Types of Outdoor Curtains
AS the summer finally arrives, the mercury rises and the evenings grow longer there is nothing nicer than enjoying your outdoor spaces.
Whether sitting on a deck or a patio, splashing round a pool, lounging under a gazebo, picnicking on the lawn or grilling on a fire circle, the summer fun our yards give us creates memories forever.
Our outdoor spaces are increasingly thought of as an additional room of our homes – just without a roof.
But while it is wonderful to enjoy being outdoors over a lazy weekend or of an evening, the one thing many of our yards lack is privacy – not having walls is the point of enjoying outdoors of course, but while we enjoy the space, everyone else can see us doing so.
Today, though, there are solutions to making the most of our outdoors and maintaining a discrete level of privacy from our neighbors, especially if we want to enjoy sunbathing or some pool time.
Outdoor curtains, blinds and shades offer us the opportunity to take our outdoor living to the next level by offering elegance to look at, as well as practicality by offering sun protection, controllable shade and privacy screening.
Curtains are the simplest way to refresh the aesthetics of your outdoor living area, breaking the hard landscaping of a wooden deck or brick or concrete patio with texture, bright colors and fabrics.
Easily installed by simply draping or hanging from a tension rod inside a pergola or gazebo or porch an instant flowing effect is treated as the fabric will blow in a breeze, creating limited shade. Curtains can also be hung on outdoor rods easily and suspended from a gazebo roof or hung on a wall.
The key is to take some acre in choosing the right textiles for the job – it is not wise to just pick a pretty pattern of fabric designed for the home ass it will not last long in the elements. Pick a material designed for outdoor use and one that is resistant to both mildew and fading. And take the time come the fall to bring the curtains in, launder according to the instructions and store with the barbecue tools ready for the next year’s spring.
Moving up a level, patio shades are installed similarly to an awning or a freestanding patio sail. The shades provide protection form the powers of the sun’s rays to your home and offer a high degree of shade to those underneath, as the name suggests.
With the variety of materials available on the market, differing thicknesses can block completely or partially filter sunlight. Fabrics tend to be breathable so the wind can pass through the material without damaging it and giving it a much longer lease of life. The same is true for water so pools of rain do not form and waken the material.
If used in an awning, you have the element of control over your shade as you can extend or retract the covering as you wish, though sails stay fixed in place until relocated, ideal for providing shade over a child’s play area.
And last, outdoor blinds provide a high degree of shade control for you when installed in a porch or outdoor structure, as you can raise or lower then as you wish to make the most of the sun or provide relief from the heat.
Blinds come in a wide range of materials each with their own design styles, from cheap and cheerful bamboo roller blinds to heavy sun blocking fabrics, complete with protection from ultraviolet rays. Again, it is advisable to treat them as seasonal rather than permanent fixtures and take indoors over the winter months.
Outdoor blinds, like outdoor curtains, can be installed over the openings of a porch or pergola. They can be raised and lowered as needed to create shade and, depending on the type of fabric, can also block UV rays.