Create a simple lifestyle

When you think about all the devices invented that have been marketed as ‘saving us time’, how many of them actually do?

Take for example the dishwasher – while you don’t have to stand at the sink and handwash your dishes, someone still has to stack it plus remember to turn it on, and then there will probably be an argument about who is going to unload it. Sound familiar?

We all have homes filled with appliances and devices designed to “give us more time” but the reality really is so often the opposite.

How much time have you frittered away or wasted trying to do something on a computer or trying to figure out how your new smartphone actually works? We’ve all done it.

Time is a precious commodity to almost all of us – as our lives get busier and busier, we seem to have less time to do the things that we want to do or the things that actually matter.

This is where having automated blinds can actually save you time – I know, you’ve heard all it before, right?

Speaking from my own experience, and having now lived with fully automated blinds the past few years, I can honestly say they do save me time.

Our blinds are set on a timer to go up each morning and down each evening.

Most mornings, our living room blinds are up before I even get out of bed. If I’m totally honest, if my blinds didn’t put themselves up automatically each morning, then they probably wouldn’t go up at all most days as I’m always rushing out the door running late for work.

Then at the end of the day they put themselves down, once again saving me time.

Of course I can also operate them at any time I choose by simply pushing a button.

Setting up these automated scenarios for your blinds can also increase your homes security, giving the impression that there is someone home even when you are away on holidays.

Automated blinds can also help provide the elderly or those less able with a higher level of independence eliminating the need for them to ask for assistance from family or friends, and ensuring they get the full benefits from their awnings or blinds.

When it comes to our Folding Arm Awning products, in our experience we find our customers definitely use them far more if they are automated.

These large awnings can be quite heavy and tedious to manually operate, so having them automated means we also then have the ability to add a motion sensor, a safety device designed to retract the awning in windy conditions.

One of the newest addition to the Somfy range, MyLink is designed to enable control of your blinds and awnings from your smartphone or tablet, from wherever you are.

If you’ve left home for the day and it turns out to be a lot warmer than you expected or you’ve forgotten to put your awnings down, it’s not a problem.

Using the MyLink app on your phone, you can still operate your awnings, or blinds, away from home.

So what do you need to be able to automate your blinds or awnings? Basically all you need is a power source. If you are building or renovating, you may be able to get your electrician to run wiring close to the actual window or an external awning requires a weatherproof power point.

Home automation really can help create a simpler way of life – one that is more secure, comfortable and energy-efficient.

For more information, head to braxwt.com.au.