Set it and forget it. That’s what it’s been like to live with Lutron’s Serena Shades for the past year, and it’s exactly what I want from a device like this. Lutron’s website may look a little dated, but you can see a number of options as you design your custom shades (in honeycomb, wood blind, or roller blind designs). I chose the latter and entered the measurements from the inside bracket of my windows into Lutron’s shade maker tool. You can choose between battery and cord, but since I don’t have outlets near my windows and didn’t want to deal with a 15-foot cord, I went with batteries (eight D-cell alkaline batteries). Good news on that note: these batteries should last three to five years if you open and close the blinds twice a day! Once the batteries start to run low, the shades will move at half speed, indicating it’s time to change them (you’ll also get an alert in the Lutron app).
Some of the following options in the design process may differ if you choose a different curtain style, but you can mount these curtains on the inside or outside bracket of your windows, and even on top of the frame if you like (I did an inside mount). . Next, choose the type of header you want. I chose the fabric wrapped fascia, which will cost a little more, but looks cleaner than the standard roll design. Lutron also lets you choose between clear, translucent, or opaque for the roller shade, and I chose translucent. It can let in very little light on sunny days and at night, looking from outside, I can see just a faint glow from my living room lights. I couldn’t see any silhouette! Finally, choose the fabric and color of your fabric (I made Luna
During the ordering process, you will also need to choose how you want to control your curtains. I wanted to use my phone and voice assistant, but also have the option of a remote control, so I chose the Remote & Connected Home option. Make sure to hook the Lutron Smart Centerwhich you will need to connect to your router to pair your shades with your Wi-Fi connection. It was pretty easy to set everything up and connect to Google Assistant in the Google Home app (you can set them up with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, and even other brands like Sonos, Ecobee, and Honeywell).
The installation itself took no more than an hour (hopefully you’re comfortable with drilling and assembling items) and everything has gone smoothly since then. I set a schedule for the blinds to open and close 30 minutes after sunrise and sunset, and they have been doing exactly that for almost a year. They are almost silent. There is a very faint humming noise, but honestly, if I didn’t see them moving and I wasn’t paying attention and the TV was on, I would never hear them at all. They look great, work perfectly, and I don’t have to worry about battery life for years. They are expensive, but you are paying for your peace of mind. —Julian Chokkattu
