Motorised curtains and blinds: ceiling recesses and power

What goes into the design so motorised curtains look built in?

Four things have to be planned: a ceiling recess across the full window width, power to each recess, a decision on motor type and a control point. The recess hides the track and motor: only a clean ceiling line and fabric dropping from a slot remain.

If this is thought of after finishing, you sacrifice the look: an exposed track under the ceiling or a surface-fixed structure. So the curtain is drawn together with the plasterboard and the lighting, at the same time as the architectural light, which often runs in the same recess. Fabric, height and width are agreed beforehand: they set the recess size and the load on the track.

How is the track hidden in the ceiling and what size is the recess?

The recess (foseado in Spanish) is a pocket in the plasterboard ceiling above the window. For a single curtain on a motorised track it is made 12 to 15 cm wide and 10 to 12 cm deep. For a double curtain, meaning blackout plus sheer, 18 to 20 cm wide. For a roller blind it needs 12 to 15 cm.

The recess is made 20 to 30 cm wider than the window on each side so an open curtain does not cover the glass. At the ends a pocket is left for the stacked fabric. Inside, access to the motor and a replacement point are planned, or a failure means cutting the ceiling. A recess in a suspended ceiling is reinforced with framing because it carries the weight of the fabric and the moving parts.

In an Eixample flat with high ceilings that recess is barely noticeable, and in a low ceiling it is better combined with the recess for a light profile.

Battery motor or cable?

For a new renovation, cable is better. A 24 V low-voltage motor with a common power supply or a 230 V motor needs no recharging, runs for years and links to the control system. The battery version is handy in refurbishment when cable cannot be run, but the battery has to be charged.

In practice a battery lasts from a few months to a year depending on how often the curtains open, and is charged by cable or a solar panel on the window. That is a plus in an old building where new chases cannot be cut. The minus: if you live in several countries, the battery is easy to forget. If you open the curtains twice a day, cable is more reliable.

The decision is made in the electrical design: a wired motor needs supply lines to each recess before the ceilings close, and 24 V supply needs a separate power unit in the panel.

Are motorised curtain tracks noisy?

A good motor runs quietly: by data sheet, quality models sit around 40 dB(A) or lower and you hear a light hum while it moves. Cheap motors are louder, and fabric on badly lubricated guides rubs and catches.

Noise depends on three things: the motor, the quality of the guide and the weight of the fabric. A heavy velvet curtain on a weak track scrapes, so the weight of the cloth per metre is calculated and compared with the track's permitted load. A motor with soft start and stop does not jerk the fabric and sounds softer.

For a bedroom, the motor is tested running before ordering if possible: listen to how it sounds in silence. In a morning mode the curtain can open slowly and then the noise is barely audible.

How do you link curtains with climate and an away scene?

Motorised curtains connect to the common control system: they close by sun, by schedule or by scene. In hot weather, closed south windows markedly cut the load on the air conditioner, and that is the most practical reason for automation. A sun sensor or an astronomical calendar lowers the curtains when the sun hits the window.

The away scene simulates presence: curtains open and close at varied times and the light comes on in the evening. For a flat you visit only now and then, it is the simplest means against outsiders' curiosity.

The link with climate and orientation is described in our article on house orientation and sun protection. If the smart-home base is already chosen, curtains connect as another circuit; choosing the platform is explained in our article on KNX and closed systems.

Can curtains be controlled from another country?

Yes, if the system is connected to the internet through a gateway and the home has a connection. The app shows the state of the curtains and lets you launch scenes, while the calendar and sensors work autonomously even if the connection drops. For reliability the schedule is stored in the controller itself, not in the cloud.

For an owner who lives in another country three things matter. First: curtains close on their own in the heat and open on command when cleaners are in. Second: an alert if a motor does not respond. Third: a manual backup for when internet or battery fail. It is something almost nobody thinks of until they stand in an airport with no app access.

Keys and staff access are handled separately, and there is an article on home security while the owner is away.

How can BCN YARD help with motorised curtains?

We visit the site, measure the windows and work with the designer to define recesses, heights and motor type. Power and control are planned with the electrics, before the ceilings close. We work with our own crew and trusted subcontractors, one person is responsible for the site, and we speak Russian and Spanish. The estimate is prepared after the visit and measurements.