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November 26, 2021

10 Simple Ways to Create Shade Over Your Deck

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There are few places in your home more comfortable than your back deck. It's the place where you spend the morning with a cup of coffee and a good book or spend the evening barbecuing and entertaining friends. But if your deck is wide open, the sun's rays can shine down so brightly that it's hard to see the words on the page or when to flip over those burgers. Luckily, there are many simple and stylish ways to create shade over this beloved outdoor space.

Retractable Awning

If you want shade just some of the time, consider installing a retractable awning. This motorized barrier comes down when it's sunny and bright, and you can push it back out of sight when it's dark or you want to work on your tan.

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Sheer Fabric

Hanging sheer fabric around your deck blocks out major glare but still lets a bit of light shine in from the sun. Get creative with your favorite colors and patterns. The fabric will also make your deck feel a bit softer and cozier.

Plants

Create an all-natural shady spot by adding a bit of Mother Nature. You'll need some sort of structure in place to hold the plants. You can build it yourself or look for something at your local garden shop or home goods store. Whatever you choose, it should either hold hanging baskets or have enough pieces that ivy, wisteria, roses and other climbing plants can make their way up its sides. A vertical garden also works.

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Pergola

You can build a pergola yourself, purchase a kit from a home goods store or garden shop or have someone install one for you. Either way, it's a great way to provide a little shade to your deck. For additional shade, drape it with sheets or fabric, or allow ivy or another climbing plant to grow up the sides.

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Shade Sail

Sails aren't just for sailboats. Shade sails, which are sails used to create shade in residential and commercial spaces, are great for decks and patios. You secure them with rope or twine and poles that stick right into the ground, and they form a sail-shaped barrier between you and the sun.

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Curtains

Outdoor curtains are always an option, and they're available at most places where you buy home and garden supplies. Alternatively, you can use canvas tarps, as they are weatherproof, and many of them are attractive enough to double as curtains.

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Tiki Hut

If you dream of a beachside bar in the Caribbean, bring that feeling of paradise home — and add some shade — with a tiki hut-style thatched roof. You can make it as elaborate or as simple as you want, but don't be surprised when you want to spend all of your days out on the deck, pretending you're in the Bahamas.

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Trees

Many people don't like the idea of adding an actual structure to their deck for shade. If that's the case, let Mother Nature do the work for you. Plant a tree by your deck. You may have to wait a few years for it to grow to its maximum shade potential, but if you're planning to stay in the home for a long time, it's worth the wait.

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Umbrella

A large patio or beach umbrella sitting in the right spot can feel like a roof on top of your deck. It manages to create shade without making you feel like walls are closing in the space. And you can simply put the umbrella away when you want the sun to shine on you. It can also become a stylish part of your outdoor dining or sitting area decor.

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Shades

Many of the options mentioned so far protect you from sun that is directly overhead, but only a few of them can keep the rays from seeping into the sides of your deck. If this is an issue, you may want to install outdoor shades that you can pull up and down as needed. You can attach them to a pergola, poles and many other types of structures.