As summer transitions into fall, you may be thinking about two things: how your summer backyard fun could have been better, and how you can extend your outdoor living into the cooler months. With a shade structure, you can. Here are three backyard designs that include inviting shade structures in Setauket, Long Island, NY.
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1. A Mediterranean Hideaway
Perhaps nothing is more classically Mediterranean than a vine-draped pergola shading a spacious dining area where you can share meals and make memories with family and friends. A pergola features open sides as well as a roof made of cross beams and a sturdy lattice. This open structure allows for the movement of air and provides a surprising amount of shade during hot summer days.
If your patio felt too exposed and uncomfortably hot—or if you were constantly repositioning a patio umbrella—then a pergola could be the answer. Since a pergola can be pretty much any size you like, you could create a comfortable shady spot, or even cover most of your patio.
Allowing climbing vines to cover the pergola gives it a distinctly relaxed and lived-in look. Grapes, climbing roses, clematis, wisteria, honeysuckle, climbing hydrangea, and ivy are just a few examples of plants that will add a shade to a pergola, as well as privacy if you add a trellis to the side of the pergola that faces an unwanted view.
While a pergola won’t offer shelter from the rain, some homeowners install a clear polycarbonate roof on the pergola to make it more weatherproof.
2. A Comfortable Pavilion
A pavilion—which is similar to a pergola in that it has open sides—adds an element of weather protection with a solid roof. Pavilions, like pergolas, don’t have a built-in floor so they are installed directly on the patio. And like pergolas, pavilions can be any size you want.
Some homeowners create a complete outdoor living room under the shelter of a pavilion, including a seating area with an outdoor fireplace positioned along one side of the pavilion; an outdoor kitchen with bar seating; and if space allows, even an outdoor dining area.
Since it features a solid roof, a pavilion will be a warmer space than a pergola. This makes it an ideal solution for year-round outdoor fun. Pavilions are ideal for sheltering a TV or even furniture that isn’t durable enough to be fully exposed to the elements (purely indoor furniture is still not recommended, but you do have a few more furnishings options with a pavilion).
If you intend on using the pavilion throughout the year, you’ll probably want an outdoor fireplace along one side, and ceiling fans to help move the air on the hottest summer days.
3. A Romantic Gazebo
A gazebo features a solid roof like a pavilion. However, a gazebo has its own built-in floor which means it is a stand-alone structure that can be placed anywhere in your backyard. For example, you could build a gazebo next to a pond or pool, or on a hillside overlooking a beautiful view. It can be octagonal, hexagonal, square, or rectangular, and generally any size you like.
Add to the romance of the gazebo with outdoor curtains that can be closed for privacy, and a small gas-fueled fire feature within the structure to provide warmth and ambiance.
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