I did something similar last year when we remodeled our den—wired motors for roller shades. Agree, the wiring part was straightforward enough, but patching drywall always feels like a chore to me, haha. Still, now that it's done, it's been awesome... quiet and reliable. Definitely beats manually wrestling with huge curtains every morning. If you're handy at all, it's worth the bit of hassle upfront.
"Agree, the wiring part was straightforward enough, but patching drywall always feels like a chore to me, haha."
Drywall's always the worst part for most DIYers. Quick tip from experience:
- Use setting-type joint compound (like Easy Sand 45) for faster drying.
- Feather out edges wider than you think necessary—saves sanding headaches later.
- Invest in a decent sanding sponge; makes cleanup way easier.
Motorized shades are definitely worth it though... clients love them, and they're pretty low-maintenance once installed.
"Motorized shades are definitely worth it though... clients love them, and they're pretty low-maintenance once installed."
Motorized shades are cool, but honestly they're not always the best route for huge windows. Had a client whose motor burned out after just a year—replacing it was a hassle and pricey. For really big windows, simpler might be better. Good-quality manual roller shades or even drapery panels can be easier long-term, fewer moving parts to worry about. Just something to consider before diving in.
Totally agree about motorized shades being hit or miss for huge windows. We just moved into our first home last year, and the living room has these massive floor-to-ceiling windows. At first, motorized shades seemed like the obvious choice—modern, convenient, all that good stuff. But after talking to a few neighbors who had similar setups, we heard some mixed reviews. One neighbor had theirs break down within two years, and the repair cost was pretty steep. Another mentioned that the motors struggled a bit with the weight of the larger shades, causing them to move slower or unevenly over time.
We ended up going with manual roller shades instead, and honestly, they've been great so far. They're sturdy, easy to use, and we haven't had any issues yet (knock on wood...). Plus, there's something reassuring about knowing there aren't any complicated electronics or motors that could randomly fail on us.
One thing I'd add is that if you do go manual, make sure you get good-quality hardware and installation. We initially tried to DIY it with cheaper brackets and regretted it almost immediately—the shades were heavy enough that they started sagging after just a few weeks. Once we upgraded to sturdier brackets and had them professionally installed, everything's been smooth sailing.
Also, don't overlook drapery panels as an option. My sister has huge windows too, and she went with heavy curtains on a simple track system. They look fantastic and are surprisingly easy to open and close manually. Plus, curtains can add some warmth and texture to a room that roller shades sometimes lack.
Anyway, just wanted to share our experience since we've been through this recently ourselves. Hope it helps!
Manual roller shades are definitely a solid choice, especially if you're worried about reliability. Another option you might consider is cellular shades—they're lightweight, easy to operate manually, and offer great insulation for large windows. I've installed them in a few homes with huge windows, and homeowners usually love how smoothly they work. Just make sure to get the cordless lift system—it's cleaner looking and less hassle in the long run.
Cellular shades are pretty great, but honestly, installing them on huge windows can be a bit of an adventure. Last time I did it, I ended up wrestling with the brackets for a good half hour—felt like I was auditioning for a circus act. But once they're up, they're smooth as butter and really do help with insulation. Just make sure you measure twice (or three times...) before ordering, because trust me, returning oversized shades is no fun at all.
"felt like I was auditioning for a circus act."
Haha, been there. When we put up cellular shades on our big living room windows, I swear the brackets had minds of their own. But you're right—once they're finally up, they're worth every minute of struggle.
Did you have trouble finding cellular shades wide enough for your windows? I've been browsing around and it feels like most places max out at widths way smaller than what we need. Did you end up custom ordering yours or find some clever workaround? I'm leaning toward curtains instead, but still not sure how heavy they'll be once hung...
Yeah, ran into the same issue when we moved into our place—those wide windows are awesome for natural light but a pain to cover. We ended up custom ordering cellular shades online, and honestly, it was worth it for the energy savings alone. Curtains can get pretty heavy, especially if you go blackout or thermal-lined...have you thought about maybe splitting them into multiple panels instead of one huge curtain? Might make them easier to handle and open up more options.
Custom cellular shades are great, but honestly, I've found roller shades to be way easier to manage on huge windows. They're lighter, simpler to install, and you can still get them in blackout or thermal versions without the bulkiness of heavy curtains. Just another option...