How To Create Outdoor Shade: A Round-up Of 22 Ideas

Written by Sommer Poquette Posted On Tuesday, 03 March 2015 11:55

I often joke that my body is solar powered. When I'm in the sun, I feel energized and I'm overall in a happier mood. That being said, I live where sunshine isn't something I get to enjoy all that often. In fact, it is -13 degrees Fahrenheit where I am right now, in Michigan! As much as I would love to soak up some natural rays, I'm not going to go outside and freeze to death! I'll just wait until the weather gets warmer to bask in the sun's glow.

Speaking of which, there can be too much of a good thing. Even though the sun feels good and we all need vitamin D and natural sunlight, come July, even us chilly mid-Westerners will take refuge under an awning or canopy for shade to get out of the heat and prevent sunburn.

Every backyard space should have a plan for integrating a comfortable shaded area, for our pets, our children, certain plants, our company and for ourselves!

At my house, we have a back deck that is directly exposed to afternoon sunshine. This particular deck is hot to walk on, and plants left to grow on it often die if I leave them exposed all day. Even my sunbathing Great Dane, Ellie, avoids the back deck on hot days. There is zero shade.

This may sound blissful for those currently buried in snow, but it's no fun during the hot summer months. To prepare for this summer, I'm researching a variety of ways to provide shade to our patio.

My husband assumed this would be a costly project, but I'm determined to show him that we can make our backyard and deck shady with a variety of DIY and/or affordable canopy options like those available from Quik Shade. Since he is the exact opposite of me and prefers to be out of the sun, I think he might come to like the idea of using our deck with a canopy on a Sunday afternoon, instead of sitting indoors. With so few warm weather days where I live, we need to take advantage of all the fresh air we can get!

If you're like me and you have a deck, patio or backyard that needs a shady spot, you're in luck. I've found 22 fabulous ideas for how to create outdoor shade affordably. From using PVC pipes and pergola, to curtains and umbrellas — there's an idea for every space and budget! I'm particularly eyeing anything that will allow me an afternoon nap outside this summer, after I've spent hours in the sun gardening.


Photo Collage Courtesy of Sommer Poquette.
  1. DIY Outdoor Canopy Bed from Foxy Folksy
  2. DIY Outdoor Awning from Curbly
  3. DIY Simple Backyard Shade from All You
  4. DIY Canvas Pergola from Shelterness
  5. DIY PVC Cabana from Sunset Magazine
  6. How to Make a Garden Canopy from Bright Bold & Beautiful
  7. Papasan Canopy from Better Homes & Gardens
  8. Garden Arch Canopy from Better Homes & Gardens
  9. A Slice of Shade, Creating Outdoor Canopies from Martha Stewart
  10. Perk up a Picnic, Easy Canopy from This Old House
  11. DIY Outdoor Canopy from My Happy Crazy Life
  12. DIY Outdoor Canopy for less than $50! from The Dabbling Crafter
  13. Cover Your Outdoor Space with a Shade Sail from The Garden Glove
  14. Arrow Gazebo from The Home Depot
  15. Beautiful Pergola Cover from Random Thoughts of a Supermom
  16. Easy DIY Curtains for Outdoor Rooms and Spaces from Between Naps on the Porch
  17. DIY Pergola Curtains from A Beautiful Mess
  18. How to Shade Your Deck or Patio from The Family Handyman
  19. Brown Garden House from The Home Depot
  20. DIY Outdoor Curtains for Under $10 from Tiny Side Kick
  21. No Sew Dropcloth Outdoor Curtains from Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom
  22. Umbrella with Flower Pot Umbrella Stand from The Southern Institute

Photo Collage Courtesy of Sommer Poquette.

What ideas do you have for giving your outdoor space some shade during the hot summer months?

Sommer Poquette is a green-and-clean mom blogger from Michigan who writes for The Home Depot. While Michigan is still in the thick of winter's cold, that hasn't deterred Sommer from dreaming about summer days warm enough to need shade protection from the sun. For Home Depot's canopies and other shade-providing structures, you can go online to the Home Depot website.
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