Knowing that a Shade7 umbrella will transform your outdoor space is the start of a wonderful journey to fabulous resort-style living you can enjoy year-round. Strong and beautiful, Shade7 outdoor umbrellas elevate any location while making it possible for you and your family and friends to truly enjoy your sun-drenched spaces. Another wonderful aspect of these versatile umbrellas is that you can shelter under them on drizzly wet days, close them to let the sunshine in on cold winter days, or tilt and rotate them as the hot sun moves across the sky.
The decision to get a Shade7 umbrella is often followed by other questions:
- What kind of sun umbrella should I get – cantilever or market umbrella?
- What colour is best? Are dark colours hotter than light colours?
- And – what shape umbrella is best? Or in other words, is a round umbrella better than a square umbrella?
The most popular umbrella shape is round, or rather, octagonal. With its eight even-length arms, it is essentially round. This classic shape goes back in history, for example, parasols in Imperial China and Victorian England. Although walking with parasols isn’t as common as it once was, we are all familiar with the wet-weather equivalent.
The second shape, a contemporary offering in the world of outdoor umbrellas, is square. Architecturally stylish, this umbrella makes a bold statement and offers generous amounts of shade. This pleasing alignment is in play until the umbrella is rotated. If you plan to rotate your umbrella, bear this in mind.
So how do you decide if yours is the right setting for a square umbrella? Or a round umbrella? Which offers more shade? Which looks best? Here are some of the main features and aspects of both these shapes.
Boatshed Bakery branded Venice 1.9, photo by Bri Woolnough
The most striking thing about square umbrellas is their visual impact. Long straight edges give square umbrellas an undeniably architectural flavour. They look especially striking side by side or facing each other, a layout popular with cafes and bistros such as Columbus Coffee Sylvia Park. And a square umbrella aligned with the straight lines of outdoor spaces is sleek and stunning.
Style is not the only benefit of the square umbrella. Square umbrellas fill out corners that circles (octagonal) obviously can’t. For example, considering umbrellas of the same width, a 3m octagonal gives 6.4m2 of shade, while a 3m square umbrella gives 9m2 of shade; something to consider if shelter from sun (and also rain if the umbrella is a Shade7 outdoor umbrella) is the primary outcome.
With these undeniable benefits, is there any reason apart from personal preference why a square umbrella might not be the right umbrella for your space? Yes, there is.
One of the biggest considerations with a square cantilever umbrella is how the corner arms will impact your use of the umbrella. Will they potentially be too long to rotate the umbrella without hitting walls, for example? If the deck is long but narrow, in most cases a square cantilever umbrella would have to be installed sideways facing along the length of the deck to prevent the corners hitting the house, which isn’t always the best use of the umbrella. In contrast, an octagonal shape, having no corners, can comfortably sit at an angle on a narrow deck and look very intentional.
Riviera Premium 3.5 octagonal on narrow deck Piha
Also note how near the ground the long corner arms will be when the umbrella is closed. Will you need to move furniture each time you close the umbrella? Is this sustainable for your situation? For example, a 3m square Milan umbrella doesn’t close over a table – the table will be 750mm high, with the umbrella arms just 530mm above the ground when closed. You will need to remove the umbrella every time to close it. However, a 3.5 octagonal umbrella can be left in the table at all times as the arms close 850mm above the ground, clearing the 750mm table nicely.
3.5 octagonal Milan clears standard able heights
As tempting as it is to leave strong umbrellas open day after day, week after week, the fact is, they are an umbrella, not a house, and catch capricious and violent wind gusts in the way a boat’s sail would. With no way to move with the wind like a boat would, sometimes the outcome could be damage to the umbrella or surrounding objects or even buildings. It is better to close outdoor umbrellas when they are not in use, so considering ground clearance is important – particularly so with a square umbrella. Shade7 shares all umbrella specifications on their website and downloadable brochures so you can be sure..
Curbside Bagels Venice 2.6 octagonal straight valances
So what are the benefits of round (octagonal) umbrellas? The classic octagonal shape has traditional charm and elegance. Due to having no corners, octagonal umbrellas are more versatile. No matter the shape of the outdoor space, a circle looks good with straight lines, curved lines, or even no lines such as a park or garden setting, making designing outdoor aesthetics a breeze. And when rotating the umbrella, those missing corners, while costing you some shade, will make rotation easier in a confined space while keeping the feeling of symmetry – the octagonal canopy will always look ‘right’ whatever the angle.
Custom yellow white striped Riviera Cantilever and Milan Centre Pole
Shade7 Riviera cantilever umbrellas and Venice and Milan centre pole umbrellas are strong, designed and engineered for New Zealand coastal conditions. Wind-ratings across the range for open and level umbrellas are all high. Octagonal umbrellas with their shorter even-length arms, have a slightly higher wind rating than a square umbrella of the same width. For example, a 3.5 octagonal Riviera is wind-rated to 60kph, and a 3.0m square is wind-rated to 50kph.
When choosing the right shape for your outdoor area, in addition to personal preference, consider how much shade is needed, the lines of the setting, the room to close and rotate, and exposure to wind. If you choose a cantilever umbrella, this article Where should I install my cantilever umbrella? can help with identifying the best location.
For advice on any of these aspects in your unique outdoor space, please contact the experienced staff at Shade7.
