Made in the Shade: How Should I Shade My Backyard?

Rough Linen I feel for you, and I wish I had a solution since I have a south-facing deck and a delicate English complexion (ahem), and I have tried everything! Best and most ambitious was a 10'x12' canopy I called Obi Wan (http://www.outdoorfabrics.com/ have the best selection and prices), but in any sort of wind I had to take it down or lose the deck... Every now and then shops like JoAnn have really pretty, frivolous umbrellas (see the pink edge in my photo), and I loved a tiny, attach-to-the-chair parasol from Ikea, but they last two seasons at best. I am back to a big straw hat.

styledish I too have the same problem; our yard is like the surface of the sun in mid afternnoon. We have had an umbrella in the past but I'm feeling like it doesn't quite do the job so I have decided to have some boat sails made and I plan to attach them to the house and garage (which is seperate) with eye hooks. My husband is luke warm to say the least but hasn't come up with any else so he's game to try it.

Becky Harris Kit, I have been working on the same thing for an Ideabook 911 I'm working on for tomorrow- I am glad to be able to add this ideabook to my list of things that will help her. I already had another one of yours linked there too! Thanks!

Roberta Philbrick So hard with the wind and rain to find a great solution. We looked into a retractable awning but our roof pitch is too low. Looked into a permanent awning but they wouldn't sell it to us because our winds are too high here...which I was really appreciative of the fact that he was an honest business owner and didn't just sell me what I thought I wanted. So he recommended an aluminum patio cover but we have to go through our HOA and not into that right now and it's not cheap $2,000-$3,000 for this permanent awning. So I just ordered a 10 ft. offset umbrella for a great price $99 with free shipping. Even if it only last a summer, I don't care for this price and it had some good reviews. Other offsets run from $400 to $1500 dollars and we are just not set on spending that for a temp solution. Would love a pergola with insertable canvas sliding panels for maximum shade and rain coverage...but they are also expensive. So for now I'm sticking with this simple solution: http://www.patioumbrellas.com/offset-umbrellas/10-foot-wide/coralcoast10ftoffsetumbrella.cfm Hope this helps, Roberta

alaave have you thought about those "sail" shades, you know, the triangular ones. I've seen quite a few here in Phoenix. Big, bold, colorful, and removable should the need arise. I've seen up to three placed at varying angles to create the perfect shade! Plus they are very "cool"!

Tricia Boutelle We're planning on adding a pergola with the clear plastic roofing like the first picture this Spring. Ooh, now I really want to get started. Thanks for the inspiration.

tundrarose I just returned from a visit to the desert Southwest. This is an inexpensive solution for creating shade in an intensely sunny environment, and I think it looks great.

Kit Pollard Thank you, everyone, for all of these ideas - and for letting me know that I'm not alone!

Alaave - you don't happen to know who makes any of those sails, do you? I love that look but have had a hard time figuring out exactly who sells those (and if they're super expensive...)

gypsyhen It's apparently possible to have a pergola topped with slats set at an angle so that most of the sun is blocked without having a solid top. I don't know the angle, but someone does...

Kim Liggins Sunset magazine has books on building pergolas that show you how to build the slats at an angle. The pergola on the West Seattle Cottage picture faces east and gets wonderful morning sunshine, so the clear roof works well. Would not recommend that for south or western facing structures though.

martyshome Having had a lanai or pergola on a west facing deck I can tell you it doesn't offer enough shade. Used a south facing screen porch much more. Recently saw an ad for a louvered roof pergola cover which seems to be the perfect solution for too much sun. Much like the angled slats idea but they move to the angle needed or can be closed or opened completely. found website: equinoxroof.com

Betty Jo Whatley The little house with the awnings is the cutest thing that I have ever seen. It makes you want to go in and shop and then sit with a ice cream cone for comfort. Great idea for a shop. Thanks very much for the idea.
Betty Whatley

Rough Linen Kit I am very late with this comment, but it is easy (yes, easy!) to make those triangular sails. You could use outdoor fabrics (http://www.outdoorfabrics.com/ have such good choice and prices and no, I don't get commission) but the best I made were with cheap, heavy white polyester jersey fabric from JoAnn, because they stretched.1.5" hems, triple-stitch zigzag, reinforced corners with grommets. Experiment, it's cheap!

Collin Smith There are also some great solutions for the shade in the yard at Tenshon... (http://www.houzz.com/photos/professionals/9357/Tenshon-LLC)

They have lots of great photos on here

tag145 I was in the same boat as you. We live in WI, where climate plays a big role in this decisions. Snow, rain and where we are, 'lots of wind. We tried a temporary pergola that crumbled in the wind. So, we put up a cedar pergola that faces south and because I wanted more shade, added a grid of lattice for the top. It is wonderful. I am still in the process of shading the west side when the sun gets low--I think I may do the hanging blinds or make some weather resistant roman shades.

lyvia Lovely and helpful ideabook, thanks!
I would add that pergolas don't have to be flat on top; a gable top looks traditional and can give more sun blocking options.

I also wanted to recommend growing hops. They have a perennial crown and roots, but you cut down the stem and foliage every year. They grow as tall as trees on supports like flagpoles, but better: they let more sun through in winter and spring, then offer full shade in July/Aug, then instant full sun when you cut them. You can grow them in modern shapes to complement your house.

τεντες Thanks for the nice ideas!