Learning About Exterior Home Design

When you live in an area with few tall trees to shade the yard, spending time outdoors can be painfully uncomfortable. Here, you'll find a few ways to shade your yard to make it more comfortable for you to spend time enjoying the fresh air.

Check out Canvas Canopies

No matter what size area you're trying to shade, there are canvas canopies that'll help make it happen. You can find canopies that fit over frames, canopies that get attached to the sides of homes, and even sail canopies that can be strung up from tree to tree or post to post to shade a very large area.

As you shop for the canopies that you'll use around your property, try to choose products that will be easy for you to maintain. Some products require you to apply special products to protect them from sun and moisture damage, while others are made to withstand the abuse without any treatment whatsoever — you'll just need to give it a cleaning with a hose every now and then.

Build a Pergola

Pergolas can provide more than enough shade to keep a patio area cool. What's great about pergolas is that you can design them to fit just about any space and you can get very creative with the design.

One thing that many people are doing these days is building a pergola and hanging porch swings from it. It creates a great conversation seating area for when you're entertaining and a calming, enjoyable place to relax with a glass of wine after a long day at work.

Tip: You can have a canvas canopy made to cover the pergola during the hottest summer months. This canopy can be removed and stored for the winter and when the temperatures drop to a comfortable enough level to not need the extra shade.

Invest in a Pavilion

Pavilions are great multipurpose structures that can provide you with the shady area you need to enjoy time with friends and family, work on your car, or let the kids splash around in a pool or sandbox. Just about anything that you can do outdoors, you can do under a pavilion.

Just because it's hot out there doesn't mean you have to stay indoors — just find a few areas on your property and add some shade. Get out there and enjoy the fresh air while you can, and before you know it, the snow will be falling and you'll be cuddled up beside a fireplace sipping cocoa.

For more information on canopies, contact a company like Evans Awning.