Motorized & smart shades · Columbus & Central Ohio
Motorized Shades & Smart Blinds in Columbus, OH
Shades that open with the sunrise, close when the afternoon heat hits, and answer to a remote, an app, or your voice. Motorized shades and automated blinds are custom made for your windows and programmed before we leave.
Motorized shades are where a quiet install matters most. Brackets set level, wiring hidden, motors set to stop at exactly the right height, and every shade paired and tested with your system. The owner measures your home and installs the shades.
What we motorize
Almost any style can go motorized
Roller & solar shades
The most popular motorized style. Light filtering, blackout, or solar fabrics that cut glare while keeping the view.
Cellular & honeycomb
Insulating shades for bedrooms and big glass, with top-down and blackout options.
Roman & layered sheers
Soft fabric folds and zebra style sheers that move smoothly on a motor.
Drapery & exterior
Motorized drapery tracks for wide windows and sliders, and outdoor solar shades for patios and porches.
Power & control
Wired the right way for your home
Three ways to power them
Rechargeable battery for existing homes with no wiring. Plug-in where an outlet is close. Hardwired for new builds and remodels, planned before the drywall goes up. We recommend what fits each window, not one answer for the whole house.
Works with what you already use
Handheld remote, wall switch, phone app, schedules, and voice. Our motorized shades pair with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, and SmartThings, so shades can join the scenes you already run, like good morning, movie night, or away.
Where it pays off
The windows that make motorization worth it
Tall & hard to reach
Two story great rooms, transoms, and windows behind furniture. One touch instead of a ladder.
Sun & heat control
Schedules that lower shades before the afternoon sun hits, protecting floors and furniture and keeping rooms cooler.
Bedrooms & nurseries
Blackout on a schedule and no cords anywhere, which is safer for kids and pets.
Home theaters
Shades that darken the room together with a motorized Draper projection screen on one command.
How it works
From first visit to fully programmed
1. Free in-home visit
We measure every window, check power options, and see how you live in each room.
2. Fabric & control plan
Samples in your own light, and a plan for power, remotes, and smart-home pairing.
3. Firm quote
A written quote for shades, motors, and installation, with no surprises later.
4. Install & program
Installed by our own team, limits set, scenes and schedules programmed, and a walkthrough so you know how it all works.
Common questions
Motorized shade questions we get asked
Can my existing shades be motorized?
Sometimes. Some shade systems accept a retrofit motor, but many older or big-box shades are not built for one. We look at what you have and tell you honestly whether a retrofit makes sense or whether new motorized shades are the better investment.
Battery, plug-in, or hardwired: which power option is best?
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.
Do motorized shades work with Alexa, Google Home, or Apple HomeKit?
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.
What happens if my Wi-Fi goes down?
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.
What is the difference between smart blinds and motorized shades?
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.
Who installs motorized shades in Columbus?
The owner. Olsson Smart Shades is an independent, husband-and-wife owned company based in Plain City. Nik Olsson measures, installs, and programs every motorized shade himself, with no subcontracted installers, across Columbus and Central Ohio.
How much do motorized shades cost?
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.
More reading: Best motorized shades for smart homes.
Service area
Motorized shade installation across Central Ohio
We install motorized shades throughout the Columbus metro, working out of 7780 Corporate Blvd, Plain City, OH 43064.
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