Garden shade ideas to shelter from the sun in style

As tempting as it can be to enjoy every single second of the sun, sometimes finding shelter is essential. Finding stylish and practical garden shade ideas will allow you to create the ideal spot for shielding from the rays while also enjoying everything your outdoor space offers. 

Making the most of your lawn is the ultimate goal come rain or shine, so the best garden ideas will combine function and fashion, so you can easily use the area. Shade is key in every garden, as heatwaves can make it stifling to stay outside throughout the day. They're also great if you want to find respite to work-from-garden or relax with a book without straining your eyes. Of course, they also offer protection from harmful UVA rays both for you and your garden furniture. 

Shade is also a huge benefit for gardening, allowing you to spend time tending to plants for hours on end. If you enjoy sitting back with a drink to revel in your garden landscaping, then adding shade allows us to 'sit back in the dappled shade and view into the sunshine, which gives us a completely different perspective,' explains garden designer Chris Beardshaw.

Garden shade ideas

These garden shade ideas offer solutions for creating shade in order to make an outdoor dining or seating area a pleasure to use on even the brightest of summer days.

1. Take a trip to the seaside

Micro-stripes are having a major moment in interior design. While previously seen in seaside-adjacent spaces, deckchair stripes are popping up everywhere, and not just in seating. 

Consider opting for a striped parasol for that quintessential British summer aesthetic in the comfort of your garden. Stripes act as a neutral in an outdoor area as they can easily be matched with block colours, or combined with other patterns for a maximalist approach. 

Achieving a pared-back scheme with thinner stripes in a subdued colour palette is simple. However, if dramatic looks fit your outdoor area, then never fear as these work beautifully, too. 'Play with different colours and contrasting shades within each print to create contrast and visual interest,' advises Emily Simmons, Creative Director at Ruggable.

'Don’t be afraid to clash with different patterns such as tartan and plaid in varying scales and colours by experimenting with layering different textures.'

2. Add an awning

If you're looking for a more permanent garden shade solution, an awning might be your answer. When you're deciding on how to plan a garden, consider where your seating area will be, and whether this will be directly in the sun. If it is, it might be worth investing in an awning that attaches to the back of your property, so you can enjoy a shaded patch of patio with more reliability. 

Awnings come in a whole host of different constructions so you can easily choose one that suits your home, whether more modern or the traditional fabric style. They'll also provide plenty of protection to your garden furniture from the elements, so you can begin the summer months without the worry of your tables and chairs requiring repair or an entirely new set. 

3. Opt for all white

An all-white garden palette will transport you to a tranquil destination abroad instantly. If Mediterranean garden ideas are what you're looking to achieve, then opt for a white parasol that matches your garden furniture.  

The simple look will offer plenty of protection from the sun while also creating a relaxing environment ideal for lounging around for hours. White is also easy to update with garden accessories like the best outdoor cushions, so you can revamp your outdoor area year after year affordably. 

4. Pitch a tent

Tents don't have to just be for camping. Canopy-style tents offer ample shelter from the sun and also create a glamping-esque experience that can be a fun addition to your garden. And even better - you'll have a bathroom and bed close by.  

Including dedicated spots for shade-chasing is also a great way to create areas where the whole family gets together. 'The home is a place for nurturing intimate relationships; meticulously placed seating configurations encourage people to spend time together and becomes the entertainment heart of the home or indeed, garden,' explains Paul Garland, Lead Designer at Andrew Henry Interiors.

Depending on whether you have a small garden to work with, or more lawn space to inspire this boho garden decor, you can find a tent to suit your space. Not only are they easy to pop up to enjoy in the summer months, but they'll also act as a consistent source of shade for pets and children to play or relax in. 

5. Choose a two-in-one situation

When considering what garden furniture ideas are best for your space, make sure to think about shade. Look for options which have integrated parasols, roofs or covers.

We especially love a simple outdoor dining table with a space in the centre to insert a parasol. This essentially combines the best of freestanding and built in parasols. You can put in whatever style fits your style or theme, but you've got support and you're not taking up any more room in your garden.

6. Work with overhanging foliage

While most may think of overhanging trees and hedges as a nuisance, you can work with, rather than against, to enjoy shady spaces. Equally as good for front garden ideas as for back, this is a simple and cheap way of adding shade.

Work out which area of your garden gets the most shade from overhanging plants and plan around this accordingly. Supplement with your own planting to add a deeper cover if you need.

7. Choose a shapely style

Sails, shades and awnings are all too often thought of as clinical or commercial. Add some personality to yours by looking at more decorative options. As well as pretty colours and prints that complement your planting, there are shapely styles, too.

A curved sail will add softness to your space, while still working hard to offer you shade.

8. Invest in a hard-working pergola

Pergolas are a great option for garden shade ideas. Consider an option which offers more options than just protecting you from direct sunlight.

Choose a design with vented roof shutters, like this design from SUNS, so you can choose how much sun or shade you want. These pergolas also have the option of side screens, meaning your area will be protected from the other elements, like rain and wind.

9. Create an ad hoc canopy

Shade designs don't have to be complicated or expensive - easy garden ideas are perfect for helping you out. A simple fabric canopy creates shade wherever and whenever it is needed, and choosing a bright colour will make it a ‘destination' in a large garden too.

Outdoor fabrics have the benefit of being showerproof, strain-resistant, UV and fade-resistant, but an improvised shade in a sturdy interiors fabric will stand up to occasional use too. Simply attach the fabric to surrounding trees.

10. Plant trees for shade

An alternative garden shade idea is to incorporate mindful planting into your garden design, so that you know there will always be some form of a shady spot to retreat to.

Wether that's shaping shrubs or trees to provide a canopy of lush green or simply rethinking a layout so the patio is near existing trees, be mindful on the light quality when planning your garden layout.

11. Float a simple sail

Create a small shaded spot with the simple placement of a sail shade gazebo. This example by Dobbies is just the thing to float above a seating area to welcome a break from sitting directly in the path of  scorching sun beams. The lightweight sail shade is quick to assemble and fast becomes a garden essential, perfect for a whole range of outdoor events, from family gatherings to spontaneous BBQs and more.

The simple shade solution boasts a robust powder-coated rust resistant steel frame plus a durable polyester canopy for protection from the elements. Come rain or shine, a sail gazebo has you covered.

12. Shelter beneath a canopy of plants

Encourage climbing plants to take up residence on a terrace pergola  to provide a beautifully natural shaded area. This garden shade idea is beneficial for adding a charming touch of planting and colour to a patio area.

While also highly-practical for providing a shaded area on the terrace beneath, offering the ideal safe spot for lunch.

13. Move with the times throughout the day

A freestanding, lightweight parasol allows the freedom to follow the sun and move the positioning depending on the time of day. A moveable shade solution is ideal on patio areas that are far-removed from the house, where there is no tree covering to offer any protection from the sun.

14. Attach an awning to shade a patio

To save space on having a sizeable parasol on the garden decking or patio area, not to mention the storage for out-of-season months, consider a smart awning. Having an awning attached to the rear exterior wall allows you to have a retractable source of shade, as and when you need it  – and in a matter of minutes.

Many of the modern designs are now electrical, making the job even easier. The average cost of an awning starts from around £200, and can range to anywhere up to £8,000.

15. Stick to natural cover

A patio area immediately off the kitchen is the ideal place for a permanent structure to shade a dining area. Keep the scheme simple and rustic with a covering of wooden lengths laid across a solid wooden frame. A simple willow slatted framework feels light and airy, and seems to float in the space.

16. Seek shade with a garden room

Timber structures have long made favourite garden shelters, and there is a vast choice of styles beyond the standard summerhouse. This contemporary pergola offers a private place to sit away from the glaring rays of the sun and the gaze of neighbours.

The Maluwi Canopy garden room can be attached to an existing wall or house, or freestanding. The multi functional aluminium and timber canopy comes in a variety of lengths to suits gardens of all sizes. With water-resistant walls, plus lighting and heating options this really is a structure for all seasons.

Of course a garden structure of this stature is not a cheap option, but it is well-worth the investment for creating an alfresco space to enjoy for all seasons - explore garden room costs.

17. Weigh in with a fixed parasol

A solid parasol, the likes of which are used by restaurants and hotels will be a practical solution for a patio and won't wobble and fall over as soon as the wind picks up. Weight it down with concrete for extra stability. A wall mounted parasol is a great solution for a small garden idea and offers flexibility for angling to protect from the sun.

18. Add an arbour for a charming touch

In a country-style garden an arbour is ideal for adding a charming area to seek a seat in the shade. The wooden structure adds character to the surrounding garden while providing a much-needed spot for shade. Add outdoor cushions to make the seating experience all the more comfortable.

In this picturesque cottage garden idea the arbour is surrounding by country-style planting and accessories, including a bistro table and chairs set. Garden arbours are suitable for all budgets, they start from £185 at Wickes but you can spend a lot more at other high-end garden retailers.

19. Shade in serene green

Enclosing patio seating in lush planting, not only cools the area, it has a cocooning effect that will envelop the space in scent, colour and the sound of breeze through the leaves. Add a fabric awning over the pergola structure until the green has grown in pace, for fine-tuning the shade on the sunniest days.