The Best Outdoor Blind Fabric For Your Blinds

There’s no question about it: when it comes to quality outdoor blinds, the fabric is essential. Without the right fabric, your outdoor blind can look out of place, mismatched and lack the right protection. Here’s our helpful guide for finding the best outdoor blinds fabric.  

What Type of Fabric is Best? 

Outdoor blinds help control the entry of natural light, keep the temperature comfortable and create additional privacy for homes. With so many fabrics available, it can be hard to distinguish what will work well for your outdoor area. Here are some of the most popular choices when it comes to outdoor blind fabrics:  

Acrylic Canvas:  

Acrylic canvas fabrics are extremely durable, provide maximum protection from the sun and can completely block out natural light and harsh UV rays. They can also withstand tough weather conditions and harsh heat. On the downside, canvas fabrics are opaque and cannot provide a transparent view of the outdoor area from the inside.  

Mesh Fabrics (screen):

Mesh fabrics are made from polyester or ideally fibreglass yarn, coated in PVC (although PVC coated fibreglass yarn is considered stronger than polyester). They come in varying levels of openness (the size of the holes in the mesh) to allow some air to flow through the blind systems while still providing optimal sun protection. As a popular option for pergolas and patio areas, mesh fabrics offer a stylish appeal to any outdoor setting while providing privacy. Mesh blinds allow for an airy feel to the blind without compromising on your visibility through the material. 

How to Get the Most out of your Outdoor Blind Fabric

When you invest in your outdoor blind, you want to maintain the durability and style that it was designed for as long as possible. Here are some ways to get the most out of your outdoor blind:  

Choosing the right fabric colour

Whatever the fabric you choose, make sure there is a colour to suit the outdoor space and the existing aesthetic of the home. Neutral colours such as beige or grey tones work well to aesthetically enhance the space without being too bold. With that being said, lighter tones can show dirt a lot earlier on than darker tones so be sure to take into account how often you’ll need to clean it. Darker colours also help to reduce glare more than light colours, leading to enhanced visual comfort. 

How to maintain the fabric 

Maintaining the fabric ensures your outdoor blind will be a long term investment. The most important thing you can do is regularly check the blinds for dirt, tree sap and any other foreign matter. If these are left on the blind then it will damage the fabric.  

When cleaning the fabric, make sure you complete the following:   

1. Wipe down the fabric with a clean cloth to remove any dirt or matter without scratching the material.  
2. Dilute 1:10 ratio of water-based detergent with warm water with a water-based (the more natural the better) and gently wipe down the fabric with a soft cloth without scrubbing the material
3. Rinse with water and wipe dry with a lint-free cloth  
4. Allow to completely dry before rolling up 

Be sure to avoid any un-diluted detergents or sprays when cleaning the fabric to avoid prematurely eroding the fabric.  

Australia’s Most Popular Outdoor Blinds Supplier

Helioscreen is one of Australia’s most reputable suppliers of architectural sun screening systems. With a fibreglass core and even weave, our outdoor blinds ensure high visibility towards the outside made with material to increase thermal and visual comfort. Helioscreen’s range of fabrics come in over 30 colours, have a high tear resistance, are anti-fungal and fire retardant. For more information, contact us today.