A good Perth Christmas outside comes down to three things: shade in the afternoon, shelter once the evening arrives, and a home you can close up with confidence. You can start on the first one this weekend without buying anything, then choose an upgrade for the feeling you want. Below, we look at five Perth businesses and when each is the right call (and when it isn't).
Disclosure: Shade Nation, Perth Double Glazing and Nu Style Shutters are clients of Nu Style Marketing. Ziptrak and Zipscreen are blind systems that Nu Style Shutters offers, and we have no connection with those brands.
Key takeaway: Pick the fix by the feeling, not the product. Outdoor blinds for an evening you can sit through, roller shutters for leaving home worry-free, double glazing for a quieter inside, and shade for a cooler afternoon. Start with the free checklist below, then ask about lead times early.
Imagine this: Christmas Eve at your place
Imagine it's late afternoon on Christmas Eve. The heat is starting to ease, the seafood is on ice, the kids are in and out of the pool, and your sister's car has just pulled up. Someone asks where everyone is going to sit.
If your yard has a shady corner, a table out of the western sun and soft lights ready for dusk, the answer is "anywhere". If it doesn't, the answer is "inside, near the air-conditioner". This guide is about getting more of the first answer.
Illustration (AI-generated), not a real project.
"I want to sit out after dark, without the wind and the mozzies"
Outdoor blinds turn a covered area such as an alfresco or patio into a space you can use in more weather. Nu Style Shutters offers several types, including Ziptrak, Zipscreen, café-style PVC and woven mesh. You can browse the full outdoor blinds range on its website.
Two choices matter most:
- The system. Ziptrak and Zipscreen are both track-guided. Ziptrak says its blind stays at any height you leave it. Zipscreen highlights privacy without losing the view, plus motorisation that works with Apple HomeKit, Alexa and Google Home.
- The fabric. Nu Style Shutters says café-style PVC gives maximum rain block-out in winter but can create a "sauna" effect in summer, while woven mesh gives similar wind reduction and lets the area breathe.
- Best for: alfrescos, patios and pool areas that already have a roof.
- Honest limit: blinds close the edges of a space. They are not a roof.
"I want to go away for Christmas and not worry"
Roller shutters are external window coverings that Nu Style Shutters says are custom made in Perth from marine-grade aluminium. The business lists security, light control, noise reduction and privacy among the reasons people choose them. Start with its roller shutters range or the residential roller shutters page.
If you're driving south for the break, or want the bedrooms dark so visitors can sleep in, they do a quiet, practical job. They are not an alfresco "look" upgrade, and we wouldn't pitch them as one.
- Best for: homes left empty over the break, street-facing bedrooms, darker rooms.
- Honest limit: they cover windows and doors, not outdoor living space.
"I want the inside to be calm and comfortable too"
Perth Double Glazing manufactures and installs uPVC double glazed windows and doors from its Rockingham facility, using Kömmerling profiles. It also does double glazed sliding doors, handy if your alfresco opens through a big door.
The business describes better sound reduction and insulation as the main benefits. If the road is loud or the house is hard to keep comfortable, a quieter inside makes a long day of hosting easier to recover from. New to the idea? Perth Double Glazing explains what double glazing is on its website.
- Best for: noisy street frontage, rooms that are hard to heat or cool, old windows or sliding doors.
- Honest limit: it starts at the house, not the yard, and it's a bigger project than most fixes here.
"I want shade and a cooler afternoon"
Shade Nation is a Perth business that designs and installs cantilever shade structures, patios, pool shade and shade umbrellas. It is also the WA distributor for Cantaport, and describes its structures as designed for Perth's sun, wind and weather.
A cantilever structure has no posts in the middle of the space, which suits a pool edge, a dining table or a courtyard where you don't want legs in the way. On many summer days the afternoon sea breeze (the Fremantle Doctor) takes the edge off the heat, and a shaded spot makes the most of it.
- Best for: open yards, pool areas and courtyards that bake from midday.
- Honest limit: a roof gives shade, not side protection from wind or mozzies.
Which fix for which feeling
You want an evening you can sit through.
Consider outdoor blinds, such as Ziptrak or Zipscreen (Nu Style Shutters).
Good to know: needs a covered area; mesh breathes, PVC can feel stuffy in summer.
You want to leave home with peace of mind.
Consider roller shutters (Nu Style Shutters).
Good to know: for windows and doors, not outdoor living.
You want a quieter, calmer inside.
Consider double glazing (Perth Double Glazing).
Good to know: a bigger project, so plan ahead.
You want a cooler afternoon.
Consider a cantilever shade structure, patio or umbrella (Shade Nation).
Good to know: shade, not side protection.
The 30-minute list (no shopping required)
- Walk the yard at 4pm. Notice where the sun lands, then move the table into the shade, not just near it.
- Face the chairs towards each other. A loose circle gets people talking.
- Clear one path from the kitchen to the table, away from the BBQ and the pool gate.
- Set up a drinks spot at the edge, so nobody crowds the cook.
- Tip out standing water. Pot-plant saucers and buckets are where mosquitoes breed.
- Go warm and low with lights. Soft lights at seat height beat one harsh floodlight. Test them before dusk.
- Make one cool corner with shade, a jug of water and a bowl for the dog.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to make a Perth backyard comfortable for Christmas?
Move the seating out of the afternoon sun, add warm low lighting and clear a path through the space. It takes about 30 minutes and costs nothing.
Should I choose a shade structure or outdoor blinds?
A shade structure gives overhead cover for an open area. Outdoor blinds generally close the sides of a space that already has a roof. Many Perth yards use both.
What is the difference between Ziptrak and Zipscreen?
Both are track-guided outdoor blind systems. Ziptrak says its blind stays at any height; Zipscreen emphasises privacy with a view and smart-home motorisation. The right choice depends on the opening, fabric and use, so ask for a measure and quote.
Do roller shutters help if we are travelling for Christmas?
Roller shutters cover windows and doors from the outside, and Nu Style Shutters lists security among their benefits. They suit homes you'll leave empty, not outdoor entertaining spaces.
Will double glazing make my house quieter?
Perth Double Glazing describes sound reduction and insulation as the main benefits of its uPVC double glazed windows and doors. Ask the business how it applies to your rooms.
How early should I ask about an outdoor upgrade before Christmas?
As early as you can. Lead times differ between products and businesses, so ask about timing and book a measure and quote before you plan around a date.
Over to you
How is your backyard doing Christmas this year: sunny table, shady corner, or everyone crammed in by the air-conditioner? Share this with the person who always hosts, and tell us what you'd change first.
Ready to look at an upgrade? Request a quote through Nu Style Marketing and we'll point you to the right local business, or contact them directly:
- Nu Style Shutters: outdoor blinds (Ziptrak, Zipscreen) and roller shutters
- Perth Double Glazing: windows and doors
- Shade Nation: cantilever shade, patios, pool shade and umbrellas
- Learn more about the systems: Ziptrak and Zipscreen