Shade can be an important part of comfort when you spend time outdoors in your St. John, IN, and Manhattan, IL Areas backyard. If you love your landscape design but want to add a shade feature or two, this addition can let you stay outside longer without the direct sun overheating the space. Here are two shade features that add more beauty and function to your landscape.
Outdoor Pavilions
Pavilions deliver full shade beneath the structure where you can spend time outside but not in the direct sun. In general, pavilions tend to be larger structures that can accommodate more outdoor seating underneath because the roof stabilizes the structure.
You can express your style with an outdoor pavilion design. The ceiling can have exposed beams below and the roof can have classic roofing shingles, metal, or wood shingles. The hefty wood posts that hold up the pavilion can increase visual interest and connect it to the natural surroundings.
You can opt to have pavers on the floor surface since they are durable and stain-resistant, offering a long-lasting surface that can stand up to heavy use. Depending on the pavilion design, you can use this space for birthday parties, additional seating for holiday hosting, and family game nights.
Outdoor Kitchen and Bathroom
A pavilion can be the ideal spot to add an outdoor kitchen and bathroom since it lends itself to outdoor living features. This multi-purpose space can hold outdoor furniture in seating groups or several table and chair combinations for outdoor dining when needed. Having a bathroom as part of the pavilion can help you keep guests outside during parties and other activities. This can be a phenomenal outdoor shade structure that so much to the backyard beauty and useable space.
Outdoor Pergolas
A pergola is another shade structure that can take your backyard landscape from good to great. It, too, is built of wood with hefty wood posts but the roof over top has a slat or beam design where you can choose how much sunlight filters through.
Pergolas can be a simple design or more elaborate with many decorative details. It can be common to see pergolas with corbels and other custom wood details.
The wood posts can anchor directly to the floor of the area where you need shade such as the outdoor kitchen or main patio area or you can opt for stone pillars as the anchor for the posts. You might want to incorporate planters as part of the base design so you can plant climbing roses and flowering vines that trail upward on the posts and grow over the top. in the spring and summer, the blooms can spill through the slats above to create a floral wonderland overhead.
A pergola can be perfect to add over an outdoor living area where you want shade but not complete blocking of the sunshine. Consider adding a pergola to the patio, outdoor fire area, or outdoor kitchen for more comfort and style without all the direct sun on your back.
A pergola or pavilion can be a wonderful change to any outdoor space where you want to enjoy more time outside in the summer sun.
Related: 4 LANDSCAPE DESIGN TIPS TO TRANSFORM YOUR MANHATTAN, IL AREA BACKYARD INTO A RETREAT
