Cheap Outdoor Shades

Rig a Sail

• Shade a patio or seating area with a piece of weather-hardy fabric as an inexpensive alternative to aluminum, fiberglass or wood structures. Shade sails are lightweight and can be tailored to fit odd-sized spaces as well as traditional ones. Canvas, rip-stop nylon and fabrics made for camping or outdoor sports make good shade sails. The simplest installation strategy is to tie the sail corners with nylon cord, which can be anchored to trees, tall aluminum poles, porch railings or other building trim. In areas with frequent summer storms, reinforced seams, grommets and the cabling hardware used on sailboats provides stronger anchorage. Patio and garden centers in your area may carry prefabricated shades.

Hang Curtains

• A covered porch may still have considerable sun exposure not shaded by its roof. While wood blinds or plantation shutters usually involve custom-fitting and a big budget, simple curtains or bamboo-style roll-shades can be equally effective at a much lower cost. For simple, rod-pocket curtains, inexpensive muslin fabric can usually be found in wide widths. Another source of lower-priced yardage is bed-sheets on sale. Rope or chain tiebacks save the expense of complicated hardware.

Blinds

• Check discount stores and seasonal displays for inexpensive bamboo roll-shades. Some are made of natural bamboo while others may be vinyl. Shades usually come with hanging hardware attached, and you can often trim down the width by several inches with scissors.

Build a Trellis Screen

• Prefabricated wood or resin trellis panels can make creating shade structures easy. Hung on short pieces of chain from the roof of a covered porch, trellis can filter glaring sunlight like curtains. Mounted on a free-standing frame or anchored to an existing fence, trellis panels screen light and enhance outdoor privacy. For even better and more beautiful shade, grow a blooming perennial vine on the trellis; a deciduous, flowering perennial vine will lose its leaves in winter, letting the less-blazing winter sun warm your porch or patio.