Beat the Heat With Patio Sunshades This Summer
BWS Design • August 6, 2018

Your patio is the perfect spot to relax, unwind, and spend time with family and friends outdoors. But what happens when it’s raining or if the sun is shining directly on your outdoor furniture? Inclement weather conditions can make hanging out on your patio less-than-enjoyable, so how do you combat this? Patio sunshades: an effective, versatile, and cost-effective way to block out harsh weather so you can enjoy your outdoor space, no matter what season!

What are patio sunshades?

Made of weather-resistant material that can withstand moisture and harsh sunlight, most patio sunshades attach directly to the outside of your patio to provide you with a calm and cool oasis. Sunshades can be used for numerous weather conditions, such as rain, wind, or hot, uncomfortable temperatures. Sunshades are made of vinyl material that is resistant to mold and mildew, making it safe to use during spring showers or summer thunderstorms. Weighted tie-downs make it possible to block out wind while still keeping the shades intact, and light-filtering material help to cool your patio by keeping heat from the sun at bay all while allowing light to come in and brighten up your entertainment space.

How do they work?

Patio sunshades typically mount to the exterior structure surrounding your patio. Strong aluminum casing, much like curtain rods inside your home, attach easily and securely, allowing you peace of mind that your investment is safe. Patio sunshades come in many different styles: spring-loaded, roll up, motorized, or have traditional cords like blinds. UV-protectant and element-resistant material ensure your happiness and safety in all kinds of weather conditions.

Are patio sunshades the right choice for me?

Versatile, stylish, and available in a multitude of colors, sizes, and designs, sunshades can complement any home style. Sunshades range in sizes to fit all patios but purchasing multiple may be something to consider to protect all areas of your patio and to give a clean, cohesive look to your home. Materials such as mesh, vinyl, acrylic, and polyester are available depending on your needs and style-preference. Sunshades also come in many colors and patterns you can choose from, making it a useful  and  stylish accessory for your home.

Care and Maintenance

This will vary depending on the style, type, and brand of sunshade you get, but patio sunshades are generally easy to use, easy to clean, and easy to maintain. High quality sunshades can be kept outside all year long, aside from severe weather conditions such as hurricanes. Storing the sunshades in their “up” position when not in use will preserve their integrity, color, quality, and lifespan. Clean the fabric with mild soap and water to remove debris and stains throughout the season to ensure shades stay in good condition and doesn’t accumulate mold and mildew on areas that are dirty. Checking the housing of the sunshades to ensure they are properly attached and functioning well will extend the longevity of the products.

Patio sunshades are not only a great design aspect to add to your home, but a product that will provide you with use of your outdoor living space you may not otherwise be utilizing as frequently as you’d like. Whether your patio is too hot, too bright, or too exposed to elements during the off-seasons, rest assured that the purchase and installation of sunshades will improve your patio and allow you to kick back and relax anytime the mood strikes.

 

At Just Blinds Inc, we pride ourselves on providing exceptional products, services, and customer support to our consumers. Serving the Central Alabama area for more than 30 years, we strive to be your first call for all your window treatment needs.  Contact us  for more information regarding our products and services and let us schedule your free consultation today. We look forward to hearing from you and having you as a customer for life.

Expert Advice by Just Blinds

5 Unexpected Places Homeowners Are Installing Outdoor Shades

March 13, 2025
We all know and understand the concept of installing outdoor shades on a patio. It is the classic way to create a cool and comfortable space for yourself and your friends to spend some quality time together outdoors. There is nothing wrong with that, but it is limiting to think that the patio is the only part of one's property where outdoor shades are appropriate. There are some surprising and unexpected places where homeowners have taken to installing outdoor shades recently. We want to take a look at some of these to provide you with ideas for your next home improvement project. 1) Balconies Some homes are built quite close together, and some homeowners naturally feel like they would like to do more to protect their privacy. Although their neighbors might not intentionally be looking through their balconies, it is easy for the human eye to drift. Thus, some city-dwelling homeowners have made the choice to install outdoor shades in this area. On top of keeping prying eyes off of your property, outdoor shades also block the sun rays from your balcony as well creating a more comfortable space to spend some time. 2) Outdoor Kitchens One of the most delightful social experiences that someone can have is to invite over a large group of friends for a meal cooked outside. It gives everyone the opportunity to share stories, laughes, and a bit of food all at the same time. Of course, this is best done in an outdoor kitchen. Your outdoor kitchen is a space where you should feel comfortable and have the ability to entertain a large group of people all at the same time. This means looking at installing outdoor shades to provide an extra layer of protection from the heat of the sun. Thus, this has become another area where homeowners are quickly installing outdoor shades. 3) Poolside Lounges Now we are really talking! Who doesn't love to kick back with their favorite cold beverage and spend some time relaxing next to the pool? That is what you can enjoy more completely when you set up a poolside lounge with outdoor shades. Poolside lounges are meant to be a place where you can spend several hours at a time. However, it can get pretty hot while doing so if you don't put some outdoor shades in place. Get those shades up so you can let all of your worries melt away as you take in the smell of pool water and sunscreen. 4) Garden Areas Do you enjoy a little gardening in your downtime? You might like it even more after setting up outdoor shades that protect you from the excessive heat of the sun. Gardening is labor-intensive work and can take several hours of diligent labor to do it properly. However, you don't want to overextend yourself and end up getting physically overworked. Keeping some of the sun away is an excellent way to ensure that you don't overdo it. Just make sure that you check up on the sunlight needs of the various plants that you intend to put into your garden before installing outdoor shades. 5) Exterior Windows Did you know that it is possible to reduce your energy bills by installing outdoor shades? It's true! If you place outdoor shades on the exterior windows of your home, you can reduce the strain placed on your air conditioning by naturally reducing the overall temperature within your living space. This means less money out of your pocket and more money for working on your next project.  There are many interesting places where homeowners are installing outdoor shades these days. For more creative ideas on what you can do with yours, reach out and contact us now.

The #1 Blind Mistake People Make in Each Room- And How to Avoid Those Mistakes

February 7, 2025
One of the most frustrating things that can happen to someone trying to improve their home is to find that they have somehow made a common mistake. That person will be upset that they didn't stop and do a little research prior to making a change. That is why you are here today, and that is why we want to provide you with some details about the most common mistakes that people tend to make when putting up blinds in various rooms. Let's also examine how you can avoid making those same mistakes. Living Room - Let the Sun Shine In! A major mistake that many people make when setting up blinds in their living room is that they select an option that does not permit enough natural light to enter the room. Heavier blinds like this might have a look that you like, but you certainly don't want them to block out all of that natural light. That is just setting yourself up for a living room that is gloomy and unnatural. Go with a more lightweight option that allows plenty of light into your living room. Bathroom - Avoid Moisture Sensitive Blinds Do you know what there is a lot of in any bathroom? Moisture! From the water running in the faucet to the moisture that gathers in the air after a shower, there is plenty of moisture in the atmosphere in any bathroom. Therefore, you must make sure that you don't use any kind of material that is moisture sensitive when it comes to your blinds in the bathroom. Kitchen - Keep it Easy to Clean The blinds that you set up in your kitchen should be easy to clean. These blinds are more likely to attract things that you want to clean off of them. Why? Because you will be doing all of your cooking in the kitchen, and it is all too easy for things to splatter or otherwise cause issues for you while you are working in the kitchen. Make sure you use blinds that are straightforward and easy to clean when you set them up in your kitchen. Make things as easy as possible on yourself. Home Office - Watch Out for Glare Many people have a home office set up so that they can get things done even while they are at home. That is a wonderful thing, but you also need to think carefully about your lighting needs when it comes to this. This is to say that you should look for blinds that do not cause excessive glare on the screens that you have in your home office. When you have blinds that keep the glare off of your screens, then you won't have to strain your eyes quite as much as you might have otherwise. Dining Room - Don't Forget to Keep it Stylish One room where you can truly focus on the stylish nature of your blinds is in the dining room. In fact, this is one area where style outweighs so many other considerations. You want blinds that go well with the other colors and styles that you have set up throughout your living room. It is very easy to fall into making common mistakes when selecting blinds for different rooms in your home. Don't fall into the same traps that others have before you. It is now clear and obvious what you should do for each room in your home. Keep these tips in mind as you begin the search for the blinds that you require. For more detailed information about the mistakes that people commonly make with this purchase, reach out and contact us today.