In summer, enjoying the sun is the watchword, but you have to be careful with prolonged exposure. For this, the terrace and garden should be shaded so that the whole family can relax. On the market, many solutions are offered to create shade in your relaxation areas, but also to bring charm to your exterior. If you want to protect yourself from the sun and heat, here are some trendy and especially practical terrace and garden design ideas.

Install an awning on your terrace

Also called outdoor awning or terrace awning, the awning is a stretched canvas that allows you to create shade on a terrace, a balcony, or in front of a shop. It is composed of two articulated aluminum arms, a canvas, a lambrequin, and an opening and closing system. This system can be manual, electric, or remote-controlled.

Like Osyla's products, the awning can be attached to a wall or under a roof. It is a real protection against UV rays and heat. To create a friendly outdoor space to enjoy your garden or terrace during hot periods, it is a great ally. It is found in several models, colors, and materials that adapt without difficulty to any type of architecture.

The different types of awnings

There are three main types of awnings, namely trunk, semi-chest, and traditional or monobloc models. Each of them has specific characteristics that make their advantages.

The awning chest

This model is suitable for houses without roof advances, with large terraces exposed to the weather. Indeed, the components of this awning (the canvas, the arms, and the mechanism) are protected thanks to an aluminum box.

The semi-safe awning

Unlike the trunk awning, the semi-trunk awning only protects the canvas and the motor. It is suitable for terraces exposed to bad weather with a deep advance. In addition, it is lightweight and adapts well to windy areas.

The one-piece awning

This is the classic of exterior blinds. It is sober and robust and gives your terrace a timeless and refined style. Unlike the first two models, it does not protect your canvas from the weather. For this, it is best to install it on terraces and balconies protected by a slab or roof advance.

The dimensions of the awning

For perfect protection of your terrace or garden, the area of the awning must be greater than that of the area to be covered. For this, you need to take into account its width and advance.

The widths of such equipment are between 3 and 7 meters. It is recommended to opt for a blind as wide as possible in order to have shade at any time of the day. As for the progress of the awning, it depends on its location of it. Thus, for small spaces such as the balcony, an advance of 2 m will be enough to create 1 m of shade. To cover an average terrace, an advance of 3.5 m will allow you to get about 2.5 m of shade to be able to have lunch with 6 or more.

Colours

To choose the color of your awning canvas, you must harmonize it with the style, architecture, and terrace decoration. Thus, you can opt for sober tones like black, white, gray, or beige to create a contemporary and chic style. You can also choose brighter colors such as green, blue, and red to create a warm atmosphere and give pep to your exterior.

Opt for shade sails

Generally triangular in shape, shade sails bring dynamism to the décor of a terrace. Not only do they create shade, but they let air through and protect you from the sun and light rain. In addition, they are aesthetic and adapt well to modern houses of geometric shapes.

Thus, while having a practical function, the shade sail offers a nice touch of decoration to your garden. You have the possibility to play with the colors and the attachment system to create a special atmosphere. For a discreet and airy result, you can place it, stretched horizontally. You can also place it obliquely from the top of the wall to the ground, to have an oriental and exotic décor. It can also be used as a screen.

To mount your shade sail, it is advisable to call on professionals especially if it is a large surface. Indeed, they are light and require a perfectly anchored fixing system, in order to resist the wind. However, there are openwork canvases that are much more resistant to the wind but do not protect from the rain.

Have a pergola installed in your outdoor space

The pergola is a garden or terrace structure intended to protect from the sun and bad weather. On the market, there are three types of pergolas namely: removable pergolas, freestanding pergolas, and backed pergolas. They are all options to allow you to enjoy the sun while improving the aesthetic appearance of your home.

Removable pergolas

As its name suggests, a removable pergola can be dismantled and stored when the weather does not lend itself to its use. In general, it is used occasionally to host an event in a garden or on a terrace. Thus, when buying, opt for a model with a solid and resistant steel or aluminum structure. This choice will allow you to benefit from more sustainability.

You should also pay close attention to the canvas of your pergola. It must be resistant to UV rays and waterproof to ensure better protection against the sun and rain. It can be made of PVC or acrylic which are the most recommended materials.

Self-supporting pergolas

The freestanding pergola is an independent structure that can be installed in the middle of the garden or on your terrace to create a corner of the shade. Indeed, it is equipped with 4 pillars that support it and are fixed in the ground. It gives character to your home and fits perfectly into your outdoor decoration.

To create a warm atmosphere, you can opt for wood for the construction of your pergola. On the other hand, for a cocooning or Zen space, choose an aluminum pergola.

Leaning pergolas

This type of pergola is installed against the wall of your home. The structure rests on pillars and on the facade of the house. It adapts to all kinds of buildings, whether to complete a terrace, complete a space with a swimming pool, or cover a balcony. The main thing is to have a wall on which the structure will rest.

The leaning pergola offers great flexibility in terms of size or type of roof. Indeed, its roof can be closed, opened, or with bioclimatic slats.

Equip yourself with a garden umbrella

Umbrellas are a timeless protective shelter. Composed of a canvas attached to a metal frame, they are used as an umbrella. There are four main types of umbrellas namely: tilting, deported, wall, and straight models.

The reclining parasol

This model adapts to your sun protection needs and remarkably enhances the design of your living spaces. Indeed, these umbrellas are handy and can be installed on a terrace, balcony, garden, or by the pool. They are usually round, square or rectangular in shape. Their canvas can be made of polyester, acrylic, or cotton. This umbrella has the ability to rotate 360 °, which allows you to fully enjoy your moments of relaxation without being disturbed by the sun.

The deported parasol

In general, the deported umbrella is larger than the straight umbrella. Its dimensions can go beyond 2.5 m in diameter. It is ideal for large terraces, as it covers a large area. Whatever its shape, round or rectangular, it can protect you from the sun throughout the day.

The wall parasol

If you have a small space, the wall-mounted umbrella is what you need. It attaches to the facade of a house and offers 180 ° mobility that protects you relatively from the sun. When you open the arms of the parasol, the canvas spreads offering a beautiful shaded space.

The straight parasol

It is an emblematic model indicated for tables with a central hole. Whatever its shape, it can be installed between two deckchairs for example. On the other hand, it is not very modular and not very mobile, which can make it difficult to use.

Note that to choose your umbrella, you must take into account a few elements to know: the height of the umbrella, its degree of inclination, and the surface to be covered. When it comes to height, opt for adjustable umbrellas. These can be adjusted according to your needs, unlike fixed umbrellas which are less versatile. Then pay attention to the degree of inclination of your equipment. The 360° model is ideal, as it can be adjusted according to the orientation of the sun at any time of the day.

In short, there are different solutions to protect you from the sun on your terrace or in your garden. Whether you opt for an awning, a pergola, a shade sail, and an umbrella, there is bound to be a solution that fits your outdoor space. However, they should be chosen according to the dimensions of the space to be covered and your preferences.