Last week we detailed the improvements brought to any garden with the addition of a pergola. This week in our second installment of our shade structures series, we're exploring the modern canopy: an instant and semi-permanent structure in the form of wide rectangles or triangles of fabric. Here are 10 ways to improve your summer backyard experience with a single piece of fabric.
Cool Down the Backyard
Above: A white triangular canopy attached to aluminum posts with springs on each end in the backyard of Finnish blogger Piijas of Styleroom.
According to the Tree Foundation of Kern in California (urbanforest.org), “in the heat of the summer, temperatures are 10 degrees cooler under the shade of a mature tree.” Like a young tree, a canopy also can help, keeping concrete, furniture, and people cooler. Be sure to select a light-colored fabric that doesn’t absorb and retain summer heat.
Block Harmful Ultraviolet Rays
Above: A recycled boat sail is used as a canopy on the terrace of owner Costis Psychas' house in Santorini, Greece from Elle Decor.
Seek the shade during summer months, particularly at peak midday hours, under the shelter of a shade sail designed with UV-protective fabric (polyethylene and vinyl-coating) and oriented to block direct sunlight in your backyard. Be sure to couple your shady shelter with a proper sunscreen for full protection.
Protect Furniture and Fabrics from Bleaching
Above: Vintage furniture in a Gotland summerhouse conservatory from Rose of Sweden: An Enchanted Seaside Summer Landscape.
You invest in outdoor furniture, of course, with the intent to make good use of it all summer. When you turn over a cushion or move a potted plant at the end of the season, the bleaching effect of direct exposure becomes obvious. To a degree this can’t be helped, but it can be lessened with a shady canopy overhead.
Keep Party Guests Comfortable
Above: Light is diffused in a sun-filled patio at Eatrip from Worth the Trip: Eatrip in Tokyo.
A canopy above an outdoor dining table keeps guests, food, and drinks from melting in the glare of the setting sun.
Protect Plants from Overexposure
Above: A triangular canopy covers the backyard entrance at a house designed by Outdoor Loft in the suburbs of Paris, France.
Even plants that thrive in a healthy dose of sunlight don't always do best in extreme conditions. Keep shade plants beneath a canopy from spring to fall, and place sun-tolerant potted plants at the edges of the shelter to keep soil from drying out too fat.
Keep the Glare Off Reading Materials
Above: A 16-Foot Coolaroo Shade Sail in Desert Sand from Design Sleuth: Shade Sails.
If you've ever pulled out your laptop, cell phone, or even a bright white book in the middle of a sunny day, you know the issue that arises with glare. For working or reading in the backyard, a sunshade blocks just the right amount of glare without giving up the breeze.
Create a Privacy Screen
Above: A colorful terrace photographed by Castorama on Côté Maison.
This improvement is particularly useful to the urban dweller whose outdoor space may be flush against a neighbor's or revealed in clear view from another, higher building. Build privacy with a single canopy or layer multiple shade sails.
Cast a Colorful Glow
Above: A bright yellow canopy is stretched from the side of a house to stakes in the garden at the Ceder Mill Garden in Portland, Oregon designed by Debbie Brookes. Photograph via Danger Garden.
Like the spirit of a brightly colored Fermob chair, fabric canopies (available in a host of colors) allow you to live for a few months in the glow of canary yellow or ocean blue cast. It's like living in the tint of a camera filter.
Create a DIY Backyard
Above: Photograph of a Madras plaid fabric canopy at Nap in Tokyo from A Gardening Shop Plus Cafe in the Mountains of Japan.
Create a frame using from two to four sticks or poles as posts. Stake the posts in buckets of cement, or use rock sculptures to weigh down a piece of fabric strung over an existing frame. The impermanence of a canopy allows for stress-free experimentation and creativity.
Offer Shelter from the Storm
Above: A rooftop of shade sails by John DeSalvo Design in Chicago from Come Sail Away on Dwell.
In areas familiar with the sudden summer storm, outdoor spaces such as an open backyard or rooftop can feel too exposed to the elements. With a durable polyester, polyethylene, or vinyl canopy, you can keep dry while storms pass overhead.
For more shade ideas, see our posts:
- Steal This Look: Greek Bamboo Canopy.
- 10 Easy Pieces: Shade Umbrellas.
- 10 Easy Pieces: Window Awnings.
- A Perfect Parasol from Sunbeam Jackie.
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