34 Patio Shade Ideas to Keep Your Backyard Cool This Summer (2024)

Room Design

Outdoor Spaces

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  Opt for Umbrellas

  

  An outdoor umbrella is a budget-friendly and renter-friendly solution for adding shaded space. Choose a style that complements your backyard, from all-white and modern to whimsical stripes or boho-style tassels.

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  Install a Retractable Awning

  

  Install a retractable awning to shade your patio dining area. Choose a classic black-and-white striped pattern to complement neutral modern furnishings and decor.

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  Hang a Sun Shade Sail

  

  When working with smaller spaces, a triangle sun shade sail like the one seen in this outdoor space from L2 Design, LLC can be an ideal fit. The shape tends to be very accommodating when there isn't a ton of room to work with, yet doesn't hesitate to do its job of providing much-needed shade. Plus it's got a streamlined look that will appeal to minimalists.

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  Set Up a Gazebo

  

  Set up a gazebo on your back patio to turn it into a shady outdoor living room. Craftberry Bush outfitted this space with woven furniture, sheer curtains, an outdoor rug, and lots of plants to make it blend in with the backyard.

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  Use Trees for Shade

  

  The oldest source of shade is a tree, especially a nice big one with twisting, sculptural limbs. The builders of this outdoor outdoor deck made the unique decision to build the deck around the tree, which can lower a home's temperature by as much as 20 degrees or more during the hot months.

  See Also

  Five Ways to Sun-Proof Your Home (and Keep It Cooler)

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  Install a Pergola

  

  One of the most popular ways to add shade to your outdoor paradise is by installing a pergola. You can leave a pergola entirely uninhibited or use covers or a retractable canopy to keep the sun at bay. In this case, sheer curtains cover the top and the sides for a little extra privacy.

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  Hang Wrap-Around Curtains

  

  When creating a shady spot on your backyard patio, don't forget to give yourself the option to block too-harsh rays beaming in from the sides as well as overhead. This outdoor patio from Fantastic Frank features a budget- and renter-friendly reed mat roof and semi-transparent curtains that can be opened or closed depending on the weather.
  

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  Add Greenery

  

  Even if your backyard doesn't include mature trees, you can build your shady outdoor space in the shade of an ivy-covered wall, a row of hedges, or some planted young trees that will grow fuller with time, like this backyard seating area from Mindy Gayer Design Co.

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  Try a Pop-Up Canopy

  

  If you're a renter on a budget, create a shady spot for a special occasion meal with a pop-up canopy, like this backyard space from Ajai Guyot for Emily Henderson Design.

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• 10 of 34

  Add an Outdoor Daybed

  

  If you've got the space and the budget, there's nothing more luxurious than adding an outdoor daybed to your backyard patio. This poolside four-poster canopy daybed from House of One has tie-back curtains and a solid roof to protect you from waking up from a nap to an unwanted sunburn.
  

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  Grow a Tree Canopy

  

  While patio and fabrics covers are certainly capable of blocking the sun's rays, sometimes there are more natural options available. This simple structure is made up of several fast-growing smaller trees that provide a canopy of shade while blending in perfectly with the rest of the flourishing garden that surrounds it.

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  Build a Simple Structure

  

  Spaced a few feet away from the house, this patio features a constructed overhang that keeps things shady in a stylish way. The simple additions of plants, string lights, and a rug add an additional dose of charm.

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  Layer Shade Sources

  

  This pastel rainbow-striped backyard patio from A Beautiful Mess has a DIY pergola and a portable umbrella to double filter harsh rays and protect your al fresco meal from getting soaked in a sudden rainstorm.

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  Try an Oversized Umbrella

  

  This square-shaped oversized umbrella includes a lightbulb for when the day comes to a close, and it provides more than enough coverage to keep the sun out of everyone's eyes. Don't let the size fool you, though—if you want to move the umbrella out of the way, it can easily be swiveled around rather than remaining fixed in its place.

  The 9 Best Outdoor Patio Umbrellas of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

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  Shade Multiple Spaces

  

  Landscape designer Melanie Rekola of Lady Landscape is often asked why she creates so many different seating and shaded areas when she designs a landscape. "It gives the option to chase the sun, the shade," she says, "and also offers shelter from rain/wind as needed to adapt to the changing weather conditions of any given day."

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  Fence It Off

  

  Creating an entertainment area away from your home can give you the freedom to add extra seating. To ensure your guests stay as comfortable as possible, build a pergola in the corner of your lot, with some additional wall panels that provide a layer of sun protection as well as privacy.

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  Zone It Out

  

  Having the space to create multiple entertainment areas is an absolute dream. While this desert home from Dazey Den already had a small garden and a fire pit surrounded by vibrant red chairs, a constructed white canopy hosts a comfortable seating area with thick curtains on each side to provide shade when needed or desired.

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  Add Boho Style

  

  This backyard patio from JC Design has boho style and a shade umbrella to match, with tassels that complement the rattan table and midcentury modern-style wishbone chairs. Plus it has a lightweight base, making it easy to move around.

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  Build a Cabana

  

  Cathie Hong Interiors installed an open air cabana outfitted with a spacious sectional set back from the pool that offers a shady spot on the large open poolside terrace during daytime, and a comfy spot for co*cktails after dark.
  

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• 20 of 34

  Look to a Loggia

  

  Loggias are covered spaces that typically stretch along the length of a building—and they usually include columns and arches of some sort. While it takes some extra effort, the result can add an extra feeling of elegance and luxury to your outdoor space while keeping things cool and comfortable, like this space from Lady Landscape.

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  Create a Covered Terrace

  

  This outdoor terrace from Afro Bohemian Living includes all the necessities to enjoy an evening outdoors. To keep the sun from beaming down too harshly, the area is covered by a simple structure with reed mats placed on top to keep things cool.
  

  The 11 Best Pergola Kits of 2024

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  Go Poolside

  

  Poolside shade doesn't have to come solely from a patio umbrella. You can also opt to add a covered structure of your choosing with perfectly arranged patio furniture underneath, just like this backyard from Lady Landscape. The tilted top adds plenty of coverage, and the entire area looks spacious and open—a perfect place to cool down after a sunny day by the pool.

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  Try a Floral Canopy

  

  Soften a patio pergola with flowering vines that will help to filter the light. KG Designs planted this stone terrace with vines and flowers that make the outdoor seating area around the fireplace feel more inviting.

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  Add a Slanted Patio Roof

  

  Create partial shade on an outdoor patio kitchen with a slanted wood slat roof, like this contemporary Florida space from Maite Granda.

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  Build a Pool Cabana

  

  Created a shaded pool patio cabana to maximize outdoor space. Michelle Boudreau Design used wood slats on the walls and ceiling to add a natural element to this multipurpose Southern California kitchen and lounge space.

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  Light Up the Patio Awning

  

  A patio awning will shelter your outdoor space from unwanted rays or rain during the day. A Beautiful Mess installed a canopy of fairy lights on the ceiling to mimic the stars at night. Faux curtains hide the awning posts.

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  Coordinate Colors

  

  Use a black-and-white palette to create a sophisticated outdoor space. A Beautiful Mess chose a black patio umbrella to shade the table and chairs on this DIY-painted patio for a cohesive look.

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  Create a Shady Lounge Space

  

  Create a shady spot to chill by the pool with a simple umbrella placed between a pair of armchairs, like this pool patio from Michelle Boudreau Design.

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  Try a Modern Woven Shade

  

  Add shade to a raised patio with a lightweight structure with simple posts and a woven roof to filter light. Kendall Wilkinson Design chose a black structure for this modern primary bedroom patio facing the backyard.

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  Create a Shady Deck Corner

  

  Create a shady corner on an outdoor deck with a simple umbrella. Emily Henderson Design chose a dark umbrella with a wood base that blends into the woodsy surroundings.

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  Build a Permanent Pavilion

  

  Create a freestanding patio on a large lawn with four columns and a solid roof to house anything from an outdoor kitchen to a pool pavilion, like this space from Crisp Architects.

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  Pair a Pergola and Umbrella

  

  Complement a patio pergola with an umbrella to add an extra layer of protection that will make your outdoor space usable in all kinds of weather. A Beautiful Mess chose a pale pink umbrella edged in pompoms to complement the DIY-painted pastel rainbow porch.

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  Install a Large Pergola

  

  A large pergola will provide partial shade on an open outdoor patio. Calimia Home painted the pergola the same dark brown as the fencing for a coordinated look, adding string lights to add atmosphere after dark.

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  Install a Covered Patio

  

  If you have the space and the budget, give your outdoor space options with a series of patios with varying degrees of shade and cover. Marie Flanigan Interiors built an outdoor patio open to the backyard for entertaining that includes a fireplace and an outdoor TV. A nearby patio has a pergola for times when you want more exposure to the elements.