Regardless of how much you enjoy the scorching heat in summer or listening to the sound of the rain fall in winter, chances are you don’t want to be exposed to these elements while enjoying your outdoor living area. The climate is just one of the 5 key things to consider when choosing outdoor blinds and shades. We have put together the following list of items that you should take into consideration when purchasing residential shade products for your outdoor area.

1. What purposes do your Outdoor Blinds need to serve?

Your answer to this initial question will help you to refine your outdoor blind options. Do you want to protect the new set of outdoor furniture you just purchased? Do you want your outdoor area to be used as another family living space? Do you want to add more privacy to your backyard? Deciding the purpose of your outdoor blinds is the first step in whittling down your options.

2. The climate

To use an outdoor space all year round, you’ll need to think about the impact that weather conditions will have on your space. In summer it is likely that you will need protection from the suns harsh rays and glare, while in the cooler months you will think about shelter from the wind and rain. Rather than having to choose one option over another or compromising on an outdoor blind solution, there are many options that cater to all four seasons with retractable or demountable capabilities. This takes us to the next point to consider when choosing outdoor blinds.

3. The ease of operation

There will be times during the cooler months when you will want to open up your outdoor blinds to take advantage of the suns natural warmth and light. However, if you want to remain outdoors after dusk or when the wind starts to pick up, you’ll probably want to close the blinds for protection. This is where you will start to think about permanent or retractable outdoor blind options and how easy it is to operate them. We all know how frustrating it can be to manually work with ropes and pulleys, especially when bad weather strikes suddenly. Lucky for us the majority of awnings, ziptrak window blinds and patio and alfresco shades can be motorised, meaning outdoor blinds will extend and retract at the touch of a button.

4. Type of fabric

The type of fabric chosen for outdoor blinds goes hand in hand with climate conditions. Choosing a PVC material will give you protection from the wind and rain while also maintaining a view of your backyard and allowing natural light to enter the outdoor space. However, closing your PVC blinds on a warm but windy summer’s day may make your outdoor entertaining area just too hot. The ideal alternative is to install mesh blinds. Mesh is a versatile fabric that offers the best of both worlds. Available in several different grades that can block out the effects of the sun in summer and keep out cold winds and rain in winter, mesh blinds tend to be the ideal choice. Canvas is another material option that offers a high level of UV protection and durability, much like acrylic fabrics. Choosing the material for your outdoor blinds won’t seem as daunting as it does right now after you have considered the previous key considerations.

5. Energy consumption

Outdoor blinds really are more functional that most people will think. Outdoor blinds and awnings can be used to make your home more energy efficient, particularly in summer when blinds can help block up to 35% of the suns powerful rays from entering your home. This reduces the over reliance of air-conditioning systems. And don’t think that motorised blinds and awnings aren’t environmentally friendly. If you opened and closed Kenlow’s retractable folding arm awnings every day for a year, it would cost less than $1 for the entire 12 months.

Kenlow offers a wide range of outdoor blinds that provide protection from the elements all year round so that you can turn your outdoor area into an extension of your home. Contact us today for a free measure and quote.