As luxury homeowners continue placing greater emphasis on wellness, comfort and personalized design, automated shading and drapery solutions are becoming a larger part of the smart home conversation.
In a recent CE Pro interview, Lutron Product Manager Sheng Qu discussed how the market for motorized shading is evolving beyond traditional roller shades into more layered, design-focused solutions that combine performance with aesthetics. According to Qu, homeowners and designers are increasingly looking for spaces that feel “warm, layered and personalized,” driving renewed interest in drapery systems, Roman shades and other soft window treatments.
Rather than replacing roller shades, Qu says many luxury projects are now combining multiple window treatments to balance privacy, daylight management and interior design goals. Examples include blackout shades paired with sheer drapery or dual-shade systems that allow homeowners to maintain views while still controlling sunlight and glare.
Qu also noted that automated shading has shifted from a “nice-to-have” luxury to an expected part of the modern smart home experience. That trend, he says, creates a growing opportunity for integrators looking to expand beyond traditional AV and control offerings into lighting and shading categories.
Looking ahead to CEDIA Expo 2026, Qu teased new drapery solutions and expanded fabric offerings from Lutron, including exclusive designs intended to give integrators and designers more flexibility across luxury residential projects. He added that Lutron continues investing in dealer support through training programs, design assistance and local technical resources aimed at helping integrators confidently enter and grow within the category.
The conversation also touched on the growing relationship between integrators and interior designers, with Qu encouraging dealers to approach designers as collaborative partners rather than simply vendors.
