Design Your Patio to Take Advantage of Your Awning

An awning that extends over your patio is an excellent way to make the space more usable no matter the time of day. Typically, you'll choose between retractable and stationary awnings. With stationary awnings, you should your patio layout to maximize the protection this awning offers. However, a good plan helps with retractable awnings, too.

Unless you plan to sunbathe, you'll probably want your seating to be in the shade. Whichever style of awning you choose, try to plan out the shadiest spot. Think about which times of day you'll use the patio, and see how the light will slant under the awning. You may end up devising vertical shade as well. For instance, you can add a screen to your awning to prevent angled sunlight. Consider also the different types of activities. For example, you may only dine outdoors in the evening. So, your table can be closer to the edge of the patio. Conversely, if you envision midday barbecues, you'll want to place your furniture in a shadier spot. Likewise, think about how much sun you'll want while you entertain, such as during the weekend barbecue. Think, too, about making an outdoor lounge area. This area can consist of portable seating or even hammocks. You'll want to include some small tables for setting drinks or devices down. You may even include a fountain to create a peaceful ambience with the sound of water. This type of activity probably deserves your shadiest spot.

A patio activity that deserves its own consideration is soaking in the hot tub. The patio is a popular spot for placing hot tubs. Homeowners love to soak in hot water under the stars. However, such soaking is less fun in the blazing heat of the full sun. A hot tub might be good for a transitional area, meaning an area that's partially exposed, such as the edge of a fixed awning. If you have a retractable awning, you'll also want to place it near the edge of the awning's perimeter. That way, when you want to expose your bathing to the sky, you only have to retract the awning a little bit. With a hot tub, you do want to limit your exposure to prying eyes. An awning screen can help shield your bathing from the neighbors' view. Some homeowners favor a lattice or folding screen.

An awning won't create great wells of darkness on your patio. However, the point of said awning is to shield you from the sun - thus eliminating a lot of the natural light. To that end, you'll want to incorporate some artificial illumination into your patio design. Again, identify the shadiest areas of your patio when the awning is in place. If those areas are for tasks such as food preparation, you'll want to add task lighting to the area. You may install sconces right to a wall since shady areas are likely to be near the house. You can also plan for temporary lighting. For instance, a stationary awning makes an ideal framework for hanging string lights. Table lanterns are also a mainstay of shaded patios.

Going back to the perimeter of your shaded patio, you'll want to plan out your landscaping. For instance, if you have planters acting as the unofficial border of your patio, make sure the plants are able to tolerate partial shade for when they're under the awning. You can also utilize perimeter landscaping to help add shade or privacy. For instance, consider planting fragrant shrubs or climbers at the base of a lattice. Their foliage can shield you from slanting sun or curious eyes. Just make sure they can tolerate any shade that might come from the awning. Plan the layout of your patio so you can get the best advantages of your awning. Let Sunstate Awning provide the awning for your shaded patio.