If you’ve made the investment in your outdoor space, why not enjoy it all through the year? Photo: Aurora Designs.
Between Canberra’s four-season climate and love of the outdoors, outdoor living spaces have steadily risen in prominence.
Research by Yates in 2018 revealed these spaces had overtaken kitchens as the “heart of the home”, and 2020 saw a nationwide surge in investment in outdoor entertaining areas.
But one important piece of the puzzle is often forgotten — and it’s costing us.
Aurora Window Furnishings Director Joel Symmans says Canberrans regularly overlook coverings for their outdoor spaces, exposing them to damage, shortening their lifespan and, worst of all, making them unusable in extreme weather.
“We dream of summer evenings spent entertaining family and friends under the stars, we pour tens of thousands of dollars into creating these beautiful spaces, and then we abandon them for half the year,” he says.
“It’s madness.”
Joel says coverings are not just for summer barbecues. In Canberra, where frost, spring rain and harsh UV take turns dominating, they’re essential for protecting one of the most valuable extensions of your home and ensuring it delivers the lifestyle you invested in.
For that reason, products that can be fully enclosed but retractable are the best way to achieve year-round use.
This includes outdoor blinds and zip screens, which create a flexible barrier against the elements while still allowing you to open things up when the weather cooperates.
“We recommend eZIP systems for our customers. Drop-downs move within a rail system, so they’re not fully enclosed,” Joel explains.
“I have a large patio which, for much of the year, would be unusable because it’s too cold, wet or hot. I put in simple motorised eZIPs, and now my kids are out there in the heart of July and January. It has transformed the space.”
Outdoor shade solutions protect tens of thousands of dollars in furniture, barbecues and outdoor materials from Canberra’s weather extremes — and there are options to suit every budget. Photo: Aurora Designs.
Another misconception is that motorisation and automation are luxuries, when in fact they make a massive difference to both convenience and protection.
“It’s nice to open or close blinds with a touch of a button or voice command, but the real game-changer is in the safety features,” Joel says.
Aurora includes a free wind sensor with every order. These devices automatically retract or adjust blinds if wind speeds exceed the system’s tolerance, which can range from 50 km/h to 120 km/h, depending on the product.
“If you’re away for the weekend and a storm rolls through, that sensor could save you thousands in damage,” Joel explains. “Sensors can also be set to respond to UV levels or daylight strength, and some customers even link them with their weather apps for creative control.”
That said, not every system has to be high-tech. For many households, a simple drop-down does the job.
“There really is an option for every budget,” Joel says.
“In fact, we discourage customers from purchasing one of the most expensive and trending products – louvred roofs. They might look sleek, but they make areas dark and they don’t suit Canberra’s climate.”
While many consider outdoor enclosures a winter investment, Joel says the benefits extend throughout the year.
With the Bureau of Meteorology predicting a very wet spring for the east coast, followed by a short but very hot summer, enclosing your outdoor space will protect your family — as well as your furniture, barbecue and decking — from the harsh realities of Canberra’s extremes.
The benefits even extend to your indoors.
“Most people think closing their thick curtains or honeycomb blinds in summer will shield them from the sun. Even better is to stop the sun from hitting the glass in the first place,” Joel says. “That way, you also get some natural light.”
Between now and Christmas, Aurora experiences a significant increase in sales, followed by another surge at the end of March.
“People put up with months of rain and heat, then suddenly realise they can’t use the space they invested in,” Joel says.
With products made locally, most households currently face a two-week lead time for installation.
Joel advises acting sooner rather than later.
“You can optimise your outdoor space ahead of Christmas, with the majority of summer still ahead,” he says.
For more information, visit Aurora Window Furnishings.
