Having shade in your outdoor space provides it with more value and allows you to enjoy spending time outdoors more consistently. When done properly, a shade solution protects you from rain as much as it does from the harmful effect of the sunrays. In other words, it allows you to spend time in your backyard in situations in which you would otherwise have to seek refuge indoors. In a way, a proper shade allows you to get the full potential out of your outdoor space.
With that in mind and without further ado, here are the top five amazing shade ideas for your outdoor space. Each of them has its own unique advantages and downsides and understanding them before making a final choice is crucial.
Natural shade
Leaf foliage is the best source of shade there is. It is aesthetic, organic and it provides the most resale value to your property. In fact, a single mature tree in the front yard can raise the value of the property by $8,000. There are just a couple of small problems with this idea. First of all, it can take 15 to 25 years for the tree to fully matures. Second, a tree usually requires quite a bit of maintenance. Sure, leaves fly to your property even from the neighbouring properties but you’ll have more to clean with the tree of your own. So, plant a tree but, in the meantime, look for a suitable alternative.
Parasol
Parasols are the simplest, the most inexpensive way of providing your backyard seating area with some shade. There are so many benefits. First of all, if you’re just looking for some shade, they can provide you with that at a relatively low price. Second, they’re easy to set up and move at your own behest. During the winter, you can just disassemble them and move them to the shed or basement. This way, you’re preserving them for the time when they’re truly needed. While they provide cover from rain and snow, this is not their primary function and you need to act in this way.
Shade sails
Shade sails are a more elegant and more expensive version of the parasol. When mounted on an awning, it can even transform into a retractable shade sail. Otherwise, it needs to be mounted on poles. Either way, it’s easy to set up and disassemble. Shade sails are also easy to move indoors. The benefits of parasols are that shade sails are much more elegant. Also, while you may have the option to buy a gigantic parasol, shade sails, on average, cover a much larger area.
Pergola
Making a pergola is a great setting for a seating area. The solution itself is quite stylish and provides you with one of the most natural-looking alternatives for the natural tree foliage. You see, if you build a pergola and plant some fast-growing vines next to its pillars, you might get a unique form of shade. Pergolas can also be used as alternatives to a garage but, in this scenario, you would have to provide suitable flooring and not keep any seating beneath it. The downside is that it requires a construction project and is, therefore, relatively expensive.
Gazebo
The most expensive and the most aesthetically pleasing way for you to create an outdoor shade is to construct a real gazebo. This is a project that can make your garden feel like something out of a fairy tale. Having a personal gazebo can make it so much easier for you to set up an afternoon tea time routine. The downside is that it takes a professional crew to construct it. However, there’s nothing that will add more value to your property than a gazebo. It all comes down to if it’s worth it.
In conclusion
In the end, having shade on your property is not optional if you want to spend some quality time there. What you need to do is approach this problem strategically and think about both your needs and your budget. Since your needs are not always objective, you mustn’t be afraid to add personal preferences to the list. All in all, the above-listed five ideas and their variations provide you with everything you need in order to fully upgrade your backyard.
Author Bio
Jasmine Anderson is a Sydney-based lifestyle blogger and a toddler mom. She loves to spend quality time with her family, go thrifting, and spend just a little bit too much time on the internet.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndersonJess_AJ