4 Ways to Shade Your Backyard
Summertime and sunshine usually go hand in hand, but with sunshine come heat and damaging rays. You can always get some shade by wearing a hat, but if you want it on a larger scale, there are dozens of alterations you can make outside your home to block the sun and filter the light. Whether you want something permanent or temporary, soft or solid, natural or artificial, you can find an idea you can embrace and make your own.
1. Construct an awning or canopy.
One of the most obvious ways to create shade is to add an awning or canopy. However, although this means is obvious, it doesn’t have to be boring. Try a retractable awning over a seating area next to the house, or if you wish to have shade farther out on the lawn, try making a free-standing canopy. An even more creative idea is to use sails instead of the traditional materials. Whether stretched overhead, extended from roof to ground or suspended at an angle, they provide the cool space you need while adding some pizzazz to your patio.
2. Put up an umbrella.
An umbrella is an even simpler way to set up some shade. It is easy to add one to your patio table, but don’t feel confined to this option. Look for a free standing umbrella or one you can embed in your yard, or, if you want something more permanent, install one constructed out of a light material such as bamboo. Also, consider multiplying the number of umbrellas you use. Using more umbrellas means you get more shade, and a patio covered from end to end by several will give a boost to the sophistication of your outdoor decor.
3. Erect a permanent structure.
If you have room, consider constructing some kind of outdoor structure on your property. A pergola is an easy way to snatch some extra shade, or, if you have more room, try a pavilion or cabana. These structures will not only give you shade, but they will also create outdoor living spaces.
Should you choose one of these options, you can go beyond the conventions to increase their advantages. You don’t have to stop with blocking the sun from overhead. Instead, try hanging curtains or shades on your structure so that when the sun is low, you can still enjoy the outdoors.
4. Make use of plants.
Of course, trees will give you excellent shade, but if you don’t want to wait for yours to grow, there are creative ways to filter out the sunlight right away. Vines over an awning can give you a delightful outdoor seating area, for example, and bushy plants hung from a patio roof can go a long way toward blocking the sun. A more adventurous option is to build an open-roofed structure and instead of filling in the spaces with a canopy, hang plants close enough together to create leafy shade.
Don’t feel confined to using just one of these ideas. Try putting an umbrella on a table within your pavilion, or use plants to block slanting rays instead of curtains. Stretch out a sail to cover one side of your pergola, or extend the shaded area of your cabana with an awning or canopy. You can find all the usual options for creating shade for your patio, deck, or lawn, but putting a spin on the traditional will give you more than a space that is comfortable; it will also add sophistication and elegance to the exterior of your home. When looking for relief from the sun, don’t stop at basic. Get creative to make a space that is especially your own.
