A Somfy DecoFlex wall switch sends one command per channel. Each channel runs one motorized shade or a group of shades programmed to it as a set. Two facts set the choice: the count of zones the wall needs to run, and the radio the motors speak. Settle those two and the part number follows.
Somfy built the DecoFlex family on the Decora footprint, so the switch sits beside a light switch and matches it. White, ivory and black finishes cover most trim schemes, and Somfy backs the line with its 5-year warranty.
Count the zones before you count the buttons
Walk the room and list the shades that need to move on their own. A living room with three windows on one wall and a patio slider on another often needs two zones: the window bank and the door. A primary bedroom with blackout shades and sheers wants those layers on separate channels, so the owner can drop the privacy layer and keep the daylight.
Add one more channel if the household wants a single press to close the whole room. An RTS motor pairs with more than one channel, so a shade can answer its own button and an all-room group button on the same switch.
Shades programmed to one channel move together. Five shades on channel 1 rise and fall as one.
Somfy DecoFlex models side by side
The table lists the DecoFlex wall switches Shade Motors Direct stocks, grouped by channel count and radio. Specs come from Somfy's product pages.
| DecoFlex model | Part numbers | Channels | Radio | Mount and power | Runs these motors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WireFree RTS 1 Channel | 1810897 white, 1810898 ivory, 1810899 black | 1 | RTS, 433.42 MHz, up to 65 ft | Wall bracket, lithium coin cell | Somfy RTS motors and receivers |
| WireFree RTS 2 Channel | 1811068 white | 2 | RTS, 433.42 MHz, up to 65 ft | Wall bracket, lithium coin cell | Somfy RTS motors and receivers |
| WireFree RTS 3 Channel | 1811071 white, 1870908 white | 3 | RTS, 433.42 MHz, up to 65 ft | Wall bracket, lithium coin cell | Somfy RTS motors and receivers |
| WireFree RTS 4 Channel (kit) | 1811074 white | 4 | RTS, 433.42 MHz, up to 65 ft | Decorator plate, battery | Somfy RTS motors and receivers |
| WireFree RTS 5 Channel | 1810813 white, 1810814 ivory, 1810830 black | 5 | RTS, 433.42 MHz, up to 65 ft | Wall bracket, lithium coin cell | Somfy RTS motors and receivers |
| WireFree Zigbee 2 Channel In-wall | 1871573 white | 2 | Zigbee, 2.450 GHz | In-wall, 2 x AAA | Somfy Zigbee motors and Zigbee Smart Plugs |
| WireFree Zigbee 4 Channel In-wall | 1871572 white | 4 | Zigbee 3.0, 2.450 GHz | In-wall, 2 x AAA | Somfy Zigbee motors and Zigbee Smart Plugs |
| WireFree Zigbee 4 Channel Surface-mount | 1871576 white | 4 | Zigbee 3.0, 2.450 GHz | Surface-mount, 2 x AAA | Somfy Zigbee motors and Zigbee Smart Plugs |
| SDN Keypad V2, 6-Button | 1871479 white | 6 buttons | SDN, hard-wired | In-wall, 24V minimum | Somfy SDN 2.0 motors |
RTS WireFree or Zigbee: match the switch to the motor
The switch has to speak the motor's radio. An RTS DecoFlex moves RTS motors, and a Zigbee DecoFlex moves Zigbee motors. Check the motor label or the motor part number for "RTS" or "Zigbee" before ordering.
The DecoFlex WireFree RTS line transmits on 433.42 MHz with up to 65 ft of omni-directional range, so the switch works from any angle. It controls any Somfy RTS motor or receiver: Sonesse RTS roller motors, Glydea RTS drapery motors, awning and screen motors and RTS receivers for lights. It also works next to RTS remotes, timers, myLink and TaHoma in the same house. Most homes with existing Somfy RTS shades land here.
The DecoFlex WireFree Zigbee keypads run on Zigbee 3.0 at 2.450 GHz and two AAA batteries. Somfy rates them IP 20 for interior walls. They run Somfy Zigbee motors on their own, including Sonesse Zigbee roller motors, Glydea ULTRA Zigbee drapery motors and the Cord Lift TLW25 WireFree Zigbee, and they control Somfy Zigbee Smart Plugs too.
Add the Somfy TaHoma Switch RTS and Zigbee Smart Hub (1871037) and the same Zigbee keypad joins app scenes and voice control. TaHoma speaks both radios, which gives a mixed RTS and Zigbee house one app.
Picking a channel count by room
Start from the zone list and round up one channel for growth. Buttons cost less than a second switch later.
- 1 channel: a bathroom, laundry room or a single large window. The Somfy DecoFlex 1 Channel RTS Wireless Wall Switch White (1810897) also comes in ivory (1810898) and black (1810899).
- 2 channels: a bedroom with blackout and sheer layers, or a room with one window bank and one door. Pick the Somfy DecoFlex 2 Channel RTS WireFree Wall Switch (1811068) for RTS motors, or the Somfy DecoFlex WireFree Zigbee 2 Channel In-wall (1871573) for Zigbee motors.
- 3 channels: a kitchen with a sink window, a breakfast nook and an all-room group. The Somfy DecoFlex 3 Channel RTS Wireless Wall Switch White (1811071) fits this room.
- 4 channels: a great room with front windows, side windows, a slider and a group button. Choose the Somfy DecoFlex RTS WireFree 4-Channel (kit) (1811074) for RTS, or the Somfy DecoFlex WireFree Zigbee 4-Channel In-Wall Keypad (1871572) for Zigbee.
- 5 channels: a back entry that runs the family room shades, kitchen shades, patio drapery and an exterior awning from one spot. The Somfy DecoFlex 5 Channel RTS WireFree Wall Switch White (1810813) handles that job, with ivory (1810814) and black (1810830) finishes. Our DecoFlex 5 channel guide covers that switch in depth.
Two switches at two doors work fine. RTS motors accept more than one transmitter, so the hallway switch and the patio switch can both run the same shades.
Mounting, wall plates and labeled buttons
The RTS WireFree switches need no wiring and no electrician. Somfy ships a low-profile mounting bracket that stands alone or sits beside an existing electrical box, and the instructions walk the installer through cutting a rectangular opening in the drywall. The switch accepts standard decorator-style wall plates, screwed or screwless, so it can share a multi-gang plate with the light switches. Stick-on button labels come in the box.
For the Zigbee line, Somfy offers in-wall and surface-mount versions. The Somfy DecoFlex WireFree Zigbee 4-Channel Surface Mount (1871576) needs no opening in the wall. Installers reach for it on tile backsplashes and in rentals.
Households with guests or a nanny often want the buttons to read "Kitchen" or "Patio" in print. The Somfy DecoFlex 3 Channel RTS Wireless Wall Switch with Custom Buttons (1811071) ships with factory-printed channel buttons in place of the stick-on labels.
Tabletop and hard-wired SDN options
An RTS DecoFlex does not have to live on the wall. The Somfy DecoFlex RTS Table Top Accessory, White (1811185) turns any 1 to 5 channel DecoFlex WireFree RTS switch into a nightstand or coffee-table controller. A black version (1811051) matches the black switches.
Commercial projects and large homes on Somfy Digital Network need the hard-wired path. The Somfy DecoFlex SDN Keypad V2, 6-Button, White (1871479) talks straight to SDN 2.0 motors with no central controller. Each of its six buttons takes separate Press, Release and Hold commands, it carries eight dry contact inputs, and the installer configures it in Set pro by Somfy. It needs a 24V minimum supply on the SDN bus.
For a broader look at Somfy wall controls beyond DecoFlex, read our Somfy wall controller guide.
Somfy DecoFlex FAQ
Can one DecoFlex channel run several shades?
Yes. Each DecoFlex channel controls one motorized product or one group. Program three RTS shades to channel 1 and they move together on one press. A shade can also pair with a second channel, so it answers its own button and a whole-room group button on the same switch. Plan the groups on paper before programming to keep the button layout logical.
Will a DecoFlex RTS switch work with Zigbee motors?
No. The switch radio has to match the motor radio. DecoFlex WireFree RTS switches transmit on 433.42 MHz and run Somfy RTS motors and receivers. DecoFlex WireFree Zigbee keypads run on Zigbee 3.0 at 2.450 GHz and run Somfy Zigbee motors and Smart Plugs. A TaHoma switch speaks both radios and brings a mixed house into one app.
Do I need an electrician to install a DecoFlex wall switch?
No for the WireFree RTS and Zigbee models. Both run on batteries and need no line voltage. The RTS switch mounts on a low-profile bracket in a rectangular drywall opening, beside an existing box or alone, and takes a standard decorator plate. The Zigbee surface-mount version needs no wall opening. The DecoFlex SDN Keypad V2 is hard-wired and calls for an SDN installer.
Does a Somfy DecoFlex take a coin cell or AAA batteries?
The DecoFlex WireFree RTS switches use an internal, replaceable lithium coin cell, and Somfy includes it in the box. The DecoFlex WireFree Zigbee keypads use two LR3 (AAA) 1.5V batteries. The DecoFlex SDN Keypad V2 draws power from the wired SDN network and needs no battery.
Shade Motors Direct is an authorized source for genuine Somfy motorized window shade, blind, and drapery parts.
