Lawns that cool and blinds that listen: the new smart backyard
Revolutionary self-cooling artificial lawn and smart home-integrated outdoor blinds are among the latest innovations being introduced to Aussie backyards.
Celebrating nearly 20 years of transforming Australian backyards, Adelaide-headquartered Australian Outdoor Living have introduced a smart suite of innovations designed to elevate lifestyle, convenience and aesthetics, while solving frustrations such as overheating artificial lawns and manually operated outdoor blinds.
New long-term supply agreements with two of the country’s leading steel suppliers bring a new design tool to make planning and visualising pergolas, patios, decks and verandahs easier.
Australian Outdoor Living CEO, Chris Taylor, said the company invests in product innovation and improvements as more Australians embrace their backyard as a personal sanctuary, gym, second living room, and even workspace.
“Today’s outdoor space is more than just a lawn or patio – it’s a place to unwind, connect, and even work,” he said. “We see it as our job to make that space smarter, more beautiful, and more durable than ever before.”
Outdoor blinds that listen, grass that cools itself
One of the new products introduced is a premium artificial lawn exclusively manufactured for Australian Outdoor Living, the Grange, that is engineered with CoolWeave and SuperFlow technology. Unlike traditional artificial grass that heats up underfoot, the Grange remains up to 20% cooler, offering a more comfortable surface in warmer weather. Its fully permeable backing allows water to drain up to four times faster, helping to prevent puddles after rain.
For tech-savvy homeowners, the new SmartTrack Connect blind system brings the outdoor space in line with modern smart homes. Fully compatible with Google Home and Amazon Alexa, users can raise, lower or adjust their pergola blinds by voice, smartphone app, or remote – whether at home or away. The system also enables real-time blind positioning and scheduling for changing sunlight throughout the day.
“This technology is about making outdoor living not just beautiful, but effortless,” said Chris. “Our customers can now manage their space with the same ease and intelligence as their indoor smart home setup.”
New era for outdoor structures
Chris highlighted their new supply agreements with Lysaght and Fielders – both part of BlueScope – as a signal of Australian Outdoor Living’s commitment to evolving its product range. “Quality has been central to the business since day one, and the structures we built then remain in excellent condition today.
“But as materials manufacturing continues to advance, we want to ensure we’re building with the best available products – those that come with strong warranties and consistent supply, so customers aren’t left waiting.”
He said working with Lysaght and Fielders also enables the use of new planning tools, including real-time plan delivery and virtual walk-throughs of outdoor spaces.
“In a world of uncertainty, sourcing from these trusted suppliers gives us – and our customers – greater confidence.”
