The secret to enjoying the sunshine and your back yard in comfort is having a welcoming shady spot to retreat to and relax. Not everyone has the luxury of a mature tree to give shade. Likewise, trees bring with them the problem of cultivating a lawn beneath them, and many gardeners have given up trying.
This article suggests a few backyard shade solutions that are easy on the eye and, for the most part, easy to construct and maintain. At the very least, these ideas will inspire you to beautify your back yard and make it a place where you want to spend more time.
1. The Glory of a Gazebo
Often constructed from wood, gazebos are usually octagonal or hexagonal, but can also be rectangular or square. They have a solid roof and partially open sides so that you can take in the view no matter which direction you look. You can screen in the sides, of course, but this might make the gazebo too warm.
Traditionally the entrance to a gazebo does not have a door. The opening provides a permanent welcome to those who enter, and a full view of part of the garden. You will need to give some careful thought about the positioning the door opening, to make the most of your enjoyment inside it.
Most people use a freestanding gazebo as a decorative centerpiece in their garden. Gazebos have been depicted romantically in literature and film through the ages. They are a favorite for those who love to spend hours reading while enjoying the outdoors and being protected from the elements.
If you have enough space, a gazebo in your back yard gives you the opportunity to create colorful flowerbeds around the outside perimeter or hang baskets from the posts or eaves.
The interior can have cushion-covered benches on at least some of the sides. You might prefer freestanding furniture that you can remove for special occasions, such as weddings or birthday celebrations.
2. Perfect Pergolas
Unlike gazebos, the flat roof of a pergola usually features slats or beams. You can opt for a clean look or a softer one featuring grapevines, wisteria, or something unusual like the vine of a loofah.
The rectangular structure of a pergola makes it ideal for covering a larger area. It is often attached to one wall of the house, but need not be. Materials used for pergola posts include wood and concrete. Slats and beams can be of anything from treated bamboo poles or timber to adjustable aluminum blades.
Pergolas are versatile and can be adapted to any garden space. Most often, the pergola stands on a base covered with decking or stone paving. Adorning your pergola space with tropical plants in large earthenware pots is a good idea if you don’t like sweeping up leaves and flowers from vines.
Pergolas can also be fitted with retractable shade cloth or awnings on the roof, for those ultra-bright days, or even for days when drizzle or rain is a possibility.
They are popular places to situate a large dining table and create a homely Mediterranean atmosphere for abundant, fun-filled lunches with your favorite crowd of family and friends.
Light and airy, pergolas have the distinct advantage of being the perfect place to situate your barbecue. That way, as hosts of lazy summer afternoons, you don’t miss out on any of the fun.
3. Patio Umbrellas
Before you dismiss this idea, let us remind you that patio umbrella technology has advanced in leaps and bounds since the idea first became popular.An umbrella is one of the quickest ways to add shade to your outdoor living area. You have an infinite choice of color. As an alternative to staring at the pole in the middle of your garden table, consider the host of cantilevered umbrellas, available in online stores.
Some patio umbrella kits come with two umbrellas, which takes care of the fact that the sun moves in the sky. With two umbrellas, you won’t have to shift your chair as the day goes by.
4. Temporary Canopies
If you are proud of your perfect lawn, and only need shade once in a while, you might prefer not to have a permanent structure. Pop-up canopies might be the solution for you.
These are easy to erect wherever you want, and you can store it away during winter or when you are not using it. The other advantage is that this solution is inexpensive. Your local gardening center or camping stores probably stock a good range of suitable pop-up canopies.
If you are undecided where you eventually want to place a more permanent structure in your yard, a pop-up canopy is an excellent way to experiment.
And, if you move house, you can take your prime bit of shade with you!
5. Shade Sails
Adding shade to outdoor living areas with attractive shade sails is a modern, stylish option. Large pieces of composite canvas fabric are stretched between posts or structures on a patio, courtyard, or space between two buildings. They provide diffused light and are an excellent way to protect yourself from harmful UV rays.
We would recommend that you get professionals to install shade sails because to look most effective, they have to be stretched very taut. Shade sails come in a variety of lighter colors, to minimize heat retention from the sun.
This is a great choice for back yards where there are no tall trees. Installing a shade sail underneath branches of a tree is not advisable, though, because cleaning the dirt from leaves and flowers from a shade sail is problematic at best. It will spoil what is otherwise a vibrant, sleek outdoor décor statement.
6. Overhanging Balcony
If you’re at the design or construction phase of building your new home, consider making a large balcony on the second floor of your home. This can serve a dual purpose by providing you with a covered area below.
Such balconies are best situated so that the covered area leads from sliding doors of your main dining area downstairs, or from the kitchen door.
Many people love having buffet lunches or dinners. The food stays inside on the dining room table, but entertainment takes place outside, on the covered verandah, usually tastefully fitted out with decking, and near a small swimming pool.
As to the upstairs balcony, tasteful umbrellas or roller blinds might come in handy every now and then.
7. Blinds and Curtains
Whatever your structure – pergola, lean-to, or gazebo, consider rolling blinds, curtains, or roll-down awnings to provide additional shade for those extra-bright days.
Blinds are made from a wide range of natural and synthetic materials. For a more natural effect that blends in with the vegetation in your garden, consider reed mats, or woven twine, sisal or rope. Bamboo is also a popular choice for blinds, both indoors and outdoors.
The material of your blinds should ideally match the material used to build your gazebo or pergola. The alternative is to create a stark contrast, such as bright synthetic fabric hung as roller blinds on a wooden-frame pergola, or bamboo blinds fitted to an aluminum-frame gazebo.
Your back yard is fertile ground for splashes of creativity.
If you like a bright and cheerful, and are not afraid of glamour, you might want voluminous heavy curtains on one or several sides of a pergola. Combining heavy curtains with outdoor hanging chairs furnished with ultra-comfortable cushions can create a plush, cozy effect. No one ever said you cannot indulge in luxury in your back yard!
Accessorize Your Backyard Shade Solutions
Accessories to your backyard shade solutions can give you the inspiration to spend more time in the great outdoors and enjoy your home to the fullest.
Some of your furniture, such as box benches, can double up as storage for cushions and umbrellas when not in use. The storage also serves to protect your furniture from the weather. Explore our blog; you might be inspired to make your own patio bench!
Once you have the basic structure in place, you can add to it to make the space more personal and more comfortable. Garden furniture or a hammock strung between two posts are two examples. Other effective additions include stone, wrought iron, or wooden sculptures.
You could, for example, install solar panels on a gazebo roof, or strip panels on top of pergola beams, to provide lighting at night both in your shady area and along garden paths.
One thing we know for sure: from the comfort of your newly created shady spot in your back yard, you’ll have plenty of time to sit outdoors and make the most of the fine weather. That’s when you notice that your beautiful lawn needs mowing. Our blog has details on the best lawn mowers for you – check it out!