11 Excellent Backyard Patio Shade Ideas to Upgrade Your Space

Creating an outdoor space that is comfortable and functional is essential to designing a beautiful landscape. Backyard shade ideas that include a pergola in the design will ensure that your client’s space is defined and makes the transition from indoor to outdoor spaces seamless and enjoyable.

Designing an outdoor space that incorporates a pergola is only limited by your imagination. Available in a variety of materials and colors, a pergola will enhance nearly any backyard patio.

Backyard Patio Shade Ideas

With a wide variety of backyard patio shade ideas to choose from, pergolas can be customized to fit a plethora of design aesthetics and functions. From creating a serene sanctuary to covering a grill or bar area, or acting as a way to introduce fans and lighting to a patio, pergolas are the way to go.

Check out these 11 design ideas for inspiration:

1. Vinyl Is Cost-Effective and Stunning

This patio sun shade uses vinyl as the pergola material. Vinyl is a cost-effective material for a pergola that is low-maintenance and will last for many years. If you’re working on a tight budget, choosing vinyl means you don’t have to compromise looks or function. Attaching this pergola to the house creates a seamless transition from indoors to outdoors and shades the patio in a pleasing way that invites everyone to venture outside on the sunniest of days.

2. Distance Creates a Welcome Respite

Distancing this pergola from the home creates a separate space where everyone can retreat from their to-do lists and into an outdoor oasis to enjoy a cup of coffee or wind down with a cocktail. Spacing this backyard sun shade idea away from the house has the added bonus of making it an architectural statement all on its own. Raising the columns on short brick pedestals adds an extra element of interest.

3. Enhance Minimal Space

The shallow projection of this patio shade idea streamlines the design and allows it to add interest and shade to a relatively small space. In a space this size, using a pergola to create shade rather than a porch roof makes the small space seem open and larger.

4. Stunning Color Combinations Bring a Wow Factor

Bringing color into backyard sun shade automatically makes them stand out in stunning fashion. This use of a ShadeFlex Retractable Canopy in the classic color combination of yellow and white creates added brightness while simultaneously additional privacy and shade.

5. Tranquil Colors Enhance a Serene Space

The light sage stucco and bright white shutters of this home go a long way to creating a backyard that is calm and serene. The addition of two white vinyl pergola kits to create multiple shaded areas enhances the feeling of a retreat away from the stress of the day. Designing a space like this gives the homeowner a place to relax and unwind, melting into another world.

6. Create a Multifunctional Space

A great patio shade idea is to utilize a pergola to not only define the space, but also to shade areas that have an additional purpose. In this case, a vinyl pergola is positioned over the bar, grill, and sink area, defining an outdoor kitchen space that will host summer BBQs under the perfect amount of shade.

7. Dress Up a Simple Space

A smaller patio cover was added to this home to create shade over a portion of the patio. Instantly creating a visual impact, the attached design allows the most to be made of a small space where the homeowner can now enjoy a quiet meal or just time to relax.

8. Add Privacy

In an area where homes are situated close together, privacy can be a rare commodity. This fiberglass pergola creates a sanctuary that allows the homeowners to enjoy their patio without the feeling that they’re on display for the rest of the neighborhood. The canopy that was installed on the top of the pergola protects them from the elements and adds additional shade throughout the year, allowing them to use their patio, rain or shine.

9. Enjoy Added Shade

Patio shade ideas come in many shapes and sizes and this tensioned shade sail canopy adds an interesting design element to the patio while still being a functional addition to the pergola. Adding a shade sail like on this Trex Pergola Vision creates the perfect space for an outdoor meal or a shaded conversation during the heat of the day.

10. Level Up…or Down

This backyard patio shade idea uses a custom design that is split into two levels. Though the difference is subtle, it really creates additional places for the eye to fall and adds elegance to the patio area.

11. Simple Lines Let the Space Shine

Patio shade ideas can be completely transformed with the right choice of columns. The square columns supporting this pergola are parallel to the square lines of the house, windows, and patio doors. Clean and simple lines allow the beauty of the space to shine through and complement the other design elements such as the outdoor stone fireplace.

Backyard Patio Shade Ideas Can be Endless

Structureworks and The Outdoor Shade Store offer a variety of patio shade structures to enhance outdoor living spaces. Whether you are looking for ideas to shade a patio, or simply create more privacy, you will find the right materials to create a personal haven.