With the increase of terraced housing and apartments in cities, and many urban newbuild properties sized a fraction of the once common quarter acre section, urban outdoor living spaces can be relatively small. The need for protection from the sun’s fierce heat is as important for those enjoying small outdoor living spaces as large outdoor spaces; however, shade solutions for smaller spaces can present unique challenges.
Some small spaces may suggest a fixed shade solution such as a louvre roof or small shade sail is the best solution. However, permanent shade can be unwelcome, blocking winter sunlight and creating cold or damp conditions that affect the comfort and ambience the space might otherwise provide. One of the benefits of an outdoor umbrella is its versatility and ease of use; umbrellas can be moved with the sun or closed to let light in. In addition, permanent solutions frequently require permits and builder installation, where an outdoor umbrella does not.
The sun rising in the east and sinking towards the west falls at a low angle that a fixed shade sail or louvered roof or even a level umbrella canopy can’t screen. Elevated patios and apartment balconies can be especially vulnerable to low-slanting sunlight. A tilting umbrella is an ideal solution, offering versatile all-day protection. Shade7’s Venice Tilt with its 2.6m octagonal canopy is in high demand for small spaces impacted by low sun. The level umbrella can be moved if required to screen the sun when it is overhead, and morning or late afternoon low sun can be screened by tilting the umbrella canopy.
If foot space is at a premium and even the base of a small centre pole umbrella seems too intrusive, a popular alternative to the Shade7 Venice Tilt 2.6 is the Shade7 Paraflex tilting wall-mounted umbrella. Of the two available sizes (3m and 2.7m hexagonal) the 2.7m is the most popular size for a small, sheltered patio. With the wall-mounted bracket on the house exterior and the umbrella arm passing overhead towards the sun, the canopy can be moved in a wide arc to follow the sun and tilted forward for additional protection throughout the day.
Another shade option for small spaces that is sometimes overlooked is a cantilever umbrella. Although it can seem that a cantilever umbrella might be too big for a small space, with the cantilever umbrella mast off to the side, the valuable shaded area under the canopy is entirely free for use and enjoyment thereby making the most of the space. One useful advantage of an octagonal-shaped cantilever umbrella is that without the arms of a square umbrella extending either side of the mast, the mast of an octagonal cantilever umbrella can nestle into deck edges out of the way. Where a deck is narrower than the canopy, if the umbrella mast is installed at the outer edge of the deck, a Shade7 Riviera canopy can be rotated over the balustrade, creating even more shade for a small space. Shade7’s Riviera cantilever umbrellas also tilt, with the edge of the canopy closest to the mast sliding down, creating a vast shield. Installing the Riviera with its back towards the low sun and tilting the canopy will allow the space to be used many hours more than the scorching late sun would have otherwise allowed.
A premium Shade7 outdoor umbrella in a small space creates ambience and style as well as a sheltered haven. For expert advice on possible shade solutions for your own treasured outdoor space, contact the experienced team at Shade7 and find out if you can transform your seldom-used small outdoor space into a beautiful and useful urban oasis.
