The easy way to install Somfy motorised curtains.
Welcome to our simple guide to installing your new, motorised curtains. Your custom kit includes premium Somfy technology and made to measure tracks and it's super easy to use. Have fun as you click and lock parts together.
What you’ll need to install
1-2 peole
20-30 minutes per window
What you’ll need to install
- your step ladder
- a tape measure (metal is best)
- a screw driver
- a cordless drill with a Phillips head drill bit
- a 3 mm drill bit
- a stud finder
- a pencil
- protective eyewear
- *For large curtains it is best to have a second person help.
Before you get going
If you're drilling into wood, follow the steps in this guide.
If you're drilling into plaster, you have two options:
use a stud finder to locate your wall studs or ceiling battens then follow the steps in this guide.
use Ramset 10 mm Grip Hollow Wall Anchors, which will help secure your track to plaster.
If you're drilling into concrete, stone, brick or tile use a Masonry drill and appropriate plugs, anchors or screws.
If you're just not sure contact us so we can help!
Verify Measurements: Before installing your motorised curtains, double-check the final measurements of the supplied products to ensure they match your order and fit the intended space. If there is any doubt, notify us within 7 days.
Confirm Installation Items: Ensure you have all the necessary components and tools as specified in the installation guide.
Follow the Instructions Carefully: Adhere to the provided installation steps, particularly those indicating where two people are required for safe handling.
Inspect the Area: Perform a visual inspection of the installation area to identify and mitigate any risks to surrounding surfaces, objects, or structures.
For wired Somfy motors have your electrician wire your cabling before you install your curtains. We mail your cables out to you a few days after you've placed your motorised curtains order.
For battery powered Somfy motors that are brand new, you'll need to fully charge the motor before you start. See I need extra help at the bottom of this page. For wired motors you don't need to worry about charging the motor.
Your custom kit:
Because we know how easy it is to lose small parts, you may get a few extras in your kit.
A
Your curtain panel(s)
B
Your Somfy motor
C
Your Somfy track(s) (all components included for single track)
D
Your Somfy battery charger (battery motors)
E
Brackets (ceiling mount)
F
Brackets (face mount)
G
Screws
H
Motor hooks
I
For S fold curtains: Spare pendants
J
For pleated curtains: Spare hooks
K
For track made in 2 or more pieces: Track joiner
L
Your lead arm
M
Your secondary arm (centre opening curtains)
N
Your master carrier(s) (attached to your track) and lock
OK it's time to start installing, let's take it step by step.
Installing your motorised curtains onto your ceiling is easy and fun. Follow these 10 steps, then kick back and admire a job well done. Here's how to do it:
Get organised
A
Unpack your kit and gently lay it all out on a clean, hard surface or the cardboard packaging it came in.
B
Lay your track(s) near your window to check the width and make note of where it will be installed.
Make a note of which side your Somfy motor will be on. For left and right stack curtains the motor will be on the side that the curtain is stacking.
C
Check how many brackets you need for your track width. Lay out the brackets next to your track and space them 600 mm apart. This is the standard distance between ceiling battens.
Put your track together
A
For two pieces of track, grab your track joiner and a screw driver and slightly loosen the 4 screws in the joiner.
If you only have one piece of track skip to step 4.
B
Lay your tracks on their side with the wide gap facing forwards to you.
Slide the track joiner part way into the rails at the end of one of your tracks. Then slide the joiner into the rails at the end of your second track. Bring your tracks together and tuck in the black belt inside your tracks.
C
Centre the track joiner and tighten the 4 screws with your screw driver. Start with the two outside screws and finish with the two inside screws.
Attach the arm(s)
A
For two pieces of track, turn over your track so the side with the slim gap is facing upwards to the ceiling. Make a mental note of which side your motor will be on. In this position your track is upside down and back to front. It’s really important to attach the arm the right way around as shown in steps 3B and 3C so when you flip your track over to install it the arm is at the front.
Join the master carrier by bringing the two pieces of the carrier together. Pinch them between your thumb and forefinger. Grab the 3 pronged lock and insert it from above to join the two master carrier pieces.
B
Grab your lead arm and hold it horizontally so the arm points away from your motor end. Place it onto the back of the master carrier so the holes in the lead arm line up with the holes in the master carrier. For centre opening curtains choose the master carrier closest to your motor end.
Grab the back part of the lead arm and place it onto the front of the master carrier facing you so the holes line up with the holes in the master carrier. The wheel end should be pointing towards your motor. Grab two screws and insert them through your lead arm to join both parts of your lead arm to your master carrier.
C
For centre opening curtains, repeat steps A and B to join your second master carrier and to attach your secondary arm to the back of the master carrier. The secondary arm will point away from your motor end.
You will need to unscrew the back part of the secondary arm from the master carrier before you screw both parts of your secondary arm onto the carrier.
Attach your motor hook
A
Flip your track over so it's the right way around with the wider gap facing upwards to the ceiling. The arm(s) should be at the front facing forwards.
Grab a motor hook and slide it onto the outside of your drive pulley at the motor end. You'll attach your curtains to the hook in step 9 to hide your motor. You can attach the hook at a 7 o'clock or an 11 o'clock position, just pick which one works best.
Mark your ceiling battens
A
If your ceiling battens run lengthways, use your stud finder to find your ceiling battens. Make a pencil mark on each ceiling batten that your curtains will cover, 35 mm out from your wall or out from any window frames or roller blinds that project out. These marks are where the back of your brackets will line up.
If you have a double track make a second set of pencil marks on each ceiling batten that your curtains will cover, 145 mm out from your wall or out from any window frames or roller blinds that project out. These marks are where the back of your brackets will line up for your front track.
Your brackets will screw into your ceiling battens, and you'll need brackets near both ends and the middle of the track.
B
If your ceiling battens run widthways, use your stud finder to find the ceiling batten that your curtains will hang from and make pencil marks along the batten. The ceiling batten needs to be at least 35 mm out from your wall or out from any window frames or roller blinds that project out. These marks are where the back of your brackets will line up.
If you have a double track use your stud finder again to find the ceiling batten your front track will hang from, and make pencil marks along the batten. The ceiling batten needs to be at least 145 mm out from your wall, so there's enough space for two tracks.
Your brackets will screw into your ceiling batten, and you'll need brackets near both ends and the middle of the track.
C
Can't find ceiling battens? Don't stress! Ceiling battens are the best surface to attach curtains to, so call us if you need some help finding your battens. Remember you can use plaster wall anchors if you can't find your ceiling battens.
Screwing into concrete, stone, brick or tile? You can skip this step completely.
Screw in your brackets
A
Position the back of your brackets in line with the pencil marks on your ceiling battens, and mark the screw hole with a pencil. Mark the hole nearest the front of your track.
B
Using your protective eyewear and your cordless drill with the 3 mm drill bit, drill each hole. Look for wood shavings as a sign that you're drilling into the ceiling battens.
C
Screw your brackets tightly into your ceiling using your cordless drill with the Phillips head drill bit and the screws in your custom kit.
Using plaster wall anchors or screwing into concrete, stone, brick or tile? Contact us for guidance on attaching to different surfaces.
Click in your track
A
Pick up your track and click it into the middle bracket first and then into all your other brackets. Make sure your track is the right way up with your arm(s) at the front facing forwards. Check as you go that the track is fixed securely in place.
If you have a double track, just follow the same steps to click in both tracks.
Attach your Somfy motor
A
For wired motors you can hide your motor cabling inside your motor before you attach your motor. Just run your cable up the inside of your motor where the collar is and pull it out the top of your motor.
B
Grab your motor and lift it up to your drive pulley on the end where your motor will be. Open the latch on your motor.
Insert the motor rod into the hole on the underside of your drive pulley. Close the latch on your motor to make sure it's secure.
If you have a wired motor don't plug your motor into power just yet. You'll plug it in when you set up your remote control.
C
Motor won't stay put? Check the latch on your motor and make sure you've pushed it across to the closed position.
Click in your curtains
A
Check the top of your curtain panels and make sure there's a pendant or hook attached to each press stud.
Missing a pendant or hook? Simply grab a spare pendant or hook from your custom kit and click it onto the press stud, where the pendant or hook is missing.
B
For S fold curtains, grab your curtain panel. Click each pendant on your curtain panel into the runners hanging from your track, starting at the outside with the hook on your motor end drive pulley. Take care not to miss any pendants and make sure you click your curtains into the runners on your lead arm.
Make the S shape as you go, by folding the fabric alternately forwards then backwards. For centre opening curtains just repeat this step for your second curtain panel. If you have a double track, click the curtains into the rear track closest to your wall first, then repeat for the front track.
C
For pleated curtains, grab your curtain panel. Hook your curtains into the runners hanging from your track, starting at the outside with the hook on your motor end drive pulley. Take care not to miss any hooks and make sure you hook your curtains into the holes on your lead arm. For centre opening curtains just repeat this step for your second curtain panel.
If you have a double track, click the curtains into the rear track closest to your wall first, then repeat for the front track.
Get Insta ready
A
For S fold curtains, you’re ready to help your curtains form perfect S Folds. Starting at the top, ensure the heading is shaped as an S. Once you’ve dressed the heading, you can start to dress the body of the curtain. Work sequentially from one side of the curtain to the other, ensuring each S fold follows from the top of the curtain to the bottom of the curtain when they’re drawn open.
B
An S fold curtain is a structured heading, which means you only need to dress the heading the first time they’re installed and never again. The heading does all the work, offering you effortless luxury. If your curtains ever do get messy, all you need to do to tidy the folds is run your fingers through your curtains and manipulate the fabric to follow the folds from the heading at the top, to the bottom. That easy.
C
You're all done installing your motorised curtains!
Head over to our guides to set up your controls.
I need some extra help
New, battery powered motors need to be fully charged before you use them.
Grab your Somfy power charger and connect it to your motor cable, making sure the other end of the cable is plugged into your motor.
When the LED on the charger turns green, it's ready to go and you can disconnect the charger.
This can happen from time to time, and it's nothing to worry about.
If you just put up your new curtains, let them settle. With time the creases will just fall out, and warm weather helps too. Remember not to iron or steam them as it might damage the fabric.
You'll need some silicon spray for this one.
Open your curtains all the way, then apply a thin layer of silicon spray onto the tracks, especially where the pendants slide across. Take care not to spray your curtain fabric.
If your curtains have lost their shape, simply tidy the S Folds by first drawing your curtains open. Then run your fingers from the top of your curtains to the bottom, forming neat folds that align to the S folds created in your curtain heading (top of your curtain). Our suggestion is to leave the curtain drawn open for a couple of days so that the fabric relaxes and remembers the folds.
