Whether you’ve got a stunning home conservatory or a café or bistro with large windows, outdoor blinds are critical for all Australian homes and businesses. They’ll cool and shade your property from the weather and maintain your privacy when entertaining guests or customers outdoors.

In short: PVC outdoor blinds are a valuable investment in any home or business. They can raise your property’s comfort and aesthetic appeal, opening your whole living space for customers, friends and family. There’s just one small problem: what do you choose?

Depending on your space, you’ll want to consider different colours, designs, and mechanisms to ensure the final fit is suitable for your property. When deciding who to go with, you also need to know the key questions to ask PVC blinds companies.

Below, we answer all your fundamental PVC outdoor blind questions, from décor to motors.

Why do you need PVC outdoor blinds?

Before you decide if you want café blinds or bistro blinds, determine why you need PVC blinds at all? What’s annoying you or your customers about the current setup?

Here are some potential reasons to invest in PVC outdoor blinds:

You need additional space to entertain guests.
You need protection from the wind and rain.
You want to shade your home.
Your business receives too much sunlight throughout the day.
You want to cool down your outdoor space.
You want more privacy.

Whatever your reason, it’s critical to understand how café blinds or bistro blinds can help. Think about your unique circumstances and what benefits the PVC blinds bring. Consider the practicalities of the blinds, the comfort of your customers, and how the blinds will affect the aesthetic look of your home or business.

While PVC blinds aren’t the biggest investment you’ll ever make, they can transform your life. They’ll open up outdoor spaces, blocking out wind, rain, sun, and stares.

Where do you need PVC blinds?

After deciding why you want blinds, consider where you want them? We’ve seen plenty of homes over the years, and we can say categorically: no two are ever the same. You’ll want to think about a few factors that affect installation:

What kind of opening? Do your openings go from ceiling to floor? Is there a door involved? What shape are they? Rectangle, square, or another shape. You may also be fitting our PVC outdoor blinds to our Accolade PVC weather screens.
What is the room used for? The type of blind, colour, and mechanism will depend on the room’s function. Is it for sleeping? Cooking? Entertaining? It can decide between sunscreen and translucent blinds, for example.
What’s your climate like? Is it perpetually sunny, or does it rain frequently? When will the room be used, and in what weather?
Who will use the blinds? If customers are expected to use the blinds, the mechanism will need to be simple. You can decide between manual and electronic systems if they’re for home use. It all depends on what the blind is for and who will use it.

What are the types of PVC outdoor blinds?

There’s a stunning range of PVC outdoor blinds available. While the material is always PVC, the setup, colour, patterns, and sunblock can all be changed.

What are café blinds and bistro blinds?

You’ll often hear blind companies talking about café or bistro blinds. It’s not a common term – so what do we mean?

First, café blinds and bistro blinds refer to the exact same thing. Where they differ from traditional shade blinds is that café blinds are made of clear or tinted PVC. It’s so that nothing interrupts the customer’s view. However, despite the name, any property can be fitted with café or bistro blinds – they’ll keep you warm and shelter you during the winter weather.

They’re also a popular addition among homeowners who want a clear view of the garden or from a balcony. After all, there’s nothing better than entertaining friends with your beautiful gardening work visible for all to see. You can also keep an eye on children playing outdoors or in the garden.

What mechanism/setup do you need?

Few people want their blinds down all the time. Rather, you’ll pick what kind of blind setup you want to choose. There’s a variety of different options. However, it boils down to a simple decision:

Manual mechanisms. You either pull the blind down using a cord or strap or by turning a mechanism to open or close the PVC blinds. The benefit of such a simple system is less risk of damage or broken parts. And if there are any problems, they’re easily fixed or replaced.
Automatic mechanism. Most blinds fitted today are automatic. You push a button – either on the wall or a remote – and the blind descend to the floor and vice versa. It’s simple and easy to use but does increase the blind’s overall cost.

Of course, nothing is ever this simple. Manual mechanisms, for example, can be tensioned or involve zips, pulleys, or straps. Automatic mechanisms, on the other hand, can be “SmartTrack” or some other variation. They can also differ in the smoothness and noise of the operation.

What colour or pattern?

While blinds can add to the aesthetics of your home, they’re rarely the centrepiece. Indeed, translucent blinds shouldn’t distract from the view outside, nor should block blinds be more dazzling than the sun they replaced.

Think about your overall colour scheme of the room. Selecting a core or highlight colour from the room for your blinds is often the best approach.

Often, an understated black or white is enough. It’s not distracting, nor does it overwhelm the room’s existing décor. Instead, it looks elegant and refined. It’s the perfect addition to a bathroom, dining room, or restaurant veranda.

To block or not to block?

The primary difference in PVC blinds is between sunscreen, translucent, and block-out options. Translucent blinds, for example, will reduce some glare from the sun and increase your privacy. However, they are not 100% effective – except at protecting from the wind and rain.

Tinted café blinds are highly suitable for commercial premises. They minimise the sun coming in without eliminating the view outside. It creates a cooler, more ambient dining experience.

In contrast, block out options will significantly reduce the sun in your room. No one can see in or out. It’s ideal for stopping nosey neighbours or strangers from peering in. And, if you’re used to hosting guests, you can pull down the blinds to keep the room cool for when they arrive.

What to ask a PVC outdoor blind fitter?

When you’re hiring a PVC outdoor blind fitter, it’s important to ask some key questions. After all, such blinds are an investment in your home and should last for years to come.

Here are the questions we recommend:

How much will it cost? Price matters – what you’ll need to pay for your home will depend on the custom nature of the blinds. Still, you’ll want a clear quote with information about any potential extras. Is there a difference in the cost between different blind types?
How long will it take? Fitting blinds shouldn’t take more than a day or two. Still, it’s essential to understand when and for how long the installation will take.
Have they done this before? While blinds are fitted onto existing windows, it’s still a significant job. Damage can be done to the windows. It’s why you need to know if they’ve done it before.
Do they have any references or examples? Seeing previous work or asking for references from previous clients is a good way to determine the finished result. After all, it’s not so easy to imagine the blind system in your head.
What are your options? When you’re speaking to the experts, use their expertise. Do you need a single-blind system? Or does your room need multiple systems because of the size? Find out what they advise based on their experience in the industry – it can save a lot of headaches going forwards.

PVC Outdoor Blinds Provide Privacy and Protection

Investing in PVC blinds for your home or business will cool the room, protect against rain or wind, and increase your privacy from neighbours or passers-by.

Our helpful buyer’s guide has covered everything from bistro blinds to full-block sunscreen. What you choose depends on your home or business. Just remember: always ask companies a few key questions to ensure you’ll receive high-quality service and bespoke blinds suited to your property.

Everything You Need to Know About Buying Outdoor Blinds