Was sitting in my living room yesterday, squinting into the afternoon glare, and I started daydreaming about electrochromic windows. You know, those fancy smart windows that darken at the push of a button? Got me wondering how dark they actually get. Like, can you comfortably watch TV or take a nap without feeling like you're baking in the sun? Or would it still be bright enough that you'd miss your trusty old blinds or curtains?
Imagine this: you're chilling on a lazy Sunday, sunlight streaming in, but then it gets just a bit too bright. Instead of getting up and fiddling with blinds, you tap a remote or your phone and bam—instant shade. But is it really that good? Would it be enough to block out streetlights at night or that annoying neighbor who's always got their porch light on?
Curious if anyone here's experienced these windows firsthand. Are they worth the hype, or do blinds still win out?
"Imagine this: you're chilling on a lazy Sunday, sunlight streaming in, but then it gets just a bit too bright."
Totally get this scenario. I've looked into electrochromic windows myself, and from what I've seen, they're great for reducing glare and heat, but they might not give you that full blackout effect you'd want for sleeping or movie marathons. They're more about comfort and energy savings—less AC needed—but if you're sensitive to nighttime lights or need total darkness, blinds or curtains might still be necessary... at least until the tech improves a bit more.
Yeah, I looked into these when we were renovating our living room last year. They're pretty neat for cutting down glare, but honestly, they didn't seem worth the price tag for us. Plus, I need total darkness to sleep—like vampire-level dark—and these windows just weren't gonna cut it. Ended up sticking with blackout curtains... cheaper and does the job perfectly. Maybe someday though, if prices drop and tech improves a bit more.
- Looked into these too when we redid our bedroom windows.
- Loved the idea, but yeah...price was a bit steep for us as well.
- Ended up with regular blinds plus blackout curtains—works great and wallet-friendly.
- Still hopeful though, tech always gets cheaper eventually, right?
- Ended up with regular blinds plus blackout curtains—works great and wallet-friendly.
We considered electrochromic windows briefly during our kitchen remodel last year, and a few things stood out:
- The convenience factor is definitely appealing—no cords, no adjusting slats, just push a button.
- But from what I read, even at their darkest setting, they're not quite blackout-level dark. Good enough for reducing glare and heat, but maybe not for sleeping or movie watching in bright daylight.
- Cost was another big factor. Like others have mentioned, it's still pretty steep. We ended up going with cordless cellular blinds instead—affordable, easy to use, and they block out the sun surprisingly well.
- One thing that made me hesitate was reliability. Tech stuff is great until it isn't...what happens if the tinting mechanism fails or gets glitchy? Regular blinds seem simpler and easier to fix.
Still intrigued by the idea though. If prices drop significantly or the tech proves itself long-term, I'd reconsider.
We looked into electrochromic windows too when we redid our living room. Honestly, the tech seemed cool but the price was eye-watering. Plus, a friend installed them in his office and said they never got dark enough for presentations—still had to pull down old-school shades. We ended up with roller blinds behind sheer curtains; simple, effective, and zero worries about tech glitches down the road...
We considered electrochromic windows for our kitchen reno last year, and I had similar doubts. The demo at the showroom was impressive, but when I asked about blackout capability, the rep admitted they don't fully block out bright sunlight—just dim it. Ended up going with cellular shades instead; cheaper, easy to install myself, and no worries about tech failing down the line. Cool idea, but maybe not quite there yet for everyday home use...
Yeah, I totally get where you're coming from. Electrochromic windows seem like one of those futuristic ideas that's awesome in theory but still has some kinks to iron out. We looked into them briefly when we redid our living room, and honestly, the price alone made me pause. Plus, I'm the type who worries about tech glitches—imagine your windows getting stuck halfway dimmed on a sunny day, lol.
Cellular shades were a solid choice, though. We went with those too, and they've been great. Easy to clean, no fuss, and they actually do block out the sun when you need it. Sometimes simpler really is better, especially when it comes to home stuff. Maybe in a few years electrochromic tech will catch up, but for now, I think you made the right call.
I hear ya on the electrochromic windows. We were tempted too, mostly because they look so sleek and futuristic, but the cost and potential headaches made us reconsider pretty quickly. My brother-in-law actually installed them in his office space—he loves techy stuff—and while they do look cool, he’s had a couple of glitches already. Nothing major, but enough to make me glad we stuck with something simpler at home.
We ended up going with roller shades instead of cellular, but same idea—easy to use, reliable, and no worries about software updates or glitches. I think you nailed it when you said simpler is sometimes better for home stuff. Maybe in five or ten years electrochromic windows will be more affordable and dependable...but until then, I’m totally with you on sticking to tried-and-true solutions.