Even though we need the sun to survive, it’s also essential to protect ourselves from it.

To prevent skin cancer, premature aging, harmful effects to flooring, fading furniture and other sun damage, it’s essential to shield your skin from the sun’s UV rays. Hanging out in the sun is fun, as long as you have the right protection.

No matter where you live, having an outdoor space is an optimal way to enjoy life to its fullest. But without the proper patio shade, many of our outdoor spaces stay neglected.

In Mesopotamia thousands of years ago, big umbrellas were wielded to shade rulers from the sun. People didn’t start using them for individual use or rain until the late 17th and early 18th centuries in Europe.

Today, Americans know very well the many benefits and enjoyments of having shade.

Do you want to learn about 5 of the best ways to get patio shade? Keep reading to discover the best awnings and solutions to get your sun protection.

WHAT IS AN AWNING?

An awning is a supplemental cover or roof that helps to control sun and heat exposure that can occur both indoors and outdoors. 

From wood to aluminum and cloth to vinyl, awnings come in a variety of materials, shapes, and sizes. Plus, they can be either stationary or retractable.

Now let’s take a look at some of the best ways to get patio shade!

1. INSTALL A RETRACTABLE PATIO AWNING

A retractable awning can do wonders for your home and outdoor life. Say goodbye to waiting until the sun begins to set to get your shady and cool BBQ party going. 

Do you work from home and want to spend your sunny days working outside? With a retractable awning, you have all the control. You can choose to get your work done in the morning and then sunbathe in the sun throughout the afternoon.

Opt for a product that comes from a company that values style, durability, and versatility. For all of our retractable awnings, we use Sunbrella-certified fabric, ensuring seamless retractability in all our products.

Our American Made Sunbrella ® fabric, American Made hardware, European motors, and European arms all have a warranty. Plus, the way we build our products ensures that they can retract, even in extreme weather conditions.

When placed and used properly, retractable awnings can cut your heat gain by as much as 70 percent. Plus, you can find a style that matches your home’s aesthetic and choose from a variety of functionality options. Do you want to manually crank yours in or out, use a motor with a hardwired switch, set yours on a timer, or control it with a remote? 

You can even add wind and sun sensors to your order, so if you’re not home, you can ensure your awning will retract when it’s windy and save your home energy when it’s sunny.

2. GET A CUSTOM CANOPY

If you know what you like and you want something customized and beautiful, custom stationary awnings or custom canopies are the way to go. They provide protection and shade from inclement weather to a variety of outdoor areas, such as:

• Patios
• Poolside cabanas
• Extended balcony covers
• Island BBQ covers
• Entrances
• Room enclosures

Canopy awnings not only provide protection from the sun during hot summer months, but they also lower the indoor temperature by up to 15 to 20 degrees.

For most homes, the savings in energy costs will more than compensate for the price of your awning within 3 to 5 years.

If you’re planning on moving soon, these awnings might not be the right choice, only because they’re more permanent structures than other options. Custom Canopies typically require added support.

The great thing about them, though, is that they are entirely customizable. Plus, even if you do move, a customized canopy will inevitably add value to your home! We have plenty of options when it comes to style, design, size, and pricing.

3. CHECK OUT SPEAR AWNINGS

Spear awnings are reminiscent of European countries like Italy and France. The Romans used Spear Awnings to lower their home temperatures over two thousand years ago. They can add style to any home, whether it has a more modern or classic aesthetic.

Even though the particular style has been around for a long time, it’s recently making a comeback. You can change a Sunbrella ® fabric color and or a valance style to completely change the look of the awning on your home from a classic Tuscany motif to Ultra Modern.

If you want to save money on energy and lower the temperature in your home, spear awnings are an excellent addition to one or multiple windows in your home. Spear Awnings are an excellent way to protect windows from the damage of harsh rain. A leaking window could cost thousands of dollars to replace, whereas a spear awning typically costs hundreds. Spear Awnings allow you to add protection, depth, and color to an otherwise sparse exterior. 

If you’re looking for bits of shade around your house when you want to sit outside and enjoy the outdoors or take a phone call in the California sunshine without enduring the brunt of UV rays, spear, and other decorative awnings are an excellent choice.

Every Spear Awning is custom designed and manufactured to your specific measurements. 

4. INVEST IN DROP SHADES

During the hotter months, doors and windows are the biggest culprits for letting heat into your home. Being able to block the heat when you want to keep your home cool and invite the heat when your home needs some warmth is the main goal of any drop shade system.

Too many people end up with expensive curtains or awkward interior blinds or shades that are hard to adjust or maneuver, fade quickly, and block your outside view. Motorized interior blinds require batteries to be changed frequently and are prone to failure due to being made mostly of small imported plastic parts.

Plus, exterior shades are the most effective at stopping the heat and UV rays because they stop them BEFORE they reach the glass. Interior shades, on the other hand, can’t do as much because the heat has already entered a home through the glass.

When you choose from either the opaque acrylic awning fabric or the translucent thermal screen, you get a wide variety of benefits. Not only will they help you save money on energy and better control the temperature of your home, but these outdoor sun shades will also reduce damage to your furniture, carpets, and drapes.

Plus, they provide privacy and can reduce those hot summer temperatures by as much as 20 degrees!

5. CHOOSE THE BEST FABRIC

If it’s a fabric aesthetic you’re going for, rest assured you have a lot of options. We use American-made Sunbrella® fabrics because they are easy to clean and they’re also fade-resistant. That means they stay looking new and beautiful for years to come.

Sunbrella ® fabrics come in a wide variety of colors and styles. In fact, we’ve got over 150 in our showroom! Whether you want elegant stripes, traditional solids, textured patterns, or designer hues, you can pick your fabric and customize your awning or canopy to perfectly complement your home.

The Sunbrella ® fabrics are designed to stand up to all the elements, and we offer a limited 10 Year warranty to back up those claims. Sunbrella ® Awnings/Marine grade fabrics will often last from 14 to 20 years in the California desert or on the beach and everywhere in between. You can customize your fabric awning to match your personality and desire so that you feel more at home than ever!

WHY SHOULD YOU IMPROVE YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE WITH SHADE?

Almost 10% of Americans suffer from vitamin D deficiencies. On the other hand, it’s important to stay out of the sun’s harmful rays.

With a retractable awning or some form of outdoor shade, you can decide when to get your vitamin D, and when to protect yourself from UV rays and sun damage.

Did you know that spending time in the sun makes you healthier? To reap the benefits, you don’t have to be under the scrutiny of the sun’s direct rays, but rather, enjoy it in a bit of shade.

Being outside promotes a healthier lifestyle, both mentally and physically. Vitamin D, for example, promotes healthy cell and bone growth, stimulates immune function, and reduces inflammation. 

Being outside increases our energy and our lust for life. Spending time in natural settings is one of the pathways to a healthier life. If you’ve got a backyard, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be enjoying it to the fullest!

YOU CAN DO YOUR INDOOR ACTIVITIES

When you live in the California sunshine, it’s easy to feel guilty about staying indoors. However, it’s smart to protect yourself from the heat and the sun’s UV rays.

When you choose the perfect outdoor awning or sun shades for your outside space, you open up a world of opportunities to spend more time outside, whether it’s reading a book, hosting a BBQ, eating your breakfast, doing a workout, or having a glass of wine outdoors in complete comfort.

FRONT PATIO IDEAS

In addition to investing in some shade, there are plenty of things you can add to your patio sun shade area to make it ideal, such as:

• A rug
• Comfortable seating
• Accessories
• An accent table
• Potted plants
• Lighting
• Versatile decor
• Floor cushions
• A hammock
• A fountain

The first step in turning your outdoor space into a blissful oasis is deciding on the best-customized shade option for your space. After that, the possibilities are limitless!

DON’T LIVE ANOTHER DAY WITHOUT PATIO SHADE

Outdoor sun shades are a must-have if you have an outdoor space, and especially if you live in the California sun.

We estimate that with the money you’ll save on energy bills, you’ll be able to pay back what you spend on patio sun shades within 3-5 years. Plus, we’re willing to bet you’ll be happier and healthier, enjoying your new shady outdoor space.

Patio shade comes in all shapes, colors, sizes, and designs. They can be as minimal or technologically driven as you like. Plus, we’ll help you custom-design the perfect coverage for your space.

Do you want to figure out what options might work best with your outdoor space? Contact us today! Are you ready to request a quote? You can do so here.