8 Stylish Ideas to Bring Welcome Shade to Your Patio

Creating shade in the garden is essential in summer. Whether you love to entertain outdoors or simply want to relax outside with a book, these stylish ideas for patio shade will make the experience so much more enjoyable once the weather heats up.

However big or small your backyard and your budget, you'll find patio shade inspiration here. There are quick, affordable fixes such as stylish parasols and decorative screens for a DIY transformation, as well as high-end additions like a louvred pergola or elegant pavilion to take your garden design to the next level.

Don't forget the power of plants as a natural shading device, either. Growing a beautiful botanical screen over a pergola, adding flowers and fragrance as well as shade from the sun, is just one of many contemporary patio ideas. Which idea for patio shade will you choose to try, to make your outdoor space more liveable this summer?

Latest Videos From

Watch full video here:

1. Keep it Simple with a Parasol

If you want to add shade to your garden, a parasol should be top of your list. There is a lovely simplicity to opting for a parasol, especially as you can move it around to customise your shade requirements. As well as being a flexible choice, there are so many beautiful parasol options available that you don't have to sacrifice design for function, either.

A simple garden parasol is both decorative and practical. They come in all shapes and sizes, and in every color imaginable. Most are adjustable in height, and many have stands that can be angled to easily customize exactly how much shade it throws. Some can be dismantled and packed away once summer comes to a close, too.

The 'patio culture' trend that's big news this year is all about extending your living space outdoors. So, if you want to turn your patio into an outside living room without spending a fortune, a parasol is a smart choice.

Pretty Parasols

2. Hang a Shapely Shade Sail

A sail is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to shade a patio. Simple to set up and offering a sleek unobtrusive element, shade sails are designed to be fixed to a house wall or sturdy fence post or pole.

Giving durable coverage, a shade sail can be put in place in an afternoon, making this a great option for pretty much any garden space. It's a good idea to look for styles that also repel water, so you can stay outside during a shower too.

Also known as sun canopies, shade sails come in various materials and sizes. As well as using one large sail, you can hang several smaller shades to extend the coverage while creating an appealing design feature. This is the perfect choice if you're looking for small patio ideas, for example if you have a courtyard garden, as close boundaries make it easier to fit, and you don't lose any precious patio ground space.

3. Invest in a Modern Louvred Pergola

"Pergolas offer an aesthetically pleasing way to create shade in your outdoor space," says design expert Joe Raboine, vice president of design at Oldcastle APG. "The traditional overhead beams and open lattice structure allow sunlight to filter through while providing partial shade underneath. This can significantly lower the ambient temperature, making the space more comfortable, especially during hot summer days."

You also have the option of adding a roof, or sections of fabric or curtains for additional shade, which will also enhance your garden privacy. If you can stretch your budget, there also are louvered pergolas available with retractable coverings, allowing you to adjust the level of shade according to your needs.

Alternatively pergola kits offer ease of installation, particularly for DIY enthusiasts. Recommended kits come with pre-cut, pre-routed, and pre-riveted parts, requiring only simple assembly and eliminating the need for specialist installation skills.

4. Extend your Space with a Shady Veranda

A permanent feature, a veranda will create a seamless indoor-outdoor space and transform your patio into an extension of your home, as well as adding a shady retreat where you can escape from the sun. It's the next step up from a pergola, as it can be used year round, offering a more sheltered area that protects garden furniture and accessories as well as shielding you from the sun.

An informal veranda such as this works well with wooden and rattan furniture, combined with natural-looking accessories in earth tones and textures. It's always a good idea to think about lighting and heating options too, which will further extend the time you can spend outside.

Do check your local municipality's building codes and permits to ensure your planned structure meets required guidelines before starting construction work.

5. Install an Automated Patio Awning

An awning is a smart option if your patio is positioned directly outside your home, as it can easily be fitted to an exterior house wall. The latest models add a stylish design element as well as being functional and durable. Most are easy to operate at the touch of a button, rather than the older-style winch handles.

"The biggest trends we're seeing in outdoor shades right now are to build socializing and living areas outdoors," says Jason Turner, co-founder at PowerShades. "There is a significant trend in people enclosing their outdoor kitchens and living areas with motorized shades. In the warmer months, these help keep the patio shaded, and coupled with fans, can make the patio far more bearable through the hot months."

There are many smart ideas for patio shade available that allow you to design your space as you wish. Due to their sturdy construction, this type of awning is suitable for covering larger patio areas. They can also be equipped with extra options such as wind protection and extra privacy, light or infrared heaters.

6. Add a Stylish Pavilion

If you like the idea of retreating into the garden on hot days, consider creating a covered patio area away from the house, surrounded by immersive planting. While this is a more expensive option, a permanent structure like a garden pavilion allows you to use the space all year round, as well as offering a shady sanctuary in summer.

The elegant pavilion in this design (above) has a series of pivoting translucent screens that can be opened or closed as required, making it a versatile outdoor living space. A pavilion offers privacy, too, and brings appealing year-round structure to your garden.

7. Plant a Natural Canopy of Climbers

Using climbing plants to form a canopy on a pergola is one of the best ways to add shade to a patio. Train fast-growing plants to climb over an existing structure and it's quick and affordable, too. Use trellis or wires that complement the structure to train the vines up the pergola posts and to support the additional weight of the foliage as it grows.

A natural screen of foliage and flowers is a visually stunning and eco-friendly option that will change with the seasons. To cloak a whole pergola, choose climbing flowering plants to grow together such as jasmine, honeysuckle, wisteria, roses or bougainvillea. Another option is to simply fill the south-facing pergola side using vertical wires and fast-growing vines that won't scramble out of control.

If you're restricted to growing your climbing vine in a planter, then clematis is a good choice, and there are clematis varieties to suit every space. As you'll only need the shade in summer, growing annual vines is another good option.

Climbing Plants

8. Use Decorative Screens

A quick solution to block sunshine without enclosing a space is to add strategically placed timber or metal screens. This not only offers dappled shade, but is a smart way to add privacy to your garden, too.

Fix screens to pergola sides to create an outdoor living room, or choose affordable standalone privacy screens that you can move around your patio to give just the right level of shade you're after.

Many ornamental metal screens have laser-cut patterns that add a unique design element as well, and a wide variety are available so you can choose one that segues seamlessly with your outdoor aesthetic.