Are you ready for outdoor relaxation and entertaining season? From sipping your morning coffee and reading the paper on your favorite outdoor seat to enjoying a meal with friends al fresco, there’s a lot to love about the great outdoors when the sun is out. Your perfect porch, patio or poolside spot should include the furniture you need to relax and entertain, from an outdoor dining set to deep seating options and even outdoor accents like end tables.

Once you have these basics covered, you may think you are set. Think, again! What more could your outdoor oasis need? Shade! Remember that shade is always in when the sun is out. A shady spot is essential to summer fun in the sun, allowing you to enjoy the best of outdoor dining and entertaining without worrying about the sun’s rays. That’s why it’s important to add umbrellas to your outdoor living space.

Stay Comfortable and Safe

The right patio umbrella, awning or permanent shade solution is essential to create your ideal outdoor living space. Not only do they provide extra comfort—a break from the sun’s heat and no more squinting as you look to the friend across the table from you—they are also critical for health reasons. Patio and porch umbrellas block harmful UV rays, helping protect you against dangerous burns and sun exposure. Of course, they also protect food and drinks from the sun’s hot rays, and help keep your patio furniture cool and comfortable to the touch.

In order to get the most enjoyment out of your outdoor porch, patio or poolside space, it’s important to choose an umbrella or other shade solution that will work best for your spot and activities, whether you need a small, standard patio umbrella for your patio table or a large off-set umbrella or awning to shade an entire area.

Today, there are a lot of shade solutions available to help you keep cool on hot days, making it easier to find a perfect fit for your outdoor living space. Of course, it can also be confusing when you are new to the market and wondering what umbrella is the best to suit your space, your style and your budget. We’re here to help make that decision easier for you by listing some of the popular types of outdoor living shade solutions, as well as the considerations you need to know: size, color, material and additional accessories, to name a few. Use the following guide to find the perfect outdoor umbrellas for your patio, porch or deck.

Umbrella Types

Any umbrella used for outdoor leisure at your home can be referred to as a patio umbrella—whether it is used on an actual patio, or the deck, porch, poolside or other outdoor living space of your choice. There are many different factors to consider when selecting an umbrella, such as size and the construction. However, one of the first things to consider is the style of umbrellas you desire for your outdoor space. There are a few main styles, or types, of patio umbrellas: garden, market and cantilever. We’ll take a deeper look at the latter two types, as well as the options that are available.

Market umbrella: A style of umbrella that is typically used to provide shade coverage for outdoor dining and other outdoor activities. Currently the most popular style for outdoor commercial spaces, these umbrellas typically consist of a straight pole attached to an octagonal shaped fabric umbrella cover. Traditionally, market umbrellas referred to the large umbrellas that covered trade vendors in market places. These large market umbrellas were made out of a wood pole, which provided an extremely durable and sturdy umbrella that would hold up to more than just the sun’s strong rays.

Today, the term market umbrella is often used synonymously with patio umbrellas. As a result, it’s considered to be the most popular option for outdoor residential spaces as well. There are a wide range of styles available, and variants such as the materials that are used. Market umbrellas can be in the center of an outdoor patio table, or they can stand alone with a weighted base, which is typically sold separately. While the pole can still be made out of wood, it is more commonly made out of metal, such as an extruded aluminum or steel pole. A powder-coated aluminum pole can provide sturdy performance as well as a stylish visual for the umbrella. Steel poles can be stronger than aluminum, but often become a rusting issue as they wear from use. The pole may be split for easy transport, use and storage, and the standard size is 32-inches tall (bottom pole) to suit standard-height patio dining tables. Balcony-height pole options may also be available for custom order.

A high-quality market umbrella will feature an eight-ribbed aluminum frame that is secured to the pole using durable, weather-resistant PVC materials. If you’re wondering how big should a patio umbrella be, it all depends on the size of the space you wish to keep out of the sun. Patio umbrellas are available in a range of sizes to best suit small to large outdoor spaces. Use the following umbrella size guide to determine the best option for your outdoor living space:

• Small: For smaller spaces or patio tables, 7.5-foot or even 6-foot market umbrellas are available.
• Standard: Most standard patio table market umbrellas are 9 feet in diameter.
• Large: For larger spaces, specialty umbrellas in 10-foot and 11-foot sizes are available. Typically, square, rectangle and oval sizes options are available as well.

In addition to the size of your market umbrella, you should consider several features that will affect its ease of set-up, use and versatility. Keep the following factors in mind when selecting a market umbrella for your home:

• Standard patio umbrellas feature a hand crank to open and close the shade, which stays in place. (Note: Commercial-grade and promotional-grade patio umbrellas are simple pole designs with hand push-up center hubs that are pinned in the pole to hold the canopy aloft, which is not easy for all users.) These umbrellas may not have a canopy top tilt option.
• Auto-tilt patio umbrellas feature a convenient auto-tilt feature that offers a great way to keep the sun out of your eyes without having to change your seat as the afternoon progresses. Tilt mechanism is in the crank handle process.
• Collar tilt umbrellas have a tilt mechanism at the middle of the pole, separate from the crank mechanism that adjusts the angle of the canopy tilt.
• Push-button patio umbrellas are similar to the auto-tilt models, but instead of using a crank to tilt the umbrella, they feature a push-button mechanism towards the top of the pole below the canopy. Simply push the button once the canopy is fully open, and you can position it at the angle.

One more thing to know: you should pay attention to your umbrella’s specifications to see if it comes with a base, as many umbrellas do not. If the umbrella does not include a base, there are a wide variety of base styles and weights available to purchase separately for a variety of applications.

Cantilever Umbrellas: A cantilever umbrella differs from a market umbrella in its design. While a market umbrella features a pole in the middle of the canopy, the cantilever umbrella canopy is supported by a pole that is on the side. The shade canopy assembly hangs from the pole structure. This design can give you more flexibility for positioning the umbrella around your outdoor space. For instance, it is ideal for positioning shade over outdoor dining, deep seating such as outdoor sofas, hot tubs and even hammocks.

Cantilever umbrellas are made out of durable aluminum and/or steel poles, aluminum or steel ribs and polyester or another outdoor performance fabric, such as a solution-died polyester or acrylic canopy fabric available in a range of colors that are manufactured to resist fading. Of course, not all cantilever umbrellas are created equally. Look for one with a mast that can be turned 360 degrees to provide shade as the sun moves throughout the day. Better cantilevers also have tilt options that include left to right tilt or back tilt. This will give you the most flexibility for outdoor entertainment. You’ll also want to choose an umbrella that is highly rated for both safety and durability. For instance, a base weighted with four cast iron 50-pound weights on the cross base assemble or sand filled bases of more than 400 pounds will provide a sturdy shade solution that can withstand some outdoor elements.

A 10-foot, 11-foot or 13-foot cantilever umbrella can make for the perfect addition to your sun deck as they can easily be swiveled to shade a portion of your pool or dining area, providing a quick retreat from the sun’s rays. These umbrellas paired with a stylish cushioned wicker patio set in your favorite style and color along with a table full of ice-cold beverages and snacks help make sunny days with family and friends more enjoyable.

Remember, most outdoor umbrellas are typically designed to be shade solutions, not snow, wind and rain environmental solutions. When not in use or in inclement weather situations, umbrellas should be taken down and protected.

Permanent Shade Solutions

An outdoor pergola or gazebo is another option for adding shade to your outdoor space. It is a good choice for larger backyards and patios. These solid structures come in a variety of materials and styles. Choose from permanent shade solutions that feature straight and modern lines for a cool and contemporary look, or choose a curvy, wooden structure to give your space a warm and romantic feel. You can even dress up your pergola or gazebo with crawling vines, fabric curtains, all-weather fabric tops for more shade. Consider adding mesh netting to keep out pesky critters. In addition to blocking out harsh rays, permanent shade solutions are great for sectioning off areas of your outdoor space, easily creating a cozy conversation corner or a functional dining zone.

Custom Orders and Accessories

While there are a wide selection of standard market and cantilever patio umbrellas available, you can also choose to special order an umbrella to suit your existing patio set or a new purchase. Custom order options may include canopy color, designer canopy fabric combinations, canopy fabric grades, pole finishes and base weight options. Select manufacturers also offer lighting options with umbrellas for use at night. Create function or ambiance with LED lights in the canopy ribs or added lighting fixtures that attach to the canopy or pole.

Additionally, you can purchase accessories to complete your shade solution. A pre-filled, weighted umbrella base is the perfect way to add value to your umbrella, ensuring it will stand tall when you need it. You can also safeguard your patio investment with a protective umbrella cover. These durable covers are specially designed to easily protect your patio umbrella from excess sun fading while keeping it dry and clean when not in use. Outdoor furniture covers also protect from accidental opening from wind gusts and help keep critters from making a home in the umbrella. Protective covers last about 2-4 years and are sold separately by size, or you can custom order an umbrella cover to fit your purchase.

With the right shade solution and accessories, you can enjoy the patio season in cooling comfort. Remember to look for products made of high-quality materials and performance fabrics, such as Sunbrella, to ensure longevity and durability. Whichever shade product you choose, you will be ready to take on the summer sun in style!