​Winter is here and the weather is cold, wet, and windy. Leaves are gathering in the yard and wearing sweaters and jackets is in season. But what does all this have to do with your shade structure? Why should you even care? The answers are multifaceted.

​Keep in mind, you can always contact your awning professional for advice on how to store your awning or shade structure. But remember, just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you have to put away your awning; especially if you live in Southern California where the weather is sunny and bright most of the year.
 
For more information about awnings and shade structures, feel free to contact us at American Awning & Blind Co by visiting us at http://www.americanawningabc.com. Or call us at 800-654-5933. You can also email us at info@americanawningabc.com. 

​The holiday season is here and Christmas is just around the corner. Getting your backyard to look fun, festive, and jolly only takes a little bit of creativity and the right ideas. If you have an awning or other shade structure in your backyard or even your front yard, then here are some tips and advice on decorations.

To start, make sure your awning is in good shape, clean, and structurally sound. Next, think about the theme you want for your holiday decorations. You can do things like:
 

• Winter Wonderland
• Candy Cane Oasis
• Ginger Home
• Elf Playground
• Santa’s Village
• Christmas Wreaths and Plants

Once you’ve chosen your theme, start thinking about the details. What kind of décor can you incorporate into your awning? Think things like:
 

• String Lights
• Lanterns
• Vines (Fake or Real)
• Wreathes
• Hanging Fake Icicles
• Hanging Ornaments
• Ribbon Wrapping Posts
• Creating Christmas Tree Posts using Lights and Wire – Spiral the lights around the post. You can use wiring or other stiff material to create the shape of a tree around the post. 

​Really, your only limited by your creative mind. You can decorate your backyard and your awning structure with more than just what’s mentioned here in this article. Think outside of the box and have some fun. In fact, you can get your family to join in on the activity and make it a bonding moment with your children.
 
Just remember, always consult your awning provider/installer about what you can or can’t do to your awning. Not all awnings are created equally and certain decorations and lighting can be a fire hazard so always consult your shade structure professional or fire department when it comes to things like that.
 
For more information about awnings and shade structures, feel free to contact us at American Awning & Blind Co by visiting us at http://www.americanawningabc.com. Or call us at 800-654-5933. You can also email us at info@americanawningabc.com. 

​The holidays are just around the corner: Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s. There’s a lot of preparation to be done and hams and turkeys to cook. As we all prepare ourselves for the onslaught of family and food, let’s remember, your backyard is a great place you can usher your guests to. Your backyard is an extension of your home and is a place where guests can enjoy a fun outdoor environment. 

The trick to creating this backyard outdoor holiday oasis is decoration. Your backyard can be spruced up with not just furniture, but with festive pieces of décor. Here’s a quick list of things you can do or use to transform your backyard into a holiday fun zone:

• Thanksgiving Decorations
  • Turkey Leaves: use leaves as the feathers of the turkey and create fun little backyard turkeys using cotton balls and eyes you can find at a craft store.
  • Pumpkins & Persimmons: place these tasty things around the backyard along with corn stalks to create a Thanksgiving themed ambiance.
• Christmas Lights/Decorations
  • Candy Cane Croquet: try setting up a game of croquet with candy cane colored pieces.
  • Garlands & Ornaments: use garlands and ornaments to dress windows and doorways.
• Fire Pits: try putting in a small fire pit you can buy from the store and enjoy roasting marshmallows with the family.
• Fire Lamps/Torches: place these around your outdoor dining area and create a nice lighted, and warm, ambience that guests can enjoy. (Just remember to be fire safe!).
• Hanging Lights from Trees: try using lights you can hang from trees to create a lighted Christmas tree decoration. (Just be sure to be fire safe!).
• Backyard Christmas Tree: put your Christmas tree in the backyard.
• Awning Lights: hang lights from your awning and create a doorway to your backyard. This can be more than an illuminating experience… 

​Really, there are several things you can do to your backyard to create a themed holiday party. It’s not always just about the food. Sometimes creating a backyard oasis of holiday fun is more memorable. Keep in mind, if you have an awning or other shade structure installed, you can decorate it with garlands, ornaments, and other holiday themed items.
 
For more information about awnings and shade structures, feel free to contact us at American Awning & Blind Co by visiting us at http://www.americanawningabc.com. Or call us at 800-654-5933. You can also email us at info@americanawningabc.com.