A patio awning can completely transform the way you enjoy your outdoor space, and if it’s positioned over patio doors, you’ll also benefit from shade indoors. While a basic awning may provide shelter from the sun, a luxury model can offer so much more, combining smart technology with durability — plus optional extras that will add value to your home for years to come.
Here are the seven reasons why a high-quality patio awning is worth investing in.
Automation at the touch of a button
Luxury awnings are typically motorised, allowing you to extend or retract them effortlessly at the touch of a button. No more manual winding, just push a button whenever you need shade or shelter.
Built to withstand the elements
A well-made awning is designed to cope with the demands of outdoor living. Robust frames and premium-quality fabrics are built to withstand sun, wind and rain, while specialist outdoor materials help resist fading, repel water and provide excellent UV protection. Many luxury awnings are also engineered to offer greater wind resistance than standard models.
Smart wind and sun sensors
Integrated wind and sun sensors automatically respond to changing weather conditions. Wind sensors can detect increasing wind speeds and retract the awning to help protect it, while sun sensors can be set to extend or retract the awning depending on the brightness levels throughout the day.
Control via an app
With many high-end awning systems you can take control from your smartphone, wherever you are. Some can connect with smart home systems, allowing operation through voice commands. Apps may also include useful features such as scheduling, so you can set your awning to open or close automatically at your preferred times each day.
Complete protection when not in use
Awnings are either full cassette or open cassette. A full cassette awning keeps the fabric and folding arms neatly enclosed inside a protective casing when retracted, helping to shield them from the elements when not in use. By comparison, an open cassette design leaves the rolled-up fabric more exposed when the awning is closed.
Optional lighting and heating
Some models come with optional LED under-awning lighting and instant infra-red heating, helping you create a comfortable and inviting outdoor space long into the evening and across more of the year.
Stylish colours to complement your home
With a wide choice of colours and patterns — from elegant neutrals to classic stripes and bolder shades — there’s an awning style to suit every garden and home. You might choose colours that complement your planting scheme, tie in with your brickwork, render or window frames, or even go for a pop of bold colour.
Why choose an awning from Alfresco Living?
- Curated brands: We only stock premium outdoor living brands, chosen for design, craftsmanship and performance.
- Proven expertise: We have more than 20 years of specialist knowledge helping homeowners choose the best products for their garden.
- Discover in person: Explore our awnings in our showroom and experience the collection first-hand, including all the different material samples.
- Fade resistant and waterproof: High quality fabrics are treated with TEXgard coating, which offers excellent water repellence (similar to that of a marine boat cover), as well as being fade resistant.
- Made to measure: Bespoke awnings can be made in any size up to 14m wide, with up to 3.75m projection.
- Wind resistant: Robust frames and premium fabrics mean your awning can withstand gusts of up to 31mph (depending on model).
- Made in the UK: Designed for our ever-changing British weather to your exact measurements, normally supplied and installed within three weeks by our own team.
