20 Standout Shade Structure Ideas to Help You Beat the Heat by Marianne Lipanovich

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A covered outdoor space can help you enjoy time outside in good weather or bad, such as when the sun is too bright or a soft rain is falling. We've gathered 20 examples of stylish and innovative pergolas and shade structures that designers used to provide extra outdoor protection. Browse through them for inspiration, then tell us in the Comments which ones you like best.

Double B Design, LLC

1. Modern Farmhouse

Exposed beams, board-and-batten detailing, and a white-and-black color palette bring farmhouse-inspired style to this covered patio in Austin, Texas, by Double B Design. Graphic tile covering the island's base and sleek woven stools add a modern touch.

Hire a local landscape design pro on Houzz.

HDR Remodeling Inc.

2. Indoor-Outdoor Living

Indoor living quickly moves outdoors at this San Francisco Bay Area home thanks to expansive sliding doors, a new wraparound patio, and a cantilevered shade structure. HDR Remodeling installed a solid ceiling off the house for protection against sun and rain. Rafters that extend from the overhang create a shady spot for dining while also letting in natural light.

ZEN Associates, Inc.

3. Elegance and Style

This covered dining patio in Brookline, Massachusetts, has a classic style, gathering room, and a lushly planted backdrop. Zen Associates included mounted heaters for chillier days and overhead lighting for nighttime dining. A stone half-wall creates a sense of enclosure while still allowing easy access to the adjacent — also covered — outdoor kitchen.

What to Know About Adding a Pergola

TLC Gardens

4. Rustic Outpost

A modern rustic pergola is the centerpiece of this redesigned backyard near Boulder, Colorado. TLC Gardens treated the custom structure's steel frame to match the farmhouse's color palette, adding wood rafters for shade on hot summer days. Integrated lighting along the edges and retaining wall helps keep the party going after dark.

Southwest Fence & Deck

5. Resort Beauty

Wood and metal form a contemporary screen and shade structure defining this resort-inspired lounge in Dallas. Southwest Fence & Deck used steel to create the frame, then inset smooth cedar for sun protection. A slatted screen along the back provides privacy, while the cantilevered design keeps things open and light.

Shop for patio furniture on Houzz.

SMS Architects

6. Midcentury Pavilion

SMS Architects took cues from this Richmond, Virginia, home's midcentury modern style when designing the pavilion and pool. The angled support posts harken to the 1960s, while the bright white ceiling matches the surrounding hardscape and keeps the structure from overwhelming the space.

The O'Dell Group

7. Filtered Sunlight

There's plenty of room to lounge and dine in shady comfort at this Westport, Connecticut, home. The O'Dell Group set the pergola's rafters at a 90-degree angle to the beams and then added lath above in the opposite direction to create a crisscross pattern. The result is an open feel that still provides plenty of sun protection and casts intriguing shadows on the lounge below.

Cutters Landscaping

8. Angled Approach

A tilted roof gives this simple pergola in Austin, Texas, some flair. In addition to enhancing the small poolside deck, the shade structure designed by Cutters Landscaping protects against sun and rain and adds comfort with an overhead fan and lights. As a bonus, the tilt drains rainwater off the roof and behind the deck.

How to Create an Inviting Outdoor Seating Area

San Diego Master Craftsmen

9. Bridging the Gap

Tucked between the guesthouse and pool, this secluded covered patio turns an otherwise empty corner of a San Diego yard into the perfect spot for morning coffee or afternoon drinks. San Diego Master Craftsmen used the screen along one side of the patio to support the cantilevered shade structure, adding contemporary style while honoring the home's Craftsman roots with the tightly spaced wood lath design.

Cutters Landscaping

10. Year-Round Destination

This pergola houses almost everything you'd need for hanging out in the yard. Cutters Landscaping sets the tone with a metal-and-wood structure that's sturdy enough to keep out the elements. An oversized fan cools things down in the Austin, Texas, heat, while ceiling lights make the space practical for nighttime use. This covered deck welcomes guests year-round with the fireplace, TV, and outdoor kitchen.

Which Pergola Is Right for You?

JE Green Solutions, LLC

11. Pattern Play

A metal overhang with an intricate graphic design gives this Berkeley, California, yard a modern touch (and complements the wood pattern below). To keep the transition between the living room and the outdoor space as seamless as possible, JE Green Solutions mounted the awning with cable supports rather than beams.

Urban Oasis Landscape Design

12. Industrial Beauty

A pergola with a graphic steel-patterned roof is perfect for relaxing and enjoying this Los Angeles yard and the continually changing patterns cast underfoot. Debbie Gliksman of Urban Oasis Landscape Design also added an aerodynamic fan to keep things cool and a lighting design for the entire yard.

Tierra Madre Fine Gardens

13. Dining in Comfort

This dining area in San Mateo, California, mixes sun and shade significantly. Tierra Madre Fine Gardens kept the custom pergola open on either end to let in more light. It then covered the center with shade cloth, providing sun relief for diners and softening the steel structure's clean lines.

Sage Construction Services

14. Steel Canopy

An arched canopy with translucent panels lets in plenty of sunlight while providing a solid cover. Sage Construction Services gave the pergola a more contemporary feel with the metal canopy and railings. Still, it used the decking and traditional lines of the arch to blend it in with the existing San Francisco Craftsman-style home.

Board & Vellum

15. Rain or Shine

Rainy weather doesn't stop these Kirkland, Washington, homeowners from heading outdoors to entertain. The large pavilion features polycarbonate panels above to let in light while keeping the often-present rain at bay. Board & Vellum added removable shades for those days when the sun shines brightly.

Calimia Home

16. Classic Awning

Calimia Home went old-school with a black-and-white striped awning in Coral Gables, Florida. The look nods to the home's traditional style, while the angled design keeps air circulating as it blocks the sun.

DAJ Design

17. Sail Style

A large shade sail lends a modern look to this Louisville, Colorado, home. DAJ Design ensured the sail was large enough to provide needed shade during warmer months without overpowering the space or blocking the light. Come winter, it's easy to take the sail down to protect it from snow and rain.

Neil Cownie Architect Pty Ltd

18. Cool Curves

This Australian shade structure's flowing design matches the adjacent pool's free-form shape. A single light and airy support near the pool and two other supports at the wall streamline the pergola's design. Architect Neil Cownie subtly nodded to the home's midcentury modern architectural look while also creating plenty of room — and shade — for the patio furniture.

Verdance Landscape Architecture

19. Custom Creation

A freestanding pergola is an unexpected whimsy in this Palo Alto, California, yard by Verdance Landscape Architecture. The laser-cut steel panel was inspired by the home's Spanish Colonial style and the homeowners' artistic affinity, setting the tone for the intimate seating area. The angled, cantilevered canopy also makes the most of the tight space.

Read more about this lush outdoor retreat.

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20 Standout Shade Structure Ideas to Help You Beat the Heat by Marianne Lipanovich