For homeowners who want a shady patio with a clear view of the backyard, retractable awnings are a natural fit. You can settle into your favorite chair during the sunniest hours and enjoy the scenery. When you’re ready for an open sky, the awning retracts into its integrated housing at the press of a button.
Here’s how retractable awnings compare with other popular shade options:
Keep reading for a closer look at each option and tips for adding shade while preserving your view.
Retractable Awnings Make Room for Shade and Scenery
For a patio overlooking the city or facing the mountains, shade should feel like an extension of the house. A retractable awning mounts above the seating area, leaving the space between your chair and the horizon open.
Its folding arms support the canopy from the house, keeping a pole out of the middle of your outlook. That also leaves the space along the patio’s edge available for seating, so you can arrange your chairs around the view.
With our motorized retractable awnings, you can change the coverage without getting up from the table. As sunlight reaches the tabletop, extend the canopy to keep lunch in the shade.
Other Ways to Add Shade While Keeping the View
For seating away from the house, a freestanding retractable awning can bring the same flexibility farther into your backyard. The options below also offer overhead coverage, though their supports may affect your view.
Cantilever Umbrellas for a Poolside Seat
A cantilever umbrella can shade a pair of loungers overlooking the water. Its pole sits to one side rather than between the chairs, letting the canopy reach over your seating area. Some models tilt or rotate to follow the afternoon sun.
That offset design keeps the pole out of the center, but it needs a substantial base to support the canopy. Before buying, compare the base dimensions with the space beside your furniture, leaving room to walk around it. Getting the placement right matters because a heavy base can be difficult to move once it’s set up.
Even with the canopy folded, the umbrella remains a noticeable part of the patio. If it sits within your main view, its bulk can stay distracting long after you’ve finished using the shade.
Shade Sails for a Light, Airy Patio
A shade sail brings a relaxed feel to a patio, with fabric stretched overhead between secure anchor points. Positioned thoughtfully, it can leave a wide opening toward a distant skyline.
Keeping that opening clear takes some planning. You may need additional posts if suitable anchors aren’t already available, and a low-hanging corner can cross the view from your lounge chair. The attachment points also need to support the tension of the fabric.
Fabric quality varies between suppliers, so check the manufacturer’s fade-resistance information. A sail that looks beautiful when first installed may lose color over time with regular sun exposure.
Wind adds another consideration. A shade sail stays stretched between its anchors until you take it down, which can make preparing for strong winds more involved. A motorized awning can be pulled in from the remote before rough weather arrives, and an optional wind sensor does it automatically when strong gusts are detected.
Open-Sided Pergolas for an Outdoor Dining Space
With its open sides and permanent framework, a pergola gives an outdoor dining area the feel of a room overlooking the landscape. Posts placed at the patio’s corners can frame a distant view beautifully.
That permanent framework does become part of the backdrop, though. Check the proposed post locations from your usual chair, since a support that looks well placed from the back door may sit in front of the sunset once you’re seated.
The gaps between the roof slats let sunlight through, so parts of the table may still be in direct sun during a meal. Fuller shade often requires an added canopy. Even when that fabric is drawn back, the beams remain overhead, making a pergola a better fit for homeowners who prefer a permanent outdoor room.
Stay for the Sunset With Marygrove
You head onto the patio with a book, hoping to spend an hour looking out over the hills. Before long, the sun has you shifting your chair to find a little shade. Eventually, you gather your things and go back inside.
A Marygrove motorized retractable awning makes it easier to stay. Settle into the shade with the horizon still in sight, then draw the canopy back as the afternoon turns to evening. Your quick break outside can stretch into dinner with a sunset view.
Schedule your free in-home consultation to explore a retractable awning for your patio.
David Tavidian
David Tavidian is the Vice President of Sales at Marygrove Awnings, leading a team of over 50 sales professionals across 22 states. His expertise in retractable awnings and shading solutions ensures homeowners and businesses receive high-quality, durable products tailored to their needs. When not helping customers find the perfect awning for their backyard application David enjoys spending time with his family, debating the finer aspects of life, creating art, and relaxing under a Marygrove awning during a light rain.
Favorite Marygrove Awning - Cafe Black with Bronze Frame.
