Now we can start to meet up with friends and family again, many of us are concentrating on using our outdoor spaces to its full advantage. While we all have visions of the perfect Mediterranean lifestyle, lounging on cushions beneath a cloudless sky, the reality is that we’ll probably find ourselves pulling said cushions inside hurriedly to avoid the rain! Some kind of sheltered spot is very useful in the British garden, so we’ve put together a few ideas.
Parasol/umbrella/shade sail
This is the most obvious choice, and it’s very flexible. You can spend whatever your budget will accommodate, parasols come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and they can be folded away when not in use. If you want your parasol to provide proper shelter though, rather than just keeping a bit of sun off, then invest in the largest one you can for your space. Parasols are available in round, square and oblong shapes, and come with either a central support or cantilevered with the support from the side. The latter will give you more space at the table as the central support doesn’t get in the way, and they can be angled to give shelter where needed. They do tend to be a lot more expensive, though!
Shade sails are literally triangular pieces of canvas that can be moved around depending on where you need them. They hang from a frame and can be more stylish than a parasol, as well as potentially covering a larger area.
3m deluxe round aluminium parasol in grey, Bridgmans
This parasol is suitable for use with round tables that are 120-170cm in diameter and is easy to adjust with a crank handle. It comes with a cover to keep the parasol protected from the elements when it’s not in use, but you’ll have to buy the base separately. £219, available from Bridgmans.
3.5m Siesta cantilevered parasol in almond, Bridgmans
This medium-duty parasol shades a large area. It’s ideal for positioning adjacent to a large outdoor dining set or lounge furniture to keep you and your guests sheltered from the sun. The parasol is easy to wind up and down, and can be adjusted to different angles, and titled as required. The complete parasol can be rotated through 360 degrees without the need to move the base. It comes with a lightweight cover for when the parasol isn’t in use, but again the base is sold separately. £949, available from Bridgmans.
Pods, pagodas and summerhouses
Summerhouses can be a fantastic way of entertaining small groups and needn’t be outrageously expensive – B&Q have a range starting at £605. As an alternative to a closed summerhouse you could consider a pagoda, which is usually a framework with open sides. It may or may not come with a ‘proper’ roof, so if you want it for sheltering purposes you could add a lightweight roof from bamboo then grow climbing plants to keep it all in place.
Pods are relatively new to the market. They’re normally made of wood or metal and Plexiglass, and are completely enclosed spheres with a sliding door. The disadvantages are that they aren’t cheap and they can be a bit cosy for bigger groups, but on the other hand they look very striking and will enhance your garden. They also offer a lot more protection against the weather than parasols.
Rotating seater pod, Ornate Garden
This pod (above and main image) can rotate 360º meaning you can position it directly into the sun or shade or turn it out of the wind. It also means that you can change the view depending on your mood! The seating area of 2.4m diameter will comfortably accommodate 7 guests. £7,999, available from Lime Lace.
Whatever the solution you choose, let’s all keep our fingers crossed that the better weather is on its way and we’ll be sheltering from sun rather than blizzards.
Main image shows the Rotating Seater Garden Pod, available from Lime Lace.
1
Leave a Reply