The Art of Shade: Chic Patio Cover Ideas

Umbrellas are among our favorite patio cover ideas. Not only do they provide much-needed shade on hot days, but they also protect your furniture, enhance the design of your space and provide an ideal temperature for lounging. In fact, umbrellas made with high-quality UV-resistant fabrics can make the air feel up to 10 degrees cooler! On days where the highs start to creep into the 90s, this can be a huge game-changer. Additionally, patio umbrellas are extremely versatile; they are available in a variety of colors, styles, and tilting mechanisms, allowing more creativity in designing your shade experience. Most patio umbrellas tend to fall into three categories—each offering unique benefits:

Have you ever found yourself admiring a sailboat on the water? If so, you’d probably appreciate how shade sails can harness a similar design for beauty, ingenuity, and of course, shade right in your backyard. Shade sails are a great patio cover idea for those with modern design preferences. They can be attached to a roof or outdoor structure to form a canopy that provides protection from the sun. Not only do they provide a barrier from UV rays, but they also provide outdoor spaces with a sophisticated, structural aesthetic. When shopping for shade sails, you’ll want to consider the shape you want as well as the size you’ll need to create a shaded area suitable for your needs. Be sure to only choose sails that have been constructed with high-density polyethylene fabrics.

For centuries, pergolas have been a go-to source for shade, and they still make the cut for one of the best patio cover ideas. Hundreds of years ago, the Tuscans built pergolas and let grapevines grow over them to help block the sun year-round. Today, this strategy provides the same patio magic and visual appeal. And like our other favorites on this list, pergolas offer more than just an ingenious patio cover idea — they’re a great way to add form and function to your outdoor living space. There are also many fun ways to customize your pergola to fit your ideal coverage: