As long as your automated blinds are Apple HomeKit compatible it is relatively straightforward to set them up to work in harmony. Basic functions are easily configurable while more advanced scenes may need some IFTTT recipes to make them work. If you’re looking to set up automated blinds fast with Apple HomeKit, this post is for you!
Apple HomeKit is a platform of iOS compatible standards that allow smart home devices to work together. The upcoming Apple Home app will provide a single place to control everything from lights to alarms, blinds to remote entry. It is blinds that we will set up today.
Set up automated blinds with Apple HomeKit
I’ll assume you have your blinds already and that they are Apple HomeKit compatible. I use Lutron Serena Shades as the example as I own some and have configured them to work with Apple HomeKit and Amazon Echo. You will need the optional Lutron Caseta Smart Bridge to make this all work.
1. Make sure the Caseta Smart Bridge is configured to control the blinds, already running and connected to your Wi-fi network.
2. Open the Lutron app and tap the gear icon in the top left of the screen.
3. Tap Siri Integration and then Add home.
4. Give it a unique name.
5. Add the HomeKit Accessory Setup Code on the bottom of the Bridge.
6. Confirm the setup if required.
Now you can use Siri to open and close the blinds and control any other Lutron devices you may have. If you want to have more control or create more intuitive scenes, you will need to create an IFTTT recipe, which we will cover another time.
If you're an Apple user, Apple HomeKit for beginners: How to set up and connect devices might be useful. The Top 10 iOS apps for your smart home isn't bad either!
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