For centuries, man has looked for ways to be shielded from the elements, the sun, the rain and the wind. The early Romans used cloth to give shade over a large portion of the Coliseum. By the nineteenth century, people were using sailcloth or canvas to form shade. This sailcloth had definite drawbacks. It was heavy and the sun and rain combined helped it to rot out rather rapidly, necessitating many replacements. By the 1980′s, special cloth had been created specifically for patio shades that was treated to withstand the UV rays, hold up in fairly high winds, and was lightweight.

Patio shades in the form of umbrellas are very popular. They can be lowered when the sun’s rays are comfortable, allowing for sunbathing. When the sun gets higher in the sky and becomes oppressive, raising an umbrella patio shade is quick and easy, allowing you to remain outside in comfort. Modern patio shades also are wind resistant for winds of over 100 mph. Many umbrella patio shades are in the center of tables, allowing for comfortable outdoor eating. Sometimes these units are stand alone, allowing for greater flexibility in seating arrangements around them.

You can also find a patio sun shade in the shape of an umbrella that does not have a center pole, but rather is cantilevered to allow for more flexible shading from the sun. These patio shades are also adjustable as to height and tilt to follow the sun’s path from east to west, providing shade the entire day without the necessity of moving your chair.

A patio shade can be made out of lattices, giving shade while allowing the breeze to blow through. A combination of lattice and solid roofing can give a variety of patio shading options, with a part of the patio protected from rain and a part of it having striped shading.

You may decide to have a patio drop shade coming down from a solidly roofed patio. This will give shade when the sun moves to an uncomfortable area of the sky. It can be either fully dropped to the patio itself, or partially lowered to allow the breeze to reach you. These come in cloth or bamboo for a variety of lovely styles.

Patio sun shades can be in the form of awnings that may or may not retract to allow for easy storage when not in use. These awnings are often of treated fabric to be resistant to UV rays, and come in a delightful variety of fabrics that will go with any decor.

Gazebos can be removable patio shades that are easy to put up and take down. They may come with or without sheer side curtains that will allow for semi-shielding from the sun. These side curtains may be tied to the four corners of the gazebo when not needed for sun shades.

Pergolas also make lovely outdoor patio shades once the vines have been trained to climb their columns and cover their tops. The natural, green roof is very restful when you are sitting outside on your patio.

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