Shade Sails

Ever been to a riverside cafe, or a chic pavilion area in a public park, and seen those lovely overlapping triangle things that give shade to the patrons?  They’re called shade sails, and they can be just the thing to add a touch of class to a garden or outdoor area this summer.

Shade sails aren’t just for large public areas – they can be made in any shape and size, to fit any space.  Shade sails can be static, moveable, or collapsible; they can be installed singly or as a set; and they can be used to provide privacy, cool spaces and even roofing areas for outdoor “rooms”. 

With the UK desperate for some BBQ weather, and the British summer destined as ever to be a bit of a mixed bag, shade sails can present the perfect solution.  Arranging shade sails over an outdoor furniture set creates a stylish “roof”, effectively making an outdoor dining area protected from both rain and sun.  Evening dinner parties under shade sails are a wonderful alternative to a traditional indoor meal – string the poles of the shade sails with lights, serve a light alfresco dish and relax in the evening air.

Single shade sails provide the ideal outdoor “hidey hole”, where a person can relax with a paper or a book, sip a cooling drink at the cocktail hour or just retreat for a while from the cares of everyday life.  With protection from harmful rays (shade sails are made of a treated cloth that bans up to 98% of UV), sudden showers and falling leaves, a deckchair in the garden suddenly becomes an all-weather experience.  Shade sails can even make it nice to sit out and watch the summer rain!

Shade sails, unlike gazebos or parasols, have a modern look that can enhance one’s outdoor areas in itself.  Single shade sails, or overlapping stands of shade sails, make beautiful “architectural” shapes, seemingly floating above the greens and blooms of a garden.  With their clean lines and contemporary shapes, shade sails extend the shapes of a building into outside spaces, blurring the distinction between house and garden to create a more organic look and feel. 

Shade sails can be purchased “off the peg”, in large ranges of pre-fabricated shapes and sizes:  or made to order.  Custom shade sails are designed and installed with specific locations and purposes in mind – so if that garden party sounds like an ideal way of spending a summer Sunday, start taking down measurements.  With the right shade sails installed, this year could really be a proper summer!