Many homes and apartments have window blinds that require manual operation to adjust the lighting levels in a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, dining room or living room. In the past, blinds were pretty much taken for granted. They came in one color – white, and always operate with spring-action pulls that involve a lot of jerking back and forth of those annoying cords. Not only is lifting and lowering these blinds a real hassle, but the cords are hazardous for small children. To open and close the slats, you must twist the attached wand. Thank goodness the world of blinds is now being updated for 21st century living. Motorized window treatments are a growing trend that combines ease-of-use with contemporary design.

In keeping with modern home décor preferences, those old-fashioned blinds are being kicked to the curb for good. Motorized operation of window blinds means that you can open and close any blind plugged into this system from the comfort of a chair, couch or bed. There are several motorized window treatments to choose from. Some operate from a wall switch, while others come with a remote control that works similar to the one for a TV or DVD player. For the remote models, all you need to do is press a specific button to control the movement of blinds upwards or downwards. Another button would open and shut the slats to various degrees. Imagine having this type of wireless convenience at your fingertips.

Your grandparents certainly could not have imagined there would come a day when a person would not have to walk around the home and adjust each individual blind or shade by hand. However, that day is here and motorized window treatments are quickly replacing standard blinds in many modern day homes, apartments and workplaces. While you can still have that classic look of traditional blinds, many of the newer styles of motorized window coverings are contemporary shades that are made from lighter materials. One of the things to consider when researching wireless window treatments is that each set up requires a certain size of motor for operation. Smaller motors can easily handle lightweight materials like cloth and vinyl that requires less energy consumption. Heavier materials like metal and wood will require a bigger motor to handle the extra weight.

The design options for motorized window treatments are many. For that ultra-modern contemporary design look you can forgo fabric curtains and drapes altogether. It is very chic these days to walk into a room and see stylish blinds or shades used as solo window treatments. Shades, in particular, come in a wide variety of colors and can provide soft shading or heavy shading. Some popular color choices for shades are black, white, natural, blue, green and red. You can find electronic shades that are flat or Roman style. Blinds are often in neutral colors.

If you still enjoy the look that fabric curtains and drapes provide, you can combine them with the motorized window treatments. For instance, you can have electronic shades installed to control window lighting, and cover those with a sheer curtain. As an additional decorative accent, you can add short or long drapes in a color that enhances the whole room. Overall, you will completely enjoy having a new sense of luxurious freedom after installing wireless window treatments.