Somfy Home Automation for Blinds and Awnings

Indoor Roller and Zebra Blinds

Somfy Sonesse motors fit inside the headrail of standard roller blinds, zebra blinds, and honeycomb blinds. The motor replaces the manual chain — no external hardware, no visible change to the window. Operation is whisper-quiet.

Typical indoor automation setups:

• Bedroom blackout — blinds close automatically at sunset and open gently with sunrise. No chains near children’s beds.
• Home office glare control — schedule blinds to lower when afternoon sun hits the screen, or trigger via a light sensor.
• Living room scenes — “Movie mode” lowers every blind in the room. “Morning” opens them all. One tap or voice command.
• Multiple windows in sync — group 5, 10, or 20 blinds and operate them together. No walking room to room.
• Holiday mode — blinds open and close on schedule while you are away, making the home look occupied.

Sonesse motors carry a 5-year manufacturer warranty through Somfy South Africa. Rechargeable battery motors are available for windows with no power outlet nearby — charge via USB once or twice a year.

Outdoor Blinds

Outdoor blinds on patios, decks, and entertainment areas are the products that benefit most from automation. They are large, they need to respond to weather, and you do not always want to walk outside to operate them manually.

• Wind protection — a Somfy wind sensor (Eolis) automatically raises the blind when gusts reach a set threshold. This prevents fabric damage and track stress when you are not home.
• Sun response — a sun sensor lowers the blind when UV levels rise, keeping the patio comfortable without manual intervention.
• Rain reaction — combined with a weather station, outdoor blinds can lower to protect furniture and floors from sudden showers.
• Remote operation — lower or raise outdoor blinds from inside the house, from the braai, or from your phone while you are out.

For large spans and frequent use, motorisation is not a luxury — it extends the life of the blind by ensuring smooth, consistent operation every time rather than the jerky manual pull that wears side-channels unevenly.

Retractable Folding Arm Awnings

Somfy motors are the industry standard for retractable folding arm awnings. Manual crank operation works on smaller units, but anything over 3 metres projection or in daily use should be motorised.

• Wind sensor (Eolis) — retracts the awning automatically in strong gusts. Essential on the Garden Route where conditions change fast. Protects the fabric and arms even when you are away.
• Sun sensor (Sunis) — extends the awning when the sun reaches a set intensity. Combined with the wind sensor, this creates a fully autonomous shade system that manages itself throughout the day.
• Timer programming — set the awning to extend at 11:00 and retract at 17:00 during summer. Useful for holiday homes and rental properties.
• Integration with outdoor blinds — group the awning with side blinds so one command shades the entire patio from above and from the sides simultaneously.

Louvre Awnings

Motorised louvre awnings rotate their blades between fully open (sky view, maximum airflow) and fully closed (solid rain and sun protection). Somfy motors allow precise angle control — not just open or closed, but any position between.

• Rain sensor — blades close automatically when rain is detected, protecting the space below without anyone touching a switch.
• Angle scheduling — programme blades to follow the sun angle through the day. Open in the morning for warmth, angled at midday for shade, open again in the evening.
• Integration with lighting — add Somfy-controlled LED strips to the louvre structure and create scenes that combine shade position and lighting mood.

The Somfy Ecosystem

Every motor, sensor, and remote we install is part of a single connected system. This is what makes Somfy different from standalone motorised blinds.

TaHoma hub — the brain of the system. Connects all Somfy motors and sensors in your home to one app. Create scenes, set schedules, monitor status, and control everything remotely. Works over Wi-Fi with cloud backup.

Voice control — TaHoma integrates with Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit. “Hey Google, close the patio blinds” works exactly as you would expect.

Situo remotes — dedicated wall-mounted or handheld remotes for quick manual control. Each remote can operate individual products or groups. Clean, minimal design that does not clutter the wall.

Sensors — wind (Eolis), sun (Sunis), and combined weather stations. These make your shading autonomous rather than reactive. The system responds to conditions faster than you can.

Retrofit or new build — Somfy motors fit into existing blinds and awnings as well as new installations. Wireless and rechargeable options mean no rewiring is needed for most retrofits. We plan power outlets during new builds so every product is ready for motorisation from day one.

How We Work

Duncan designs every automation setup during the site visit. This is not a product you order online and figure out — the value is in the system design: which products talk to each other, where sensors are positioned, how scenes are configured, and how the wiring is routed cleanly.

1. Site visit — assess which products to automate, where power is available, and what you want the system to do.
2. System design — specify motors, sensors, hub, and controls. Map scenes and schedules to your daily routine.
3. Installation — our team installs motors, runs wiring, mounts sensors, and configures the TaHoma hub on-site.
4. Handover — we set up your phone app, programme your scenes, and walk you through everything before we leave.
5. Aftercare — local Garden Route support for adjustments, sensor recalibration, and system expansion as you add products.

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore Smart Shading

• Indoor Blinds — roller, zebra, honeycomb, venetian.
• Outdoor Blinds — PVC, screen mesh, side-channel systems.
• Retractable Awnings — folding arm systems with Somfy motorisation.
• Louvre and Fixed Awnings — weather-responsive blade systems.
• Motorised Blinds Guide — in-depth blog article.