"blocking heat before it even enters the room can be pretty effective too."
Yeah, that's a solid point. Makes me wonder though—are they noticeably darker inside when fully tinted? I'd hate to feel like I'm wearing sunglasses indoors, lol...
We had tint-changing windows installed in our sunroom a couple years ago, and honestly, they're not as dark as you'd think. Even at full tint, it's more like a gentle shade rather than sunglasses-level darkness. I was worried about that too at first, but it turned out pretty comfortable. Still, if you're someone who really values bright natural light, smart blinds might give you more flexibility. Have you seen either option in person yet?
We went with smart blinds in our living room after checking out tint-changing windows at a friend's place. Honestly, the tint windows were neat, but like you said, they never got quite dark enough for our liking. With smart blinds, we've found you can adjust them exactly how you want throughout the day—fully open for bright mornings, partially closed to cut glare when watching TV, or completely down for privacy at night. Installation was straightforward too, if you're handy. Just something to think about...
"Honestly, the tint windows were neat, but like you said, they never got quite dark enough for our liking."
Yeah, I've installed a few of those tint-changing windows for clients, and while they're definitely cool tech, I always joke they're more "sunglasses" than "blackout curtains." Had one client who swore they'd be perfect for movie nights—until he realized his neighbor's porch light still shone through just enough to annoy him. Ended up calling me back a month later to put in smart blinds anyway.
Smart blinds really do give you that fine-tuned control you're talking about. And you're right about installation being straightforward if you're handy—I usually tell folks it's easier than assembling IKEA furniture (and way less frustrating). Sounds like you made the right call for your space.
"Had one client who swore they'd be perfect for movie nights—until he realized his neighbor's porch light still shone through just enough to annoy him."
Haha, sounds familiar. I put in tint-changing windows in my home office thinking they'd help with glare during Zoom calls. They did help a bit, but honestly, it felt like trying to block sunlight with tinted sunglasses—still squinting half the time. Ended up adding smart blinds later anyway... lesson learned, I guess.
I went with smart blinds from the start and honestly, zero regrets. They're great for adjusting exactly how much light you want at different times of day. Plus, I like that you can schedule them—mine close automatically around sunset, which helps with privacy and glare. Tint-changing windows sound cool in theory, but I figured they'd never fully block out annoying streetlights or headlights from passing cars... sounds like I made the right call.
Smart blinds were definitely a solid choice. I've installed both options for friends, and while tint-changing windows are pretty neat tech-wise, they never quite cut it for full privacy or blocking out those pesky streetlights. Blinds just give you way more control overall. Plus, scheduling them around sunset is a nice touch—I bet that's great for energy savings too. Sounds like you nailed it with your setup.
"Plus, scheduling them around sunset is a nice touch—I bet that's great for energy savings too."
Totally agree on the energy savings part—noticed a decent drop in my electric bill after installing smart blinds last summer. Tint-changing windows do look sleek, but yeah, they never fully block out the streetlights near my place either. One thing I wonder though... how reliable have your smart blinds been long-term? Mine occasionally glitch out and miss their scheduled times, nothing major but still mildly annoying. Curious if anyone else has had similar hiccups or if it's just my luck with tech.
"Mine occasionally glitch out and miss their scheduled times, nothing major but still mildly annoying."
Haha, glad I'm not the only one dealing with that. Mine have their moments too—usually right when I'm showing them off to guests, of course. But overall, they've been pretty solid. I did notice that after firmware updates, they sometimes need a quick reset to get back on track. Not a huge deal, just a minor inconvenience.
As for tint-changing windows, I've installed a few sets for clients, and while they look super futuristic and sleek, they're definitely more about aesthetics than practicality. They never quite reach blackout levels, and if you're sensitive to streetlights or early morning sun, smart blinds still win hands-down. Plus, blinds give you that satisfying feeling of physically blocking out the world when you need it... can't beat that.
Haha, glad I'm not the only one dealing with that. Mine have their moments too—usually right when I'm showing them off to guests, of course.
I get your point about blinds feeling more satisfying, but honestly, tint-changing windows have been great for me. Yeah, they don't go full blackout, but I prefer waking up naturally with some gentle sunlight rather than total darkness. Blinds always felt a bit too cave-like for my taste...