Crestron shades have two updates this autumn: a refreshed roller shade fabric collection that Residential Systems lists as expected in November 2026, and support in Crestron Home 4.12 for new tilt limit firmware on Crestron's horizontal sheer shades. If you are choosing window treatments for a build or renovation in Dublin or Cork, both are worth knowing about before the fabric schedule is signed off.
The two updates in brief
- Roller shade fabrics.Residential Systems reported on 10 September 2026 that the refreshed collection brings eight new fabric collections in Crestron's Designer and Heritage families, spanning sheer, light filtering and blackout fabrics, and listed it as expected in November 2026.
- A new sample bag. The same report describes a redesigned, portable sample bag with 222 sampled fabric SKUs, of which 58 are brand new.
- Horizontal sheer tilt limits. Crestron Home 4.12, announced on 22 September 2026, supports new Horizontal Sheer Tilt Limit firmware, as CE Pro reported on 25 September 2026.
- Not yet known. Prices, and the date the new fabrics reach the Irish market.
Choosing fabrics for Crestron shades, room by room
Crestron makes four kinds of motorised shading: roller shades, horizontal sheers, Roman shades and drapery tracks for curtains. The fabric decides how a room feels, so this is how we would usually start the conversation on a new home.
| Room | What we would usually suggest | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bedrooms | A blackout roller shade, often with curtains or sheers in front | A dark room for sleep on summer mornings, when it gets light very early. |
| Living room | Horizontal sheers, or a light filtering roller shade | Daylight and privacy together, without losing the view. |
| Kitchen and family room | Light filtering roller shades on the large glazing | Softer light on worktops and screens without darkening the room. |
| Home office | Light filtering or sheer fabric | Less glare on the monitor, and the room stays bright. |
| Media room or cinema | Blackout fabric, ideally in a recess or pocket | A dark room for the picture, with less light around the edges. |
Crestron's own product manager of control and environmental solutions, Leah Martinez, calls horizontal sheers "ideal for rooms where both natural light and privacy are important", naming living rooms, kitchens, home offices and bedrooms, and points out that they dim the light without full blackout. In a bedroom we would usually give them a blackout partner.
The Crestron horizontal sheer and its new tilt firmware
A horizontal sheer is a set of fabric vanes suspended between two layers of sheer fabric. On Crestron's horizontal sheer page, the double sheer diffuses sunlight to soften glare and filters UV to protect furniture, floors and art, while the vanes adjust to let in more or less light. There are three fabric collections, Keystone, Telluride and Vail, each with a translucent and a light dimming version, and the largest shade is 303.5 cm across and 244 cm tall, subject to the fabric.
For shades, the news in Crestron Home 4.12 is support for Horizontal Sheer Tilt Limit firmware. Crestron has said little more than that in its release post of 22 September 2026, so we will confirm what it changes when we apply it to a system. The angle of the vanes is what balances light, view and privacy on these shades, so it is a setting worth getting right.
Crestron's horizontal sheer sample book is listed in our Crestron shop and is available on request, so you can hold the fabrics against your own windows before choosing.
What to wire for Crestron shades at first fix
- A cable to every window head. Crestron's horizontal sheer motors take 24 volt DC power and are controlled over a wired Cresnet connection or infiNET EX wireless. On a self build we run the cable while the walls are open, even to windows where the shade is not chosen yet.
- Central or local power. Crestron offers a plug in power supply at each window or a central supply for up to ten motors. The 10 motor supply in our shop also has a built in Cresnet hub, which suits a comms cabinet.
- A recess or pocket. Crestron offers an optional recessed pocket for horizontal sheers, which hides the roller in a ceiling or soffit. It has to be agreed with your builder before the ceiling is boarded, and we size it for the bulkiest fabric you are considering.
- Battery shades for awkward spots. For hard to reach windows or places without power, Crestron also makes battery powered roller shades.
Our first fix guide for self builders covers the rest of the cabling, and our motorised blinds pages for Dublin and Cork show the wider range of blinds and curtains we install.
If you already have Crestron shades
- Software. The tilt limit firmware needs Crestron Home 4.12 or newer, which according to Crestron's manual runs on three processors: the DIN-AP4-R and the Version 2 CP4-R and MC4-R. A system on a Version 1 processor, whose last feature update was 4.07, needs a new processor first.
- A service visit. An update and a check of the shades is booked as a visit: 4 hours is €440 plus VAT and extra time is €110 an hour plus VAT, as shown on our Crestron installation page.
- Scenes. It is a good moment to tie the shades into your lighting scenes, so one keypad button sets both. Our lighting control pages for Dublin and Cork explain how we design them.
1Install is a Crestron Elite Partner, and our founder, Kieran McGuire, holds every Crestron certification. Our Crestron installers in Dublin and in Cork also look after Crestron's newest hardware, including the 15 inch TSW-1580 touch screen when it ships, which runs the shades from the Crestron Home app.
Questions we are often asked
When will the new Crestron roller shade fabrics be available in Ireland?
Residential Systems lists the collection as expected in November 2026. Crestron has not given an Irish date or prices, so ask us and we will confirm with Crestron before you finalise a fabric.
Should I wait for the new fabrics?
Only if your shades are not needed for a few months, and we will confirm the Irish date first. The cabling and the recesses can go ahead now, and the fabric can be chosen later.
Do Crestron shades need a socket at every window?
Not necessarily. Wired horizontal sheer motors can run from a central power supply in the comms cabinet, which takes up to ten motors, and battery powered roller shades need no wired supply.
Can I see the fabrics before ordering?
Yes. Crestron shows its fabrics online at fabrics.crestron.com, and we can request the horizontal sheer sample book so you can try the swatches at your own windows.
Are horizontal sheers or roller shades better for a living room?
Horizontal sheers keep a view and soften the light, while a roller shade is simpler and comes in blackout. Many living rooms suit sheers on the main windows and roller shades elsewhere.
Book a consultation or call Dublin on 01 906 9326 or Cork on 021 202 8107.
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