The Designer’s Guide to Automated Shades: Fabrics, Finishes, and Function

Matt Schaberg
Sep 10, 2025
2 min read

When it comes to interior design, window treatments are more than just an accessory—they’re a statement piece. Shades influence how natural light interacts with a room, how colors and textures are perceived, and how private or open a space feels. With the rise of smart home technology, automated shades give interior designers a powerful new tool: a way to balance beauty, comfort, and function seamlessly.

In this guide, we’ll explore how fabrics, finishes, and functionality come together to make automated shades a must-have in modern interiors.

1. Fabrics: Style Meets Performance

Fabric choice is at the heart of any shade design. With automated shades, designers can offer clients a wide range of options that look stunning while meeting practical needs.

Sheer Fabrics – Allow soft natural light while maintaining outside views. Perfect for living rooms and open spaces.
Translucent Fabrics – Filter sunlight to reduce glare without darkening a room. Ideal for kitchens, home offices, and dining areas.
Blackout Fabrics – Create total privacy and block light completely. Essential for bedrooms, nurseries, and media rooms.
Specialty Fabrics – UV-resistant, eco-friendly, or acoustically enhanced fabrics that add function to form.

2. Finishes: Details That Elevate the Design

Automated shades aren’t just about the fabric—they also come with customizable hardware and finishes that can align perfectly with your design vision.

Hardware Colors – Available in sleek modern metallics, classic neutrals, or even custom finishes to match décor.
Profiles and Housings – Options to recess shades into ceilings or create decorative fascia's that blend with trim and molding.
Controls – Designer keypads, subtle remotes, or app-based control for a clean, seamless look.

By selecting finishes with the same care as furniture or fixtures, designers can ensure shades feel like a natural extension of the room’s style.

3. Function: Beyond Beauty

Automated shades are more than just beautiful—they’re functional investments in comfort and convenience.

Daylight Control – Shades can raise or lower automatically based on sun position to reduce glare and heat.
Energy Efficiency – Lower cooling costs in summer and retain warmth in winter.
Privacy on Demand – Instantly transform a room from open and airy to private and secure.
Integration with Smart Lighting – Shades sync with smart lighting to create scenes—bright and open for mornings, soft and cozy for evenings.

4. Why Designers Should Care

Automated shades eliminate the trade-off between beauty and practicality. They give interior designers a way to offer clients clean lines, hidden mechanics, and a luxury experience that also improves everyday living. Plus, by planning early with an automation partner, shades can be seamlessly integrated into ceilings, walls, and trim—leaving no trace of bulky hardware.

Elevate Your Designs with Automated Shades

Automated shades aren’t just window coverings—they’re design elements that combine fabrics, finishes, and functionality into one elegant solution. Whether your client wants light-filled living spaces, privacy at the touch of a button, or eco-conscious energy savings, automated shades deliver beauty and performance in equal measure.

👉 At SecuraCore in Bend, OR, we help interior designers bring these solutions to life. Contact us to explore shade options, fabric libraries, and integration solutions for your next project.