{"id":27879,"date":"2026-03-11T22:14:27","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T06:14:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.blindsgalore.com\/blog\/?p=27879"},"modified":"2026-03-11T22:14:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T06:14:27","slug":"how-to-schedule-your-motorized-blinds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blindsgalore.com\/blog\/index.php\/beyond-basics\/how-to-schedule-your-motorized-blinds\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Schedule Your Motorized Blinds to Follow the Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Sunlight is wonderful, until it blasts through a west-facing window at 4 PM and turns the living room into a solar oven. “Follow the sun” scheduling solves that problem.<\/span> Motorized shades<\/span><\/a> adjust on their own throughout the day, tracking the sun’s position to keep your home comfortable, your floors fade-free, and your energy bill in check.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here is how to set it up in four steps.<\/span><\/p>\n

What “Follow the Sun” Scheduling Actually Means<\/b><\/h2>\n

The concept is straightforward: window coverings move in sync with the sun rather than sitting in one fixed position all day. According to the<\/span> U.S. Department of Energy<\/span><\/a>, 75% of residential window coverings stay in the same position every single day. That is a huge missed opportunity for energy savings and furniture protection.<\/span><\/p>\n

A typical follow-the-sun schedule looks something like this. Morning: blinds open to let in warm, soft light. Midday: blinds partially close to filter harsh rays and block peak UV. Afternoon: blinds close on sun-facing windows to block heat gain. Evening: blinds open for ambient light, then close fully at sunset for privacy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Over a full year, that kind of consistent management adds up to real savings on cooling and heating costs, plus significantly less UV damage to hardwood floors, rugs, and upholstery.<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 1: Connect Your Blinds to an App or Hub<\/b><\/h2>\n

Most<\/span> motorized shades<\/span><\/a> at Blindsgalore connect via Bluetooth to a companion app on your phone. Open the app, add your blinds, and name them by room or window orientation (“South Living Room” or “West Bedroom”). Naming by direction makes scheduling by sun position much more intuitive.<\/span><\/p>\n

For deeper automation, pair your blinds through a smart home hub like Amazon Alexa, Google Home, or Apple HomeKit. A hub gives you more flexibility for complex routines and room-level grouping. Compatible smart hubs at Blindsgalore include the Connector Smart Hub, Levolor InMotion, Bali Gateway, MotionBlinds, and Smart Blinds hubs. Integrations extend to Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, Siri Shortcuts, Control4, IFTTT, and Savant.<\/span><\/p>\n

For a detailed Alexa walkthrough, see<\/span> Alexa Smart Blinds Setup: Step-by-Step Guide<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 2: Set Time-Based Schedules<\/b><\/h2>\n

Once connected, navigate to the scheduling or automation section of your app. Most systems let you set specific open and close times, tie schedules to sunrise and sunset (which auto-update with the seasons), and assign different schedules to different rooms or windows.<\/span><\/p>\n

For a follow-the-sun approach, focus on which windows face which direction. South-facing windows get the most consistent sun exposure and benefit from a midday partial close. West-facing windows need afternoon coverage. East-facing windows can stay open later into the morning before closing.<\/span><\/p>\n

A practical starting schedule:<\/span><\/p>\n