Backyards can provide a perfect private escape or a great place to entertain friends and family. Whether you’re looking for a little shade from the sun or just want to change up the look of your backyard space, shades sails can be a unique and eye-catching choice.
Shade sails come in all shapes, sizes, colors and designs, giving you virtually limitless options for transforming your backyard space. Plus, shade sails are durable, lightweight and easy to install. With just a few materials and tools on hand you can easily (and quickly) add shade where you need it in your outdoor environment.
Here are 10 creative ways to use shade sails in your backyard to enhance the aesthetic of your outdoor space or provide protection from the sun’s rays:
Shade Sail Basics
Shade sails provide you with the ultimate way to weatherproof your backyard. With their easy installation and versatile designs, these sails are a great way to customize any outdoor space. They come in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes, so you will be able to find the perfect one for your space. Whether you want to add some shade to your patio, pool area, or anywhere else in your backyard, let’s explore how you can use shade sails in your space.
Types of Shade Sails
Shade sails come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. The most common types are square, triangle and rectangular in shape. Shade sails can also be custom made in any size or shape you need to fit the area you have. The square sail is more traditional and is often used to cover an outdoor barbeque area or patio. Triangle sails are more contemporary and create an interesting visual effect when used either as a single sail or in combination with other sails. Rectangle shade sails tend to be used for larger areas such as courtyards and pool sides due to the greater amount of coverage they provide.
Each type of shade sail has unique properties that make it great for different applications – from providing relief from the blazing sun to adding atmosphere to your outdoor area by creating dramatic shadows at different times of day. For example, a square sail will provide excellent protection against UV rays while diffusing the light slightly so that it’s not too strong or harsh on your skin; while triangular or rectangular shades act like giant umbrellas and provide shade throughout entire areas at once as they cast longer shadows creating a much deeper shade that covers a larger area than with the other shapes.
Benefits of Shade Sails
Shade sails provide an economical and elegant shade solution to a wide variety of outdoor areas. They are incredibly versatile and can easily be installed into a variety of shapes and sizes. Shade sails offer excellent protection from sunburns, skin damage, and direct sunlight. They can be constructed using waterproof materials making them perfect for use in any climate or season. Additionally, they can be fixed around an existing structure with minimal effort, allowing them to provide adequate coverage without creating permanent boundaries or constrictions.
The coverage offered by shade sails helps to cool any given area while still allowing light to pass through easily. Shade sails are designed to block up to 95 percent of UV rays while simultaneously increasing air circulation around the sheltered area. This creates a refreshing environment which is free of hot spots caused by direct sun exposure. By keeping harmful UV rays out, shade sails can make outdoor environments not only comfortable but safe as well.
Shade sails also offer a range of aesthetic benefits as they create unique shapes in an otherwise predictable landscape while adding texture and depth to any setting through their sheer material composition. Additionally, their availability in multiple colors and their customizable form makes them great for transforming any space into something unique that stands out from its surroundings without becoming disruptive. Finally, the combination of strength and flexibility results in a highly reliable product that is low maintenance meaning it can easily be re-positioned or removed with minimal effort when desired.
Creative Uses for Shade Sails
Shade sails are a great way to add style and protection to your backyard. Not only are they available in a wide range of colors and shapes, but they can also provide ample shade and protection from the elements. But did you know that you can also use shade sails to add a touch of creativity to your backyard? Let’s take a look at the top 10 creative uses for shade sails in your backyard.
Create a Private Outdoor Lounge
Shade sails are a great way to provide instant shade for your outdoor space and can be used in numerous creative ways. For example, you can create a private outdoor lounge area for you and your guests to enjoy, with less sun and more intimacy. Think about positioning the shade sail close to the ground or between trees, or use posts and poles if needed. You can then use outdoor furniture such as cushions, hammocks or hanging chairs, along with potted plants, fairy lights or other decorative items, to create a peaceful place to relax together.
You might also include comfort touches such as pillows and throws for extra coziness on cooler days or different types of lighting fixtures like floor lamps so that the area is illuminated during the evening hours. Shade sails provide extra visual appeal too with their various patterns and colors so they can really bring an extra touch of luxury to your outdoor space while creating an intimate zone all of your own.
Add a Colorful Feature Wall
Shade sails can be used in a variety of ways to add color and texture to the home’s interior spaces. One such way is to create an interesting feature wall. With a little bit of imagination, one or more shade sails can be used to create an eye-catching backdrop for any room – from the living and dining rooms, to the bedroom and beyond.
The first step is selecting a sail size, style, and color that best complements the existing surroundings and furniture. Shade sails are available in numerous sizes, so it’s possible to find something that fits inside whatever space you want to decorate. For example: if you’d like one wall of your dining room covered completely with a large sail, look for something that face-measures 8’x10′ or larger.
Next, decide how you want it installed. There are several ways you could hang it up – either at the ceiling, down away from the top of wall frame as an adornment at eye level, or some combination of both (e.g., horizontally between two walls). All mounting hardware should also be considered when selecting your shade sail – such as turnbuckles, shackles and quick links – as additional accessories may be needed depending on your installation’s exact shape and needs.
Once secured in place from all four corners and tensioned properly according to manufacturer instructions, the breeze should gently allow it sway rhythmically throughout your home for many years come. Creating a colorful feature wall is just one example how shade sails can bring both vibrancy and comfort into any space around your home!
Create a Play Area for Kids
For many families with small children, outdoor play space is essential — but basic equipment like playhouses and playground sets aren’t always within reach. Shade sails can be an economical solution to this problem. By installing a sail over a designated area of the yard, you create a safe and shaded play space for your kids.
Installing the sail will require sturdy posts set into the ground or attached to existing structures, as well as rope or bars for tensioning the sail. Make sure that all posts, anchor points, and tensioning devices are appropriate for the size of your sail. If in doubt, consult with a professional installer before attempting installation yourself.
Once installed, you can easily include an array of outdoor toys and activities beneath your new play area. Climbing frames provide endless entertainment in any backyard environment — plus they make use of vertical space beneath the sail! Sandboxes are also great choices to keep younger children occupied while they develop imaginative worlds with their little buckets and shovels. Older kids might love trampolines tucked away underneath homemade shade sails — it’s a great way to keep them active without having to worry about sunburns! You could even hang multiple hammocks from hooks on the bottom edge of your shade sail to make a cozy afternoon nap spot for younger children or weekend lounging area for teens and adults alike!
Add Privacy to a Hot Tub
Using a shade sail to create privacy around a hot tub is an excellent idea and can do double duty providing sun protection. Shade sails can be designed in different shapes or angles, allowing you to block direct sunlight from one direction or multiple directions. You could use the sides of your house or a fence as support for your shade sail, but if you don’t have anything suitable, posts are available for hire that come with concrete bases for stability.
Depending on your specific needs, you can usually select from ready-made packages made to fit standard rim-style hot tubs as well as some designed for non-standard tubs or spas. The advantage of using a shade sail is that it’ll enhance the overall look of your backyard and will give you much needed relief during those hot summer days when nothing beats soaking in the hot tub sans the annoying sunburn. Jumbo-sized shade cloth squares are also an option if you want something more affordable yet still provides plenty of coverage around the tub area.
Create a Patio Cover
Creating a patio cover with shade sails is a great way to transform your outdoor living space into a comfortable outdoor room. Shade sails can be used to create an overhead coverage or a three-sided patio — whatever suits your needs. When choosing the right sail for your patio, have the dimensions of the area available so you can choose the appropriate size.
Shade sails are perfect for patios, decks and balconies because they provide great coverage from sunlight and rainfall, while still allowing some airflow. Materials come in various colors, shapes and sizes to suit any style or decor — choose from light shades of tan or beige for something more traditional or go bold with navy blue stripes for a modern look! Make sure that you only use high-quality materials that are designed specifically for this type of application as thinner fabrics will not stand up to windy weather conditions. Shade sails are incredibly versatile as you can even combine multiple sails together to achieve more coverage over larger spaces.
Make a Poolside Cabana
Creating a cabana at the poolside is an easy project for any homeowner. A shade sail can be used to make a quick and effective cabana, adding privacy and creating a secluded decompression zone for swimmers, lounge-chairers, and barbecuers alike. Shade sails have superior tensile strength, meaning they will last for years in any outdoor environment, no matter how much wind or rain the area gets. The three-dimensional shape of shade sails also allows them to cover more area and create more usable space than flat sail shades which are often too short or crooked when stretched out in areas with uneven landscaping. The dense weave of the fabric also provides maximum level UV protection. Shade sails can be installed in just under two hours, so this is an excellent option for homeowners looking to add some privacy to their backyards.
Create a Shaded Garden
Creating a shaded garden using shade sails is one of the most versatile and creative ways to use shade sails. They can be used to transform an open backyard into a private, secluded, and comfortable outdoor space. You can get creative in how you arrange the sails, depending on how much sunlight you want filtering through the fabric. Paired with landscaping plants or a water feature, you can easily bring your yard to life with a beachy feel. To create a truly unique setup, consider coordinating patterns and textures for your shade sail canvas pieces. With shade sails, you can make almost any space look stylish!
Create a Reading Nook
Shade sails can be an ideal solution to create a peaceful, shaded reading nook in your garden or outdoor space. Shade sails work by suspending a contoured sheet of material over a patio, garden area or balcony. By identifying two fixed points and setting the sail at an appropriate angle, you can create dappled shade for reading and other activities.
The draping nature of the fabric creates an inviting atmosphere and often adds an architectural element to the outdoors. Also, there is little need for additional accessories to fully enjoy a shaded oasis of your own — all you have to do is find a comfortable spot and grab a good book.
Shade sails come in many shapes, sizes, colors and materials from which to choose. You may opt for one large sail to cover your lounging or eating area or decide on multiple smaller sails that are mutually across from each other for trickier spaces or corners in need of some extra coverage.
Make a Shaded Picnic Area
One of the best creative uses for a shade sail is to create a cool and comfortable shaded area to enjoy lunch or dinner outdoors with family and friends. A large sail will serve as a good anchor point, while wall-mounted sides or multiple sails can be used to direct the cool air around your dining area so everyone can relax and enjoy the meal. Additionally, this sheltered space provides ideal protection from wind and sun, enabling you to serve up outdoor meals even during summertime heat! By carefully positioning your sails, you’ll be able to take advantage of natural airflow while at the same time allowing plenty of light into your next outdoor gathering.
Create a Shaded Outdoor Kitchen
An outdoor kitchen may seem like a luxury, but it’s actually a practical and beautiful addition to any backyard. Whether you choose to install a classic brick oven or a state-of-the-art electric grill, shade sails are the perfect way to make sure your outdoor kitchen stays safe for years to come. Shade sails protect not just the people cooking and eating, but also provides protection from the sun’s rays protecting furniture and equipment associated with an outdoor kitchen setting. Shade sails are simple, yet effective in creating areas of comfortable shade while enhancing the beauty of any outdoor space. Depending on your needs, there are many ways that you can use shade sails in your design such as combining multiple post or wall-mounted shades where one or more spreader bars are used to lift the fabric up as high as needed while distributing coverage evenly. This makes it easy to cover large setups with plenty of room to enjoy time outdoors without leaving anyone feeling too exposed during long days under the hot sun! For best results choose high quality UV rich fabrics like acrylic that resist fading quickly giving you longer lasting protection for your investment!
Conclusion
Are you ready to start planning the perfect oasis in your own backyard? With these 10 creative ways to use shade sails, you can create an area that blends perfectly into your home’s surrounding environment and protects you from the sun’s harsh rays. Whether it’s a full sun shielding solution or just an accent piece, shade sails can help bring a touch of romance and drama to any outdoor space. Remember, the sky is literally the limit when it comes to designing with these popular sails. Get inspired today and create a fantastical outdoor area for friends and family to enjoy for years to come.