Global Gardening

A good outdoor room should be usable on a hot afternoon as well as a mild evening. That comes down to planning shade before you buy furniture. A few early decisions make the space far more comfortable.

Shade also protects your skin, which matters in an Australian summer. This guide covers where to put shade, what to build it from and how to avoid the common mistakes. Rules for structures vary by council and state, so check before you build.

Watch the sun before you plan

Spend a day watching where the sun falls on your yard. Note which areas get hit by the afternoon sun. Take a few photos so you can compare the morning and the afternoon.

That matters because you may want shade in summer and sunlight in winter. Adjustable covers can handle both. A fixed roof gives shade all year.

Think about how you will use the space as well. A dining table needs different cover from a daybed. Our piece on outdoor living and psychology is a good place to think about this. Lay out the zones on paper first, then test them in the yard.

Combine natural and built shade

Cancer Council NSW explains that combining natural shade with built shade gives the highest quality sun protection from ultraviolet radiation. Its guide to high quality shade says good shade design looks at climate, comfort and UV reduction together. That is a handy checklist for a home project.

Built shade works straight away. Natural shade takes time to grow. Many people put up a pergola or sail first and plant trees to take over later.

Trees

SunSmart says trees with dense foliage that cast even patches of shade are the best natural option. Choose a species that suits your soil and climate, and check how large it will grow. Keep roots away from paving, pipes and the house footings. Plan the tree as part of the whole garden rather than as an afterthought.

Pergolas, sails and umbrellas

Each option has trade offs. A solid roof gives dependable cover but costs more and may need approval. A shade sail is cheaper and quicker to put up but needs strong, well anchored posts.

Umbrellas are the easiest to move. The Cancer Council advice on picking the right shade notes that umbrellas offer only limited protection and may be unstable in wind. Treat them as a top up for natural or built shade, not the main cover.

Choose the right cover

Not all shade fabric performs the same way. Cancer Council says dark, close weave, heavy fabric blocks or absorbs more UV radiation. It also advises looking for a stated UPF rating or percentage and buying good quality cloth.

Ask the supplier for the rating in writing. Avoid products that give no figure at all. A cheap cover that fades and sags will not protect you for long. Compare two or three products side by side before you buy.

Size matters too. Make the cover large enough that the shade still reaches your seats when the sun moves. Check this at different times of day before you fix anything in place.

Deal with reflected UV and hard surfaces

Shade does not remove all UV. Cancer Council NSW says well designed shade can reduce UV exposure by up to 75 per cent. It also notes that UV reflected from surrounding surfaces can still reach people under the cover.

SunSmart lists water, sand and concrete as surfaces that bounce UV. Cancer Council NSW says rough or soft surfaces such as brick pavers and grass reflect less UV than hard, smooth surfaces such as concrete. That is a useful point when you choose flooring.

Side barriers also help. The same Cancer Council page suggests vertical screening with plants or trellises to block UV that arrives at a low angle. Hedges and climbers can do this job and look good as well.

Keep sun protection simple

Shade is one layer, not the whole plan. SunSmart says shade adds protection on top of clothing, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen and does not replace them. The SunSmart guide to protecting your skin says to cover up whenever the UV Index reaches 3 or above, and to keep using a hat, sunglasses, clothing and sunscreen in the shade.

Keep a hat and a bottle of sunscreen near the back door. Small habits like that make a shaded space safer to use. Put sunglasses in the same spot so guests can find them too.

Plan the layout around the shade

Start with the spot where people will sit for the longest. Place the dining table or the lounge there first. Then work out how the cover, the plants and the paths fit around it.

Check the shade at several times of day, not just at noon. A sail that covers the table at lunch may leave the seats in full sun by four o’clock. Mark the outline on the ground with rope or chalk before you commit. Our look at landscape design trends may give you ideas for overall style.

Leave room to walk around furniture and to pull chairs out. A cramped shaded area gets used less than a roomy one. Keep paths clear so the space feels open and easy to reach.

Think about the whole yard

A shaded area works best when it connects to the rest of the garden. Place it near the kitchen or the back door so you actually use it. Plan paths, lighting and plants around it. A shaded area that sits far from the house tends to be forgotten.

If you have a pool, shade near the water matters. Our look at the advantages and disadvantages of having a pool covers the wider trade offs. Hiring help? These questions to ask your landscaper are worth reading first.

Frequently asked questions

Does shade block all UV radiation?

No. Cancer Council NSW says well designed shade can reduce UV exposure by up to 75 per cent. Reflected UV can still reach you, so keep wearing a hat and sunscreen.

What is the best natural shade?

SunSmart says trees with dense foliage that cast even patches of shade are the best natural option. Pick a species that suits your local climate.

Which shade cloth should I buy?

Look for a stated UPF rating or percentage. Cancer Council says dark, close weave, heavy fabric blocks or absorbs more UV. It also says umbrellas give only limited protection.

Do I need approval for a pergola?

It depends on your council and state. Check with your local council before you build anything permanent.

This article is general information only and is not medical advice. Check your local requirements with your council and a qualified builder. Speak with a doctor or qualified health professional about sun protection for your own situation.