Motorised Curtains: Why Smart Curtains Are the Upgrade Your Home Actually Needs
TL;DR
softhome's motorised curtains are powered by Somfy — a world-renowned brand engineered for silent, smooth, and reliable operation
The Glydea ULTRA motor operates at a minimum acoustic level of -38dB and handles curtain loads of up to 60kg
Control your curtains via smartphone app, remote, or voice commands through Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa
Soft start and soft stop ensures curtains glide open and closed without jerking or abrupt movement
Manual override is built in — curtains can still be operated by hand in the event of a power failure
Ideal for hard-to-reach windows, loft units, high ceilings, and households where daily curtain operation is a friction point
Fully compatible with day curtains and night curtains (blackout and dim-out) from softhome's fabric range
—
Most Singapore homeowners spend very little time thinking about how often they interact with their curtains. Until they do the maths. Open them in the morning, close them against the afternoon heat, draw them again for evening privacy — multiply that by every room, every day, and the cumulative effort of operating heavy, hard-to-reach, or tangled curtains adds up faster than expected.
Motorised curtains — specifically softhome's Somfy-powered system — eliminate this friction entirely. They are not a novelty upgrade or a luxury for the few. They are a practical, durable, and increasingly accessible solution for Singapore homeowners who want their home to work better with less daily effort. And in a country where the sun demands constant light management and smart home integration is increasingly the norm, motorised curtains make more sense here than almost anywhere else.
What Are Motorised Curtains?
Motorised curtains are curtains fitted to a motorised track system that opens and closes the fabric automatically, without manual pulling or cord operation. softhome's motorised curtains use Somfy — a French-engineered brand that softhome describes as "world-renowned and trustworthy" — as the motor and control system behind every installation.
The core of softhome's motorised curtain offering is the Somfy Glydea ULTRA — a track motor specifically engineered for curtains, with the following key characteristics:
Ultra-quiet operation — minimum acoustic level of -38dB, meaning the curtain moves in near-silence
Soft start and soft stop — fabric accelerates and decelerates gradually, with no jerking or abrupt movement
Traversing capacity up to 60kg — handles everything from lightweight day curtains to heavy blackout drapes without strain
Manual override — in the event of a power failure, curtains can still be operated by hand, ensuring uninterrupted functionality
No visible cords or wands — the track system is clean and minimal, with no dangling elements that collect dust or create visual clutter
How You Control Motorised Curtains
One of the more practical aspects of softhome's Somfy motorised curtains is the range of control options — you're not limited to one method:
Remote control — a dedicated Somfy remote operates the curtains with a single button press
Smartphone or tablet app — iOS and Android compatible, allows control from anywhere in the home (or remotely)
Scheduled automation — set specific open and close times so curtains operate automatically at the right moments throughout the day
Custom stop positions — curtains can be programmed to stop at specific points, not just fully open or fully closed
Google Assistant — voice control via the Somfy TaHoma Beecon hub integration
Amazon Alexa — voice control through the same hub, for homes already using an Alexa ecosystem
The Somfy TaHoma Beecon acts as the bridge between the motorised track system and your smart home setup, enabling the voice and app integrations. softhome provides setup guidance for both Google Assistant and Alexa linkage.
Why Motorised Curtains Make Particular Sense in Singapore
Singapore's conditions create a specific daily demand on window treatments that motorisation addresses directly:
Intense tropical sun — the hottest parts of the day in Singapore are predictable. Scheduling curtains to close automatically between 11am and 3pm reduces heat build-up without requiring any manual action
Furniture and flooring protection — constant UV exposure fades fabrics, timber flooring, and furnishings over time. Automated closing during peak sun hours provides consistent UV protection without relying on anyone remembering to do it
High-density privacy needs — as interior lights come on in the evening, privacy becomes important across Singapore's closely spaced residential buildings. Scheduled evening closing means privacy is handled automatically, every night
Hard-to-reach windows — loft units, high-ceiling spaces, and large floor-to-ceiling glass panels in condominiums are common in Singapore and notoriously awkward to operate manually. Motorisation removes this challenge entirely
Child safety — no cords, no strings, no tangled mechanisms. The cordless design of softhome's Somfy motorised track is inherently safer for households with young children
What Curtain Fabrics Work with Motorised Tracks?
softhome's Somfy motorised track system is compatible with the full softhome curtain fabric range — this is an important practical point. You don't have to choose between motorisation and the fabric or finish you want:
Day curtains (sheer/translucent) — lightweight, fully compatible, and particularly elegant when operated smoothly and silently by a motorised system
Night curtains — Blackout — the Glydea ULTRA's 60kg traversing capacity handles even heavy blackout fabrics without strain
Night curtains — Dim-out — equally compatible, with the added benefit of scheduling dim-out curtains to a specific position that allows partial light at specific times of day
Layered day and night curtain setups — motorisation adds the most value here, making switching between sheer and blackout instant and effortless without touching either track manually
Explore our full range of curtains here.
The softhome Motorised Curtains Difference
Choosing motorised curtains through softhome means the track system and fabric selection are handled together — not as two separate decisions from two separate suppliers:
Somfy Glydea ULTRA — ultra-quiet, soft start/stop, up to 60kg capacity, manual override
Full fabric compatibility — day curtains, blackout, and dim-out all supported
Smart home integration — Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and the Somfy TaHoma Beecon hub
Custom stop positions — curtains can be set to stop at any point, not just end positions
Expert consultation — softhome's team assesses your window configuration, curtain weight, and smart home setup before any recommendation is made
Cordless, clean aesthetic — no visible cords, wands, or mechanical clutter
Want to see how motorised curtains would work in your home? Book a consultation with softhome — the team will walk you through fabric options, track configuration, and smart home integration matched to your specific setup.
FAQ: Motorised Curtains Singapore — Answered
What brand of motor does softhome use for motorised curtains?
softhome uses Somfy — a world-renowned French-engineered brand — specifically the Glydea ULTRA motor, designed for silent operation, soft start/stop, and a traversing capacity of up to 60kg.
Can motorised curtains be controlled by voice?
Yes. softhome's Somfy motorised curtains integrate with both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa via the Somfy TaHoma Beecon hub, enabling full voice command control.
What happens if there's a power failure?
softhome's Somfy motorised curtains include a manual override function — curtains can be operated by hand in the event of a power failure, ensuring uninterrupted functionality.
How quiet are motorised curtains?
The Somfy Glydea ULTRA motor operates at a minimum acoustic level of -38dB — near-silent in practical terms. Soft start and soft stop ensure smooth, jerk-free movement with minimal noise.
What curtain fabrics are compatible with motorised tracks?
softhome's motorised track system is compatible with the full curtain fabric range — including day curtains (sheer), blackout night curtains, and dim-out night curtains — as well as layered day and night curtain setups on double tracks.
Are motorised curtains suitable for high-ceiling or hard-to-reach windows?
Yes — this is one of the primary use cases softhome highlights. Loft units, high ceilings, and large floor-to-ceiling glass panels that are awkward to operate manually are exactly where motorisation delivers the clearest practical benefit.
Can I set motorised curtains to open and close automatically?
Yes. softhome's Somfy system supports scheduled automation — curtains can be programmed to open and close at set times, and can also be set to stop at custom intermediate positions throughout the day.