Motorized Shades & Smart Blinds in Columbus, OH

Sometimes. Norman's AutoWand is a budget-friendly motor designed to retrofit compatible shades, but many older or big-box shades are not built for a motor. We look at what you have and tell you honestly whether a retrofit makes sense or whether new motorized shades are the better investment.

Norman Smart Motorization uses a charging wand, so there is no ladder and no cords running to the window. Norman PerfectTilt G4 motorized shutters go further with a built-in solar panel that extends the time between charges.

Battery motors keep running from the handheld remote during a power outage. Norman motorized shutters also have a manual override, and Norman motorized honeycomb shades can be operated with a manual button or the motion-activated bottom rail.

It depends on the window and the stage of your project. Rechargeable battery motors need no wiring and suit most existing homes. Plug-in power works where an outlet is close by. Hardwired motors are the cleanest long-term option and are easiest to plan during new construction or a remodel, before the walls are closed.

Yes. Our motorized shades pair with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, and SmartThings, so you can use voice commands, schedules, and scenes alongside your other smart-home devices. We set up and test the pairing at installation.

Olsson Smart Shades is a locally owned motorized shade company based in Plain City, serving Columbus, Dublin, Powell, Upper Arlington, Westerville, New Albany, Lancaster, and Central Ohio. We are an authorized Norman, Draper, and InsolRoll dealer, our own team installs and programs every shade, consultations are free, and a real person answers at (614) 907-0976.

Choose an authorized dealer for the brand you want, an installer who programs and tests the motors and smart-home pairing on site, a written firm quote, and a local team you can call after the install. Ask whether the work is subcontracted and who handles warranty service.

Your shades still work from the handheld remote. Wi-Fi only matters for app control, voice assistants, and schedules, which resume once your network is back.

Nothing, really. People use smart blinds, motorized shades, automated blinds, and motorized window coverings to mean the same thing: a window treatment with a quiet motor you control by remote, app, voice, or schedule. Roller, solar, honeycomb, Roman, and drapery styles can all be motorized.

Our own team. Olsson Smart Shades is an independent, locally owned and operated company headquartered in Plain City. Our in-house team measures, installs, and programs every motorized shade, with no subcontracted installers, across Columbus and Central Ohio.

In Central Ohio, motorized roller shades typically run about $450 to $1,300 per window installed with a rechargeable motor, and about $650 to $1,600 hardwired. Motorized honeycomb shades typically run about $475 to $1,400 per window, plus a one-time smart hub for app and voice control. Every home is measured in person and ends with a written, firm quote. Our Columbus cost guide walks through what drives the price, and our motorized roller shade cost calculator gives you a quick range.

There are a few honest trade-offs. Motorized shades cost more per window than manual shades. Rechargeable battery motors need charging from time to time, which takes a charging wand rather than a ladder. App control, voice control, and schedules need your Wi-Fi and a smart hub, although the handheld remote still works without them. Many older or big-box shades cannot be retrofitted with a motor. A motor is one more part that can need service, which is why products carry the manufacturer’s warranty and we handle any claim for you. For tall windows, bedrooms, and rooms that get hard afternoon sun, those trade-offs are easiest to justify.