3 Ways to Enhance your Outdoor Living with Exterior Shade
By Wendy Muir, Lahood Window Furnishings
By Wendy Muir, Lahood Window Furnishings
Lahood Design Consultant Wendy Muir has over 20 years of experience in window furnishings, with particular expertise in indoor and outdoor custom blinds.
Here in New Zealand, we love outdoor living and with summer around the corner, now is an ideal time to ensure your outdoor area is well-equipped to cope with the hot sun (here’s hoping!), wind and rain which usually constitute an Auckland summer.
Outdoor blinds are a great way to add protection from the elements and create a comfortable and inviting space to relax and entertain al fresco, whether it be a cozy balcony, a sunny poolside deck, or a spacious patio.
The choice of outdoor blind will depend on your needs for style and function and the space available. At Lahood, we have partnered with Luxaflex®, a global leader in shade solutions, to provide you with a range of outdoor blind options to suit your style and functional needs. This ensures you can enjoy your outdoor space in comfort, regardless of the weather. Take a look at our outdoor blinds range here
In this article, Wendy shares her insights on three of Lahood’s most popular outdoor blind products and recommends when and where they are best used.
If you need overhead shade protection for your deck, patio, or balcony, the Luxaflex Nordic Fabric Awnings are the ideal choice. Designed in Sweden, these heavy-duty folding arm awnings are rigorously tested to withstand New Zealand conditions. They offer the ultimate blend of versatility and style, available with automated or manual retraction and a variety of colours to compliment your home décor. The awnings can be attached to an exterior wall, spanning up to 7 meters wide and 4 meters deep without the need for additional support structures. Eat your lunch in the shade, avoiding the midday heat (or rain!), and then retract the awnings later in the day to allow natural light and sunset views. Visit our Showroom on 104 Mount Eden Road, Auckland, where we have a fully automated largescale awning above our entrance for you to experience firsthand.
For the ultimate in style and convenience, choose the Arafura Awning, a fully automated awning which extends from a fully enclosed Cassette, leaving a discreet, clean fascia when not in use.
Our range of Luxaflex Evo External Screens are a great choice in this situation for blocking out sun, wind, and insects without sacrificing your view and still maintaining airflow. With their vertical drop they are a perfect outside roller blind option for providing protection and privacy in areas when space is at a premium. Sleek and contemporary, their durable, marine-grade fabrics come in a range of colours to complement any décor and with manual or motorized operation available, maximizing your outdoor space could not be easier. They can also be installed on the outside of your windows, ensuring protection from UV rays and heat inside your home, whilst still allowing natural light and ventilation.
For the ultimate in motorised vertical sunscreens the Evo MagnaTrack is unrivalled on the market, with the ability to shade areas up to 6.5 metres wide, self-straighten within magnetic channels and withstand winds up to 185km/hour.
External aluminium shutters are the most durable and secure outdoor shutter option available, so they are ideal for when you need to completely shut out inclement weather or securely lock-up outdoor areas when not in use. Lahood offers a range of Luxaflex Weatherwell Aluminium Shutters that provide style and versatility to match your needs. Available in a selection of powder coat finishes, panel configurations, blade sizes, and options for multi-fold and sliding shutters, the Weatherwell shutters offer flexibility as well as a touch of elegance.
Make the most of your outdoor living this Auckland summer. Enjoy 15% off Luxaflex Evo Screens and Nordic Awnings during October 2026. Get started with a free design consultation in our Lahood Showroom at 104 Mount Eden Road, or for a free in-home design consultation (Auckland only) call 0800 LAHOOD or click below and complete the form.