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Outdoor Blinds & Awnings: The Complete Buying Guide
Everything you need to know before buying an outdoor blind or awning
Outdoor blinds and awnings are shade structures that attach to the exterior of your home. Whether fixed or retractable, they help block sun, wind and rain, creating a more viable outdoor space. Outdoor awnings and blinds are one of the most practical additions you can make to an Australian home. They extend your usable living space, reduce the heat load on your home, protect your family from UV exposure, and give outdoor areas genuine year-round usability.
But they’re not all the same and the right choice depends on your space, your use, and what you’re trying to solve. This guide covers everything you need to know.
WHY YOU NEED AN OUTDOOR BLINDS OR AWNING?
Enjoy Year-Round Comfort
Stay cool in summer and protected in winter. Outdoor Blinds and Awnings help block harsh UV rays, wind, and light rain so your space is always inviting.
Save on Energy Bills
Keep your home naturally cooler. By blocking direct sunlight, blinds and awnings have been proven to reduce indoor heat and cut down on air conditioning costs.
Extend Your Living Space
Maximise every metre of your home. With Outdoor Blinds or Awnings, you’ll enjoy more room to relax, dine, and entertain in comfort.
Privacy with Style
Create a private retreat without sacrificying design. Outdoor blinds keep out prying eyes, while blending seamlessly into your home.
Water Resistance
Water-resistant fabric shields your space from light rain, so you can enjoy the outdoors longer, rain or shine.
Increase in Property Value
Add style and functionality, enhancing curb appeal and increasing your home’s value.
THE FOUR TYPES OF SHADE
Overhead Shade
Extend your living space with overhead shade that rolls out when you need it and disappears when you don’t – perfect for decks, dining areas and poolside comfort.
Straight Drop
Ideal for patios, balconies and pergolas, these outdoor blinds drop straight down to block glare, create privacy and reduce heat, while maintaining airflow.
Angled Shade
Deisgned to angle outward from the windows, these awnings reduce heat before it enters your home while still enabling airflow, helping you stay cool.
Fixed Shade
Provides permanent, realiable protection from sun and rain. Built from durable materials such as steel or canopy fabric, designed for long-lasting performance.
OVERHEAD SHADE - EXTEND YOUR OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE
Overhead awnings are designed to provide shade, comfort and flexibility, creating an instant outdoor room.
A folding arm awning can be manufactured up to 7.1m in width, covering large entertaining spaces. Folding arm awnings allow you to walk beneth the awning without any obstructing posts when extended or closed.
- Semi Cassette: ideal for placement under eaves and fitted with a factory adjusted pitch to provide maximum amount of shade.
- Cassette: only when retractedm the fabric and mechanism are full encased in a cassette, protecting from wind, sun and rain damage.
A temporary roof style awning, especially designed for outdoor entertainment spaces for both residential and commercial buildings. These awnings can be fitted to an existing frame or posts can be installed to support the end of the awning.
STRAIGHT DROP - CONTROL SUNLIGHT AND PRIVACY
The universal style for any descrening alfresco area, roll them down for the ultimate in privacy without compromising on airflow or light.
Outdoor Blinds roll down vertically from a fixed point, creating a wall of shade and privacy. There are three style:
- Zip Style: The most enclosed option. The fabric runs inside discreet side channels, which keeps it fully taut in wind and eliminates light gaps.
- Cable Guide: Stainless steel cables run on either side of the blind, keepin the fabric taut and controlled.
- Straight Drop: The simplest version. The fabric falls freely and can be secured at the bottom.
ANGLED SHADE - SHADING THAT PROJECTS OUT TO LET AIR IN
These awnings project outward from the window. They provide excellent shade while allowing airflow, making them perfect for windows that open outwards or for upper level application.
Ideal for ground floor locations. Retractable Automatic Awnings can be insalled close to the window in order to provide a high level of privacy and sun protection. This style of installation is energy efficient, reducing the heat loss in winter and keeping your home cool in summer. It is perfect for exposed locations as it retracts during strong wind.
These awnings operate on a pivoting arm which moves in an arc as it extends and retracts. This style of awning provides a larger space between the awning and your window allowing for greater air circulation. These awnings are perfect for providing shade in patios or deck areas or adding an additional layer of protection on windows
FIXED SHADE - INSTANT SHADE NO MATTER THE WEATHER
Fixed awnings provide permanent, always-on protection. They don’t retract – they’re structural additions to the exterior of your home.
Full of traditional charm, Canopy Awnings provide valuable cover and protection over windows and doorways, while adding character to your home. These awnings are designed in many different styles that include curved or triangular shapes and with the bottom covered or uncovered.
Tough, durable and economical, Fixed Steel Awnings are manufactured from tough COLORBOND steel providing your home with excellent protection from the rain and damaging UV rays. These classic awnings can add great style and dimension to your home. These awnings can be fixed to a wall but the degree of slop can be anywhere from 15 to 45 degrees.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT TYPE
The simplest way to decide is to think about what problem you’re solving:
| If you need | Consider |
Shade and privacy for an alfresco | Outdoor Blind |
To reduce heat through a sunny window | Pivot Arm or Retractable Automatic Awning |
Overhead shade over a large deck or patio | Folding Arm Awning |
A permanent solution above a doorway | Canopy or Fixed Steel Awning |
To enclose a balcony from wind and insects | Zip Style outdoor blind |
CONTROLS AND FABRIC OPTIONS
Motorised with Wynmotion
Operated by remote control or smartphone app. Motorised awnings also have less wear on the mechanism because they operate smoothly without manual handling. For large awnings or hard-to-reach installations, motorisation is the practical choice.
Crank Control
A hand crank retracts the shade. Simple and economical.
Lite Lift
An innovative manual option for Zip Style outdoor blinds. You raise and lower the blind to any position by moving the bottom rail by hand — no cords, no cranks.
What Wynstan can do for you?
Step 1
We come to you with a free in-home consultation
Step 2
Locally manufactured at the Home of Awnings in NSW
Step 3
Installed by our expert team
Book your Free Quote below:
This article was written by Kathy Wang. Kathy Wang is a Product Manager at Wynstan with over 10 years of experience in the business. She has an in-depth knowledge of Wynstan’s full product range, including outdoor blinds and awnings.
