Why Watch the Game Inside When You Could Take It Outside?

There's something pretty great about football season in Boise.

The temperatures begin to cool, friends gather for the game, food goes on the grill—and some of the best days of the year are perfect for spending time outside.

So why move everyone indoors for kickoff?

With the right outdoor living setup, your patio can become one of the best seats in the house. But before you hang an outdoor TV and call it Game Day Ready, there's one opponent you need to consider:

the sun.

Glare, direct sunlight and heat can quickly turn an otherwise great patio into a space no one wants to use.

Fortunately, your outdoor window and shade solutions can play some serious defense.

How Can You Reduce Glare on an Outdoor TV?

The position of your television is important, but so is the direction of the sun.

A patio that feels comfortable in the morning may have intense sunlight coming from an entirely different direction by afternoon kickoff.

That's where motorized exterior shades can be a game changer.

Installed along the openings of a covered patio or outdoor living area, exterior shades can help block direct sunlight before it enters your space. That can reduce glare and make it easier to see your outdoor television while creating a more comfortable environment for everyone watching.

And because the shades are motorized, adjusting them doesn't mean missing the next play.

Sun moves. Your shades can, too.

Can Exterior Shades Help Keep a Patio Cooler?

Yes. Exterior shades aren't just about television glare.

By reducing the amount of direct solar heat entering a covered patio, they can also help make the space feel more comfortable during Boise's warmer days.

That's particularly helpful for patios with strong west-facing afternoon sun.

Instead of abandoning the patio when the sun reaches a certain point in the sky, you have greater control over how much sunlight enters your outdoor living space.

And that benefit goes well beyond football season.

Think summer dinners, family gatherings, morning coffee and evenings outside.

Game day may be the reason you're thinking about the problem now, but the solution can make your patio more usable throughout the season.

Motorization Is the Game Day Playmaker

You finally sit down.

The food is out. Everyone has a drink. The game starts.

Then the sun shifts.

With manually operated shades, someone has to get up and make the adjustment. With motorized exterior shades, controlling the environment can be as easy as pressing a button.

Depending on the motorization system selected, additional control and smart-home integration options may also be available.

It's one of those features that can initially sound like a luxury—but once you experience the convenience, particularly on larger exterior shades, it's easy to understand the appeal.

What If Your Patio Doesn't Have Enough Overhead Shade?

That's where an awning may be the better play.

Awnings provide overhead shade for patios, decks and outdoor seating areas that receive too much direct sun.

Rather than enclosing the sides of an existing covered patio, an awning can extend shade outward from the home, creating a more comfortable area for seating, entertaining and—of course—watching the game.

Depending on your home's architecture and how sunlight hits the space, an awning may be used on its own or as part of a broader outdoor shade strategy.

Exterior Shade or Awning: Which Is Better for Your Patio?

It really depends on where the sun is coming from.

If sunlight is beating down from overhead onto an uncovered patio, an awning may be the right solution.

If you already have a covered patio but low-angle morning or afternoon sun pours through the open sides, exterior shades may provide the protection you're missing.

And some outdoor spaces may benefit from a combination of solutions.

This is exactly why an in-home consultation matters.

Our team can look at your patio, its orientation, the areas you're trying to shade and how you plan to use the space. Instead of simply choosing an outdoor product, we can help you think about the actual problem you're trying to solve.

Build Your Outdoor Game Day Starting Lineup

A great outdoor game day space doesn't have to be complicated.

Start with comfortable seating and a television positioned to minimize direct sunlight. Add shade where you need it. Create a spot for food and drinks. Then think about how the space will function as the sun moves throughout the day.

And don't forget that the best outdoor living investments aren't just for Saturdays in the fall.

Your patio should work for football games, family dinners, summer barbecues, quiet evenings and everything in between.

That's the real win.

Get Your Boise Patio Game Day Ready

At Budget Blinds of Boise & Nampa, we can help you explore exterior shade solutions designed for the way you use your outdoor space.

Whether you're looking for motorized exterior shades to help manage afternoon glare or an awning to create more shade over your patio, we'll help you find a solution that works with your home.

We bring the showroom to you, so we can see firsthand how the sun interacts with your outdoor space and help you make a more informed choice.

Because the best seat for the game might not be in your living room at all.

It might be right outside.

Everyone has a budget—we make yours beautiful.