Lutron’s smart keypads are available in luxurious brushed metals and glass, with button configurations customized to your preferences. 

4. Don’t Forget the ‘Stack Back’ 

Will you be annoyed if, when the drapes are open, half of the window is covered with fabric? We call that the “stack back”—the width of the drape that stacks when it’s fully open. Typically, we find that one-third of a track’s length will be the ‘stack,’ with two-thirds the view. 

In Bountiful, UT, and surrounding areas, many homeowners choose Lutron drapery because they want to see those beautiful mountain views more easily. But if the fabric stack covers half the window, and you can’t see the mountains from your desk, that may be a problem. 

Some people just don’t like the look of the ‘stack back’ either. To fix this, we’ll measure the fabric you’re considering and calculate how wide the stack will be. We can extend the track to go past the window, so it won’t block your view. Or we can opt for thinner fabrics, which will naturally have a much narrower stack. 

If there isn’t room on either side of the window, you can have an in-wall drapery pocket installed. That’s the surest way to get that ultra-clean, sleek look when drapes are open. 

5. Hide Control & Power Hardware 

If you don’t want to see power cables and batteries, Lutron’s got it figured out. Its motorized drapery and shading systems conceal all hardware within the curtain rod itself. Wired systems don’t require a nearby electrical outlet or batteries; instead, power wiring connects discreetly through the wall. 

Ready for the Quiet Beauty of Motorized Drapery? 

Installing motorized drapery requires more planning than most homeowners anticipate. If you’re planning a new home build, renovation, or upgrade to your existing window treatments, contact Show & Tell AV to learn more about our professional installations.