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Outdoor Blinds & Garden Awnings Buyers Guide

Outdoor
Outdoor Blinds & Garden Awnings Buyers Guide

In recent years, we’ve all been looking to make more of our outdoor space, whether that’s in the garden or on the patio. That’s because it’s always better when you have the protection and shelter of outdoor shading by using garden awnings and canopies, a stylish veranda or even a full outdoor living pod.

These modern garden accessories allow us to make our outdoor space more accessible and comfortable, whatever the weather or time of year. Therefore, it’s no surprise that these outdoor accessories are now becoming some of the most popular blind and shading options.

So what are the best options for outdoor shading – and how do you decide what’s going to work best for your home or business? This guide will help you through the options available.

restaurant awnings over patio

Outdoor living blinds

Our outside space has never been so important. With all the impact of the pandemic, there was a period where outdoors was the only place we could safely enjoy with family and friends.

So it’s no surprise that outdoor living blinds have been in big demand.

Our favourite option is the outdoor living pod. This product creates shade and shelter, making it perfect when the sun is shining, or when it’s chilly and damp.

The hard wearing louvre blinds can be automatically adjusted to give you the perfect conditions, whatever the weather. Their versatility almost creates a new room in your garden, one that is still open and accessible, but gives you protection from the elements.

Outdoor living pods are also becoming popular with pubs, bars and restaurants who want to give their customers a space to enjoy their food and drinks even if the weather isn’t fantastic.

By having a safely covered outdoor area, the beer garden or outdoor terrace can be popular all year round.

outdoor living pod garden shading

Made to measure garden awnings

If you’re looking for an outdoor shading solution that’s a little simpler, then garden awnings can be a fantastic option.

Awnings are typically fixed to an external wall, and can be pulled out to provide shelter and shade. They’re most commonly used over a patio area, so you can sit outside and enjoy your garden without being exposed to the sun.

Although there are some traditional awnings styles, today there’s a huge range of modern colours and patterns you can choose for a really stylish finish to your home.

It’s easy to forget that overhanging roofs, porches or even doorways can get in the way of your awning, so measuring up is really important. Before you contact an awning supplier, make sure your measurements are exact.

white garden awnings

Commercial awnings

Shop awnings and canopies are also a really popular shading solutions for businesses, from cafés with kerbside tables, to shops that want to keep the glare off their beautiful window displays.

Traditional shop awnings have always provided a classic look, but today awnings don’t have to be the standard stripes and colours. Now awnings can be perfectly tailored to your business, with styles and colours that will appeal to your customers and better reflect your branding.

Pub awnings and restaurant awnings are also becoming more popular as businesses look to make more of their outside space.

yellow and white striped canopy traditional shop awnings

External roller blinds for indoor spaces

One of our most popular exterior blind products is the external roller blind. However, this type of blind isn’t designed for creating shade or shelter in outdoor spaces, they’re actually an alternative to indoor blinds and shutters.

What are external roller blinds? External roller blinds are simply roller blinds that are fixed on the outside of a window or door, as opposed to other forms of window treatment that typically hang in front of windows or doors in the home. Outdoor roller blinds are designed to provide insulation, offer privacy and are particularly good at keeping out sunlight.

External blinds are smart, stylish, eco friendly blinds that protect your windows from direct solar radiation. So if you have large windows or patio doors where the heat builds up internally during hot summer days, just from the sunlight on the glass, then you know how incredibly uncomfortable it can get.

Outdoor blinds work by simply blocking out the sunlight before it hits the glass, thereby keeping your internal living space infinitely cooler on hot days.

Furthermore, external roller blinds are a really popular choice for modern, smart homes because you can program them to open or close on a timer, or to react to the temperature or light within your rooms.

External blinds exterior roller blinds

What are the best outdoor blinds?

Outdoor living pods, external blinds and awnings are all great ways to bring your internal and outdoor living areas together. But the best choice really depends on what you hope to get out of your outdoor shading solution.

If you’re looking for a simple way to provide shade and shelter on your patio or outside your shop, then awnings may be the perfect choice.

If you’re looking to create an entertaining space, like a whole new room, then outdoor living pods are simply fantastic.

If you want smart blinds that protect your windows from the sun’s glare, then exterior roller blinds are the best option for you.

But whatever you decide, Leamington Blinds can measure up, supply and install the perfect outdoor shading system for your home or business.


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