Give Me Shelter: 10 Ways to Take Cover Outdoors
Uncover how a garden ‘ceiling’ can go far beyond creating mere shade
When the sun is blazing down at the height of summer, what could be more enticing than a pergola draped in soft fabric or leafy green vines? But overhead structures nowadays are designed to offer so much more than just shade. They can also provide shelter from wind and rain, as well as privacy from neighbours. They’ll also make your outdoor living area feel warmer at night and give it a vital sense of enclosure, so that it feels more like an outdoor room; an essential requirement these days when the garden is so often used as an extension of the house.
Structures like pergolas and arbours can add visual weight to a garden, particularly if it’s new and plants are still establishing. Their verticality will help even up the balance between garden and house, which can easily become out of sync with the smaller sites we are building on these days. Whether you go for man-made materials such as shade sails and awnings or the natural beauty of climbing plants trained to climb overhead structures, it’s important to do your research and carefully select what’s right for your garden. Vertical structures can make a big impact on how it looks and feels as these 10 gorgeous examples demonstrate.
Structures like pergolas and arbours can add visual weight to a garden, particularly if it’s new and plants are still establishing. Their verticality will help even up the balance between garden and house, which can easily become out of sync with the smaller sites we are building on these days. Whether you go for man-made materials such as shade sails and awnings or the natural beauty of climbing plants trained to climb overhead structures, it’s important to do your research and carefully select what’s right for your garden. Vertical structures can make a big impact on how it looks and feels as these 10 gorgeous examples demonstrate.
2. Create a seamless connection to your home
As well as creating overhead shelter for outdoor living spaces, pergolas and other vertical structures can continue the architecture of the house out into the garden. This makes the two read as one visual entity rather than two separate elements. It also makes the outdoor area feel more room-like. To reinforce this visual connection, try and use materials or colours that will relate to the character of the house as shown in this Sydney patio.
As well as creating overhead shelter for outdoor living spaces, pergolas and other vertical structures can continue the architecture of the house out into the garden. This makes the two read as one visual entity rather than two separate elements. It also makes the outdoor area feel more room-like. To reinforce this visual connection, try and use materials or colours that will relate to the character of the house as shown in this Sydney patio.
3. Soften the structure with plants
Plants growing over a pergola will soften the man-made materials, intensifying the connection between the built structures and the garden. Plants are a very cost-effective way to create shade, and the light beneath them has a delightful dappled quality. If deciduous climbers like the wisteria above are used, sunlight can still penetrate below the pergola during winter. If you are planning to grow vines up a pergola, make sure it is strong enough to support the weight. It’s easy to underestimate how heavy a mature climber can be.
Plants growing over a pergola will soften the man-made materials, intensifying the connection between the built structures and the garden. Plants are a very cost-effective way to create shade, and the light beneath them has a delightful dappled quality. If deciduous climbers like the wisteria above are used, sunlight can still penetrate below the pergola during winter. If you are planning to grow vines up a pergola, make sure it is strong enough to support the weight. It’s easy to underestimate how heavy a mature climber can be.
4. Be generous with size
Don’t skimp on the height and width of your pergola, a mean, cramped structure will not be pleasant to use or look at. If you are planning to use it for outdoor entertaining, consider what furniture you will be using and whether there’ll be enough room to move around easily under the pergola. This elegant poolside pavilion in Sydney has ample space for its users to relax and entertain. Its solid construction, timber cladding and pitched roof form merge gracefully with the Federation style of the house.
Don’t skimp on the height and width of your pergola, a mean, cramped structure will not be pleasant to use or look at. If you are planning to use it for outdoor entertaining, consider what furniture you will be using and whether there’ll be enough room to move around easily under the pergola. This elegant poolside pavilion in Sydney has ample space for its users to relax and entertain. Its solid construction, timber cladding and pitched roof form merge gracefully with the Federation style of the house.
5. Control the elements
Electronically controlled louvres, such as these by Vergola, are becoming increasingly common in many contemporary gardens.They not only look great but also allow complete flexibility in controlling the elements at the touch of a button. However, their cost reflects this sophistication, making them one of the most expensive overhead shelter options.
Electronically controlled louvres, such as these by Vergola, are becoming increasingly common in many contemporary gardens.They not only look great but also allow complete flexibility in controlling the elements at the touch of a button. However, their cost reflects this sophistication, making them one of the most expensive overhead shelter options.
CANOPIES
6. Keep it in scale
Scale is as important as colours and materials with canopies, pergolas and other overhead structures. If you relate their dimensions to the proportions of the house (door, window and ceiling heights for instance) this will strengthen the connection between the two. In this stunning Sydney house, the roofline extends into a canopy out from the back of the entire house to shelter the outdoor living spaces, effectively blurring the boundaries between garden and interior. Lining the overhead structure with timber battens reinforces the visual links.
6. Keep it in scale
Scale is as important as colours and materials with canopies, pergolas and other overhead structures. If you relate their dimensions to the proportions of the house (door, window and ceiling heights for instance) this will strengthen the connection between the two. In this stunning Sydney house, the roofline extends into a canopy out from the back of the entire house to shelter the outdoor living spaces, effectively blurring the boundaries between garden and interior. Lining the overhead structure with timber battens reinforces the visual links.
7. Play with angles
Rather than extending horizontally from the house, this contemporary canopy structure rises up, allowing low winter sun to penetrate the house but shading the deck in summer when the sun is higher. The timber lining adds to the sculptural feel of this lovely feature.
Rather than extending horizontally from the house, this contemporary canopy structure rises up, allowing low winter sun to penetrate the house but shading the deck in summer when the sun is higher. The timber lining adds to the sculptural feel of this lovely feature.
AWNINGS
8. Create a holiday buzz
Purpose-built retractable awnings like this one can be rolled out when the sun appears. These flexible, lightweight shade structures create an enticing holiday atmosphere in the garden, especially if you use colourful materials. Another even simpler option is to drape a piece of cloth (a sari, soft muslin, even an old tablecloth) over a basic frame when the sun is shining.
8. Create a holiday buzz
Purpose-built retractable awnings like this one can be rolled out when the sun appears. These flexible, lightweight shade structures create an enticing holiday atmosphere in the garden, especially if you use colourful materials. Another even simpler option is to drape a piece of cloth (a sari, soft muslin, even an old tablecloth) over a basic frame when the sun is shining.
SHADE SAILS
9. Take a stretch
Stretched shade sails and canopies are increasingly popular in gardens where pergolas and more permanent structures are not an option. Many are also waterproof and their flexibility of size and shape means they can be used to protect a variety of outdoor spaces from sandpits to patios.
9. Take a stretch
Stretched shade sails and canopies are increasingly popular in gardens where pergolas and more permanent structures are not an option. Many are also waterproof and their flexibility of size and shape means they can be used to protect a variety of outdoor spaces from sandpits to patios.
ARBOURS
10. Build a focal point
Arbours are often planted with climbers and suit traditional gardens but this contemporary example has been left bare of vegetation to show off its lovely structure.
Arbours are usually smaller than pergolas and placed out in the garden as a quiet place to enjoy the view, sunset or a particular feature. They are also used as focal points to be seen from the house so consider their position carefully. Materials for arbours (and their close cousins gazebos and summerhouses) should reflect the design theme of the garden.
WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU…
How do you take cover in your garden? If you have some great ideas for overhead shade and shelter structures, share your tips and photos in the comments section.
10. Build a focal point
Arbours are often planted with climbers and suit traditional gardens but this contemporary example has been left bare of vegetation to show off its lovely structure.
Arbours are usually smaller than pergolas and placed out in the garden as a quiet place to enjoy the view, sunset or a particular feature. They are also used as focal points to be seen from the house so consider their position carefully. Materials for arbours (and their close cousins gazebos and summerhouses) should reflect the design theme of the garden.
WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU…
How do you take cover in your garden? If you have some great ideas for overhead shade and shelter structures, share your tips and photos in the comments section.
1. Have your bases covered
With any garden structures you need to think about materials, position, scale and purpose. With vertical elements such as pergolas, arbours, archways and so forth, it’s even more important as they are so much more ‘in your face’ than those on the horizontal plane like lawns and garden beds. This simple pergola with its battened ceiling in a sloping, coastal garden covers all those bases, working harmoniously with the architecture of the house and the other elements in the garden. A more elaborate structure would have been out of balance.