Design Workshop: How to Select Garden Shades and Shelters
Expand your living space with a flexible outdoor room, designed to withstand the elements with just the right shade or shelter
The space above the garden is often the last thing people think about when designing their outdoor areas. Unless of course it starts to rain, or it turns unbearably hot and suddenly shade or shelter are paramount. Hand in hand with increasingly changeable weather patterns nowadays, we also have the growing pressure on outdoor space, with the garden often being used as an extra room in the house. Having the ability to manipulate shade and shelter is therefore becoming more and more important to homeowners.
The way you define the vertical space in a garden can make a huge difference to how it looks and feels. Once upon a time we used trees and climbing plants trained over pergolas and arbours to do this job. Now we have all manner of man-made structures available, from shade sails and awnings to sophisticated overhead louvres. But you need to think very carefully about design and materials as well as budget when choosing a vertical structure, as these will all have a major impact on its appearance. As always, taking your cues from other built elements such as the house, boundaries and garden floors will help with this. If you’re still unsure, here are some great options to inspire you.
The way you define the vertical space in a garden can make a huge difference to how it looks and feels. Once upon a time we used trees and climbing plants trained over pergolas and arbours to do this job. Now we have all manner of man-made structures available, from shade sails and awnings to sophisticated overhead louvres. But you need to think very carefully about design and materials as well as budget when choosing a vertical structure, as these will all have a major impact on its appearance. As always, taking your cues from other built elements such as the house, boundaries and garden floors will help with this. If you’re still unsure, here are some great options to inspire you.
Aluminium louvres
Electronically controlled, hand-operable or fixed louvres like this Louvretec system are becoming common in many contemporary gardens. They not only look great, but also allow you to control sun, shade, light, ventilation and rain at the touch of a button.
PROS: Automatic systems are easy to use and versatile. They have an attractive contemporary appearance, and aluminium louvres are lightweight, so heavy supports aren’t necessary.
CONS: This is one of most expensive shade/shelter options, and won’t always suit traditional houses.
Electronically controlled, hand-operable or fixed louvres like this Louvretec system are becoming common in many contemporary gardens. They not only look great, but also allow you to control sun, shade, light, ventilation and rain at the touch of a button.
PROS: Automatic systems are easy to use and versatile. They have an attractive contemporary appearance, and aluminium louvres are lightweight, so heavy supports aren’t necessary.
CONS: This is one of most expensive shade/shelter options, and won’t always suit traditional houses.
Motorised blinds
Retractable motorised glare blinds control the amount of sunlight that can penetrate this glazed canopy, which sits over an outdoor living area in Western Australia. Glare blinds suit both contemporary and traditional shade structures.
PROS: These blinds can be easily changed depending on weather. They control glare, reduce UV damage and give a clean, contemporary look.
CONS: Blinds can only reduce sunlight penetration from above, not through the sides of the canopy. Automated systems are not cheap and need to be properly maintained.
Retractable motorised glare blinds control the amount of sunlight that can penetrate this glazed canopy, which sits over an outdoor living area in Western Australia. Glare blinds suit both contemporary and traditional shade structures.
PROS: These blinds can be easily changed depending on weather. They control glare, reduce UV damage and give a clean, contemporary look.
CONS: Blinds can only reduce sunlight penetration from above, not through the sides of the canopy. Automated systems are not cheap and need to be properly maintained.
Corrugated metal
A solid shade canopy such as this one made of corrugated metal on the Sunshine Coast is ideal for very warm areas, where the heat can be intense for much of the year. The rustic simplicity of the material suits subtropical or rural gardens.
PROS: Corrugated metal is relatively cheap and easy to build with, and is perfect for informal settings.
CONS: It’s not ideal for colder areas where light is valuable in winter.
Ride the wave of corrugated iron
A solid shade canopy such as this one made of corrugated metal on the Sunshine Coast is ideal for very warm areas, where the heat can be intense for much of the year. The rustic simplicity of the material suits subtropical or rural gardens.
PROS: Corrugated metal is relatively cheap and easy to build with, and is perfect for informal settings.
CONS: It’s not ideal for colder areas where light is valuable in winter.
Ride the wave of corrugated iron
Translucent sheeting
Adding a decorative ceiling below a canopy of translucent sheeting as seen here is a clever way to build a good-looking, but relatively cheap shade structure. The white-painted battens give the space a light, airy feel, but laminate and laser-cut screens, as well as a variety of other products, can also be used to disguise translucent sheeting. This material suits subtropical, coastal, contemporary and most informal gardens.
PROS: It’s a low-cost material that allows plenty of light penetration, and interesting patterns can be created when the sun shines through.
CONS: This type of sheeting is not flexible nor extremely durable, and it can be difficult to clean.
Adding a decorative ceiling below a canopy of translucent sheeting as seen here is a clever way to build a good-looking, but relatively cheap shade structure. The white-painted battens give the space a light, airy feel, but laminate and laser-cut screens, as well as a variety of other products, can also be used to disguise translucent sheeting. This material suits subtropical, coastal, contemporary and most informal gardens.
PROS: It’s a low-cost material that allows plenty of light penetration, and interesting patterns can be created when the sun shines through.
CONS: This type of sheeting is not flexible nor extremely durable, and it can be difficult to clean.
Pergola with climbing plants
Pergolas and arbours draped with flowering, fruiting or scented climbers are among the most traditional shade structures in gardens. Here, the owner has used wisteria over their pergola, which means the canopy will be bare in winter when the sun is most sought after.
PROS: Planted pergolas are an excellent way to bring the garden close to the house, with the added benefits of flowers, fruit and fragrance; living, green canopies are hard to beat for sensory pleasure.
CONS: Leaf and fruit litter can cause problems, while some climbers are very heavy and need strong support.
Favourite climbers for a pergola
Pergolas and arbours draped with flowering, fruiting or scented climbers are among the most traditional shade structures in gardens. Here, the owner has used wisteria over their pergola, which means the canopy will be bare in winter when the sun is most sought after.
PROS: Planted pergolas are an excellent way to bring the garden close to the house, with the added benefits of flowers, fruit and fragrance; living, green canopies are hard to beat for sensory pleasure.
CONS: Leaf and fruit litter can cause problems, while some climbers are very heavy and need strong support.
Favourite climbers for a pergola
Awnings
Awnings, shade sails and canopies are becoming increasingly popular in gardens where pergolas and more solid structures are not an option. Their flexibility of size and shape means they can be used to protect a variety of outdoor spaces, from sandpits to patios. Here, Bawtree Design used a retractable waterproof awning to shade this Sydney garden.
PROS: Awnings are versatile and lightweight, and they suit most garden styles.
CONS: They can stain and attract mould, and are not suitable in windy locations.
Awnings, shade sails and canopies are becoming increasingly popular in gardens where pergolas and more solid structures are not an option. Their flexibility of size and shape means they can be used to protect a variety of outdoor spaces, from sandpits to patios. Here, Bawtree Design used a retractable waterproof awning to shade this Sydney garden.
PROS: Awnings are versatile and lightweight, and they suit most garden styles.
CONS: They can stain and attract mould, and are not suitable in windy locations.
Temporary shade
Many homeowners are happy to put up a temporary awning or sail over a simple pergola to shade their outdoor living areas in the warmer months, taking them down when the weather cools. Materials to use for this include sailcloth, canvas, muslin, polyester, garden shade cloth, rattan or bamboo blinds.
PROS: Temporary shades are cheap and versatile. They add a lovely casual feel to a garden.
CONS: Many lightweight materials are not particularly durable, nor are they wind- or water-proof.
Many homeowners are happy to put up a temporary awning or sail over a simple pergola to shade their outdoor living areas in the warmer months, taking them down when the weather cools. Materials to use for this include sailcloth, canvas, muslin, polyester, garden shade cloth, rattan or bamboo blinds.
PROS: Temporary shades are cheap and versatile. They add a lovely casual feel to a garden.
CONS: Many lightweight materials are not particularly durable, nor are they wind- or water-proof.
The designers at Noxon Giffen found a clever temporary shade solution for this Melbourne house while waiting for grapevines to cover the structure. They used military camouflage netting which is available at many army disposal stores.
Umbrellas
Umbrellas are the ultimate temporary shade structure, whether you’re in the garden or on the beach. These are perfect for shading smaller terraces and eating areas. There are many variations on the traditional garden umbrella, including large, tilting patio umbrellas fixed to posts to make them more wind-resistant.
PROS: They’re very flexible, quick to erect, attract a relatively low cost and suit virtually any style of garden with a wide range of colours and fabrics.
CONS: Umbrellas are not ideal in windy locations. They can attract mould and dirt, and large umbrellas can need two people to put them up.
YOUR SAY
Which is your favourite style of shelter and shade? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Umbrellas are the ultimate temporary shade structure, whether you’re in the garden or on the beach. These are perfect for shading smaller terraces and eating areas. There are many variations on the traditional garden umbrella, including large, tilting patio umbrellas fixed to posts to make them more wind-resistant.
PROS: They’re very flexible, quick to erect, attract a relatively low cost and suit virtually any style of garden with a wide range of colours and fabrics.
CONS: Umbrellas are not ideal in windy locations. They can attract mould and dirt, and large umbrellas can need two people to put them up.
YOUR SAY
Which is your favourite style of shelter and shade? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
MORE
Under Cover: Which Pergola Is Right for You?
17 Outstanding Outdoor Rooms
Design Workshop: How to Choose Your Garden Walls and Fences
These can vary significantly in cost depending on the type of timber used. This pergola by COS Design is made with laminated beams and dressed timber battens. Its contemporary design suits the house and garden very well, but more traditional-style timber posts and beams can be used for older houses.
PROS: Natural timber can balance man-made materials in the garden, and well-designed timber pergolas like this one work as a sculptural element.
CONS: Timber is a heavy material so it needs solid foundations and skilled labour to look this good. It can also require repainting or re-staining on a regular basis.