Outdoor blinds are an attractive accessory for the exterior of your home. They also serve a practical function in the warm months by blocking the hot afternoon sunshine from a porch, balcony, patio or lanai. In the winter, they can help keep a cold draft away from the same areas. By doing so, blinds can actually add living area to the space where you live and provide you with a bit of privacy along the way.
There are several things to consider when searching for the perfect outdoor window blinds. The first step should be a thorough research of what is available. Local window treatment stores and online sites can provide general information about the various types of blinds. Outdoor patio blinds, as some stores call them, can be purchased ready to hang or customized.
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A consumer will have lots of choices when it comes to size, fabric, and color. Unless customized, blinds usually come ready to hang at 4 to 10 feet wide and 72 to 84 inches long. They can be vertical or horizontal. Some are outdoor roll up blinds, some are pleated, and others are straight panels like found inside the home. Motorized blinds are becoming popular.
Fabrics have to stand up to water, frequent use, and temperature changes. Choices include plastic, acrylic, polyester, fiberglass and wood. Some are even made of a special solar screen material. Blackout shades, especially favored by restaurants, are also popular since they keep out about 97% of the heat from sunlight. Outdoor bamboo blinds are unique and can give a patio a tropical flair in no time. They have an exceptional ability to provide protection from light or sunshine and would be an excellent choice for areas that get full sun.
Outdoor patio blinds are available in a variety of colors, including many different shades of solids and stripes. For the true lover of neutrals, there are transparent blinds. After narrowing down the choices to 2 or 3, the consumer can arrange furniture, rugs, pillows, and plants to meet the overall color scheme.
While outdoor blinds might be the perfect answer to saving money on utility bills, creating a satisfying natural space, and protecting possessions against sun damage and intruding eyes, they are not wind-proof. Whether self-installed or contracted out, effort should be made to make sure blinds are securely anchored with tie down loops or some sort of a cable system.