One of the easiest ways to do up your outdoor space inexpensively is with the patio umbrella. More particularly for larger areas, the patio umbrella is both practical and pretty and helps decorate the area by:

– Providing shade in sun and rain. Whether it is guarding you from harmful ultra-violet rays or droplets of rain, this is one way to stay cool, dry and comfy in less-than-perfect weather conditions. You can then enjoy the view without compromising on your comfort.

– Securing privacy. In a commercial setting like a popular seaside restaurant, it may be difficult to have a decent conversation without being overheard by someone at the next table. In cases like these, the patio umbrella serves as more than just shelter – it also gives a sense of privacy to diners by setting a boundary for each person’s personal space.

– Brightening up the decor. A brightly designed outdoor umbrella is great because it makes the whole area look happier and more cheerful instantly. Pool sides especially, often need a spot of colour to be appealing. Happy-looking bright yellow umbrellas will really cheer you up when you head down to the pool for a little downtime. Alternatively, sea blue umbrellas will give you a sense of peace and tranquility, while providing that burst of colour.

If you are intending to make use of the outdoor umbrella as part of your decor, know your options. There are a few basic types of umbrellas to consider:

– The conventional outdoor umbrella is the more common one you can see almost everywhere. Freestanding with a stand in the middle, this is a patio umbrella that is accessible and the most affordable.

– The offset umbrella is a more contemporary modification of the original. It has a stand that is not always immediately visible such as being held up on the sides of a building, on the wall, protruding from the side like a slanted lamp shade or hanging down from the ceiling. These are very useful in spaces that have limitations of space; an al-fresco restaurant, for instance, may not have enough room for freestanding outdoor umbrellas at each table but having one hanging from the walls helps to eliminate space wastage.

– The tilt umbrella is yet another modern modification of the conventional umbrella. Just like its name, it is an umbrella that can be tilted up to 45 degrees in any direction. This ability to tilt comes in useful during specific times in the day when the sun may be at a particular spot that is too glaring. Having a tilt umbrella means you can still enjoy your seat outside at any time of the day without having to shift every time the sun does.

Whichever type you choose in the end, you will have to follow some general rules of thumb. When putting up an outdoor umbrella, an accurate measurement must be made to make sure it can fit into the space that is available. Many an overly enthusiastic property owner has bemoaned the waste of money on umbrellas that were either too large or small for their space.

An umbrella that is too large will, naturally, make your space look very constrained – as if the umbrella was trying to squeeze into the space or fairly exploding out of it. You know the space is too small if the umbrella’s canvas is creased into corners or cannot open to its full capacity unless by force. On the other hand, an outdoor umbrella that is too small will look plain silly, like someone wearing a shirt or dress that is too large – there are way too many gaps to fill up. And filling up those gaps with extra accessories is not the answer, either because you may just end up cluttering up your space.

Sometimes, it is not a case of an umbrella that is too big or small, but too many or few. This is a balance that needs some skill in perfecting, especially in commercial areas, where more than one umbrella is usually used. Too many umbrellas will not just block out whatever sunlight there is but will make it look like a marketplace; and indeed, without sunlight, why the open space at all? Having umbrellas too sparsely, unfortunately, will make it look incomplete, like you are still working on your decor.

Author Bio: Article by Kenny Leichester of PatioShoppers.com, a website with the best commercial umbrellas and wood outdoor furniture information on the web.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: patio umbrellas, offset umbrellas, aluminum umbrella