To keep it safe, stable, and prevent it from flying off in high wind, use a weighted parasol base. To make the most of a sun umbrella, you’ll need an outdoor dining table or picnic bench with a hole through the center where you can slot the umbrella. Sun Umbrella / ParasolĪ parasol or sun umbrella is probably the most common way to add temporary shade to a patio or deck area, and it’s not hard to see why these are so popular, as they come at almost any price point to suit the users budget, are simple and instant to erect, and can be easily stored when not in use. This will provide an almost solid shade, with small slithers of light shining through, depending on how densely packed the sheets are. Bamboo Ceilingįor a rustic effect, buy bamboo sheets and staple or nail them over the top ceiling planks of the pergola. You can find fabrics that match your outdoor decor, or to do this on a minimal budget, you could cut up old bedsheets or table linen. You can be creative with your choice of fabric, using lighter fabrics to allow light through, or heavier fabrics to make the space more dark and cozy. You can customize your level of shade to suit your family for dappled shade, drape the fabric through in a more loose and casual fashion, and for solid shade, make sure the fabric is wound through tighter to allow minimal gaps. This will give an exotic vacation vibe to your yard while also giving you a good amount of shade. Use lengths of fabric and drape them under and over each ceiling plank of the pergola, then fix them at the ends. Fabric CeilingĪdding a fabric ceiling to your pergola is an inexpensive and easy way to give your patio optimum shade. Adding fabric decor to outdoor spaces also creates a feeling of coziness, and will make your space feel more indulgent and comfortable. You can also be clever with your choice of fabric, choosing sheer drapes to allow maximum light in, or heavy canvas drapes to keep your patio or deck area cooler. This is a great option for a non-permanent shade, as you can open the curtains when you want to allow the sun to flow in, and close them when you want some respite from the heat. You can attach curtains to a pergola in the same way as you would attach them to a wall indoors. Hanging baskets with flowering plants will help to increase the shade offered by the pergola, as well as give you something colorful to look at.

Large hanging baskets with heavily trailing plants will provide greater shaded spots, while smaller baskets with daintier plants will offer partial shade. Pergolas provide a perfect opportunity to hang an array of hanging baskets around the upper edge, or even along the central beams of the pergola.

Climbing vines are a good option for intermittent or dappled shade, but they obviously will not provide a solidly shaded area, so they are not ideal if you require heavier or more reliable shade. The amount of shade you get will depend on the type of plant you select, as vines with fuller habits and large foliage will create more shade, while more slender plants will offer limited shade. Climbing Plantsīy planting a climbing vine in a container at the foot of each pergola post, and letting the plant climb up and trail itself around the wooden lengths, you will create a denser shade than just the pergola planks alone, as well as an attractive and vibrant feature. Ideas for shading your pergola over your patio or deck include 1.1. You can also make your pergola more decorative by adding string lights or solar lanterns. The pergola itself will only offer small strips of shade, as they have mostly open tops that allow the sun to shine through however, if you have your pergola set up over your patio or deck area, there’s a number of things you can add to create more shade. Whether you buy a pre-made pergola or design and build on yourself, these structures are easy to construct and can be put together over the course of a day with two sets of hands. These come in a wide range of designs, from simple and inexpensive to more complex and costly, or if you’re experienced with a saw, you could even build one of these yourself out of lumber. A wooden pergola is a brilliant structure to introduce to your backyard for a whole host of reasons.

Shade cloth