Shade Your Outdoor Areas in Style
Keep your cool this summer while enjoying the warmer weather with these eye-catching outdoor shading ideas and practical tips
Australia’s warm climate and abundant parks, beaches and bushland are conducive to enjoying fresh air and sunshine all year round. But with shocking statistics from the Cancer Council reporting that 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women in Australia will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85, it’s time to stop and consider how to best protect ourselves from harmful UV radiation. One way to do this is to ensure we have access to good-quality shade while outside. Here are a few ideas to help you design a comfortable outdoor area at home, that’s perfectly shaded and will keep you and your loved ones sun-safe this summer.
Chart the sun’s movement
It’s important to understand the sun’s path to predict where a tree or shade structure will cast its shadow. To ensure that your shade falls in the right place at the right time, you can conduct your own shade audit. Identify when your outdoor areas are used most and for what purpose, then take note of the sun during the day and through the seasons.
Note that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, creating three basic shade patterns every day. In the morning, shadow falls in a westerly direction away from the object casting the shadow. By lunchtime, the shadow is under the object and by mid afternoon shade falls in an easterly direction, away from the object casting the shadow.
It’s important to understand the sun’s path to predict where a tree or shade structure will cast its shadow. To ensure that your shade falls in the right place at the right time, you can conduct your own shade audit. Identify when your outdoor areas are used most and for what purpose, then take note of the sun during the day and through the seasons.
Note that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, creating three basic shade patterns every day. In the morning, shadow falls in a westerly direction away from the object casting the shadow. By lunchtime, the shadow is under the object and by mid afternoon shade falls in an easterly direction, away from the object casting the shadow.
TYPES OF SHADE
Outdoor rooms
Patios, verandahs and outdoor rooms are integral to the Australian way of life. These outdoor spaces are an important extension of the home, providing shelter from the elements while still allowing the occupants to enjoy the benefits of being outside. Their connection to the home make these spaces the perfect all-weather entertaining hubs. The addition of awnings and louvres can add further control over shade and air flow.
Fabulous outdoor rooms you’ve always wanted
Outdoor rooms
Patios, verandahs and outdoor rooms are integral to the Australian way of life. These outdoor spaces are an important extension of the home, providing shelter from the elements while still allowing the occupants to enjoy the benefits of being outside. Their connection to the home make these spaces the perfect all-weather entertaining hubs. The addition of awnings and louvres can add further control over shade and air flow.
Fabulous outdoor rooms you’ve always wanted
Flexible shade
Umbrellas, shade sails and retractable awnings are the most flexible and affordable shade solutions on the market. Umbrellas have long been a popular means of providing shade in home gardens and outdoor commercial areas such as cafes. Cantilevered umbrellas are a safe way to provide a larger expanse of shade, and have the benefit of being able to rotate 360 degrees.
Awnings, like umbrellas, offer flexibility and provide much-needed shade when the summer sun’s UV rays are most harmful.
Umbrellas, shade sails and retractable awnings are the most flexible and affordable shade solutions on the market. Umbrellas have long been a popular means of providing shade in home gardens and outdoor commercial areas such as cafes. Cantilevered umbrellas are a safe way to provide a larger expanse of shade, and have the benefit of being able to rotate 360 degrees.
Awnings, like umbrellas, offer flexibility and provide much-needed shade when the summer sun’s UV rays are most harmful.
People are drawn to shade sails because they are easily installed and usually require a minimum of support structures. The sails can be installed permanently or taken down through winter, to allow for more sun to enter the garden. Like umbrellas and retractable awnings, some sails have the added benefit of being water resistant too.
Built shade
Constructing a shady pergola as a destination works well in the design of a garden. The structure in this image adjoins a family swimming pool. The owners of the Brisbane garden in which it sits now use this part of their garden and their pool more frequently, because they have a lovely shady space to retreat to. The top of the pergola is viewed from the decks above, where the attention to detail in the roof is appreciated. The space will provide even more sun protection once the garden grows up around the deck.
Constructing a shady pergola as a destination works well in the design of a garden. The structure in this image adjoins a family swimming pool. The owners of the Brisbane garden in which it sits now use this part of their garden and their pool more frequently, because they have a lovely shady space to retreat to. The top of the pergola is viewed from the decks above, where the attention to detail in the roof is appreciated. The space will provide even more sun protection once the garden grows up around the deck.
Natural shade
Vegetation is an effective and beautiful way to create shade.
The performance of natural shade depends on the density of the foliage and size of the canopy. If you don’t already have a mature tree in your garden but want this kind of shade, you will need space and time to allow for proper growth after planting.
Flexible shade structures such as sails and umbrellas can be used to provide shade until the tree matures. The added benefit of using vegetation as a shade solution is a cooler environment; the shade of a tree can lower the air temperature by up to 25 per cent.
Vegetation is an effective and beautiful way to create shade.
The performance of natural shade depends on the density of the foliage and size of the canopy. If you don’t already have a mature tree in your garden but want this kind of shade, you will need space and time to allow for proper growth after planting.
Flexible shade structures such as sails and umbrellas can be used to provide shade until the tree matures. The added benefit of using vegetation as a shade solution is a cooler environment; the shade of a tree can lower the air temperature by up to 25 per cent.
Combining natural and built shade
Growing climbers on lattice or over a pergola is a tried and tested method of providing shade, privacy and beauty in garden areas. Built shade structures can protect us from direct radiation, while vegetation reduces our exposure to indirect UV radiation and still lets cool breezes flow freely.
Favourite climbers for a summer pergola
Growing climbers on lattice or over a pergola is a tried and tested method of providing shade, privacy and beauty in garden areas. Built shade structures can protect us from direct radiation, while vegetation reduces our exposure to indirect UV radiation and still lets cool breezes flow freely.
Favourite climbers for a summer pergola
Hi-tech shade
Automated louvered systems are designed to provide adjustable shade as the sun moves throughout the day. Some have the capacity to sense the sun and the rain and open and close in response to the elements. If you opt for a manual louvered system instead, ensure that you are able to easily control and manipulate the blades.
Automated louvered systems are designed to provide adjustable shade as the sun moves throughout the day. Some have the capacity to sense the sun and the rain and open and close in response to the elements. If you opt for a manual louvered system instead, ensure that you are able to easily control and manipulate the blades.
Pop-up shade
There is never enough shade at the beach, but thankfully there are many affordable, portable shade options available. Tents, umbrellas, awnings and tarps can all be erected quickly and easily to provide shade so you can enjoy your time outdoors, wherever you are.
There is never enough shade at the beach, but thankfully there are many affordable, portable shade options available. Tents, umbrellas, awnings and tarps can all be erected quickly and easily to provide shade so you can enjoy your time outdoors, wherever you are.
TELL US
Have you erected outdoor shading for the summer? Upload a picture or share your experience in the Comments.
MORE
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Have you erected outdoor shading for the summer? Upload a picture or share your experience in the Comments.
MORE
Give Me Shelter: 10 Ways to Take Cover Outdoors
Origins and Attributes: Why Was Your Outdoor Space Built That Way?
11 Cleaning Tricks for Outdoor Furniture
When designing outdoor shading, keep in mind these four key elements: air temperature, humidity, air movement and heat radiated by the sun and surrounding surfaces. If you want to protect yourself from the hot and sticky heat, for example, you’ll need to create shade that blocks out the sun but allows cross ventilation to capture the breeze for cooling. If it’s cold and windy on the other hand, you’ll want to provide wind breaks to keep out the breeze, and use north-facing openings to collect the warmth and light from the sun.