Patio Shade

This pergola-style patio shade is by far my favorite home improvement project that we have tackled this year.  Not only is it just really nice to look at, both from the pool as well as inside the home, but it really opened up the doors (literally) to so much more outdoor entertaining possibilities.  We do tend to have rain storms every afternoon during the summer, so patio covers are an absolute must so that the party does not need to end when the shower pops up.  I didn't want to completely shield the sun from our patio area and make it feel like a cave, so we went with this lattice work design then planted climbing vines over top to give it more covered.

I don't think I could have dreamed of a better patio shade than this gorgeous white cabana design that our designer Kimberly came up with.  We did not give her a whole lot of direction as far as style or size, just told her to feel free to be creative with whatever patio shade structures she chose and make sure it blended well with our pool design. It looks like something you would find on the pages of Southern Living Magazine combined with the sculptural artwork of a downtown loft.  The entire space is utter perfection from top to bottom and is certainly not what I would have thought of if I had to come up with deck shade ideas on my own. I can't say enough good things about Kimberly and her design team!

I surprised at how few people seem to be turned on to the benefits of a patio shade, both in terms of design as well as functionality.  I can't be the only person that wishes they could shield themselves from the sun in the summertime for temperature control and skin benefits -- in my opinion backyard shade ideas are always good.  This is the contraption we created for the outdoor entertaining space beyond the main living area of our home.  It actually has a retractable feature so that you can enjoy a semi-shaded effect or full shade depending on your mood or the weather for that day.  I think that this is the best patio shade for the money because it gives you so much versatility as well as style. 

Research home decor ideas can be such a slippery slope because I started out researching designs for our pool and now I am convinced that we need to install a custom patio shade like these as well.  Obviously the concept of requiring shade from the summer sun is not foreign to me, I just didn't realize how many awesome pergola ideas there were that actually really upgrades the look of the backyard.   They are so versatile both in terms of the shade that they can provide as well as the way they can function in your outdoor spaces (look at how they divide the dining area and the intimate sitting area to the side). After scrolling through these photos I am now determined to add outdoor shade ideas to our list of pool-related projects to complete before the end of the season. 

When a client comes to me asking for plans to build a patio shade in their backyard, I always spend time carefully planning out how to make the space that we create as stylish as possible.  Most people merely think of these areas as a small spot to shield them from the weather, but these enclosures actually become mini outdoor rooms and should be treated as such.  For example, as we came up with the covered patio ideas for this house, the top priority on the list was carrying the same classic stained bead board that they used in their kitchen, vaulted living room and other porch areas to the patio as well.  We continued the same patio pavers from the deck out into this area, and then added a full fireplace at the end of the "room" to make it even more functional. 

When I asked our contractor to come up with a plan for a patio shade for our rooftop entertaining area that would be gorgeous as well as functional, I could have never dreamed that he would create such a stunning piece.  I absolutely love the patio shade cover that he built to resemble a wood pergola like one you would see in wine country in Napa or the Italian countryside. It blends in nicely with the stucco exterior of the building and provides the perfect contrast against our modern style furniture.  If anybody else is looking for patio shade ideas, definitely consider a structure like this.  It provides just enough cover from the sun and could be made even more opaque with vines growing throughout to make a full canopy.