7 Shady Outdoor Canopy Ideas for Summer

Here at Patio Heat and Shade we relish this time of year, when we can host our family and friends to savory cookouts and long conversations with a cold drink in hand, savoring the sun’s rays as they kick our Vitamin D factory into overdrive. When the sun gets a little too aggressive, we turn to shade to help keep our cool (cooling both our bodies and our hot headedness) … and for good reason.

Simply adding a canopy over your summer festivities can protect your guests from 98% of the sun’s UV rays, keeping their precious skin safe for hours of outdoor fun. Shading your patio also stops the sun from heating up your patio deck, furniture and other items surrounding you, lowering the temperature on your deck or patio by up to 20°F.

Another unsung benefit of adding a canopy to your patio is that it blocks harmful UV rays from coming indoors… which means your “indoors” doesn’t heat up as much… which means lower energy bills by not running the AC as hard as you would with an unprotected patio.

When the dog days of summer have you wistful for a more tepid time of year, our fellow outdoor lovers turn to us to help them find respite on sweltering summer days. Lucky for our customers, we have been hard at work making sure that our patio experts are the best in the business… and we turned to them to ask for some of their favorite outdoor canopy ideas for summer. When looking at each one, think about how the idea of that canopy would work in your own private outdoor oasis – which would be the best fit for your active family.

1. Install a retractable awning for permanent but adjustable shade

2. Use an awning or canopy to add some bold color to your outdoor space

3. Mount a shade sail over your patio to keep cool

4. Pair canopies or shade sails with pre-existing shade fixtures, like landscaping plants

5. Shade sails can also create convenient shade in your backyard pool

6. Mount a canopy or shade sail underneath a pergola to add some extra sun protection

7. Consider building a permanent shade structure, like a gazebo, for outdoor entertaining

Outdoor Canopy & Shade Sail FAQs

Is an outdoor canopy the same as a pergola?

What are the best ways to create shade outdoors?

How do I anchor a canopy on a concrete patio?

Can you leave shade sails up all year?

Do shade sails need to be angled?

How much drop does a shade sail need?

Wrap-Up

We’ve frequently found inspiration for creative uses of shade from our customers and hope that we have provided you with a little of that inspiration magic with these outdoor canopy ideas fresh from the minds of our patio experts.

Here at Patio Heat and Shade, keeping your family and guests comfortable is our specialty – and the addition of an outdoor canopy is one of the best ways of cooling not only the people you care about, but the entire area by as much as 30°.