7 Deck Shade Options: Pergolas, Awnings, and More

North Carolina is known for its year-round picturesque scenery. But, sometimes, extreme temperatures and unexpected rain or snow can make the great outdoors feel, well, not so great. 

Thankfully, there are many solutions for how to shade your deck. Each option has distinct advantages and disadvantages. You’ll also need to think about time and money-related constraints.

With so many options to consider, including pergolas or awnings for deck shade, what’s right for you? Let Charlotte Deck Builders walk you through the most popular deck shade options.

1. Gazebos

A gazebo adds a major touch of class to any deck. This freestanding structure features open sides and a covered roof. The word gazebo might sound unfamiliar. However, you’ve likely seen gazebos if you spend any time at public parks or gardens.

Gazebos are deck shade options typically constructed in an octagonal (eight sides) or hexagonal (six sides) shape. They also feature domed or pitched roofs, which look stunning while also offering shade and protection from rain or snow.

Like pergolas or pavilions, customization options are seemingly endless with a new gazebo. One popular addition to a luxury gazebo is built-in seating. Having pre-built seating eliminates the need to move around bulky or heavy chairs.

Hot tub gazebos are one of the best deck shade ideas for homeowners wanting a warm place to spend during North Carolina’s sometimes bitterly cold winters.

2. Cantilever or Market Umbrellas

The fabric of umbrellas makes them great deck shade options. Deck umbrellas aren’t the ones you keep in your car’s backseat for a rainy day. Instead, they’re much larger and typically made from stronger materials than on-the-go umbrellas.

A cantilever umbrella is attached to a curved pole that connects to a weighted stand. The main advantage of cantilever umbrellas is that they’re somewhat easy to move around, ensuring you’re always under a shady space. Cantilever umbrellas are also available in a wealth of styles and colors.

Another option for shading your deck is buying a patio umbrella. Sometimes called a market umbrella, these shading solutions are typically built into outdoor tables.

3. Pergolas

Pergolas are typically built from wood, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or composite materials. A pergola’s design features a latticed ceiling or crossbeams. The structure of a pergola offers open walls, which makes it a breeze to place or move furniture below this deck shade option.

The versatility of a pergola makes it one of the best deck shade ideas. Some homeowners host gatherings under these structures. Others primarily want a pergola to add visual appeal to a deck or garden.

A drawback of pergolas is that they provide limited shade. However, that’s an easy problem to fix. Make your pergola even cooler and shadier with:

• Outdoor curtains
• Pergola covers
• Additional crossbeams
• Sail shades

Other popular ways to customize pergolas are with climbing and vining plants. Over time, these plants grow while providing additional shade on or around a pergola. Accentuate your outdoor space with plants popular throughout North Carolina, including clematis, honeysuckle, or Rangoon creeper.

4. Using Awnings for Deck Shade

Being in the shade is nice. But, sometimes, you may want to feel the North Carolina sun (or rain) hit your skin. In those situations, we recommend considering retractable awnings as viable deck shade options. 

As their name implies, these awnings can retract or extend. You operate some retractable awnings by using a hand crank. Other models offer push-button extendability and retractability.

The versatility of retractable awnings is ideal for North Carolina’s sometimes fast-changing climate. Awnings provide shade during a sunny summer day in North Carolina, rolling back to let you enjoy a summer evening’s cool breeze.

Retractable awnings are one of the least expensive and fastest ways to enjoy a shady deck. However, retractable awnings as deck shades aren’t meant for heavy rain, snow, or sleet. While strong, awnings can suffer damage if extended as storms or strong winds cross their path.

5. Pavilions

Charlotte, Monroe, Concord, and other surrounding areas in the Carolinas know that summers get extremely hot. In this part of the country, you’ll quickly feel the sun’s rays beating down on you. Beat the heat with the deck shade option known as a pavilion.

People understandably confuse pergolas with pavilions. They’re both some of the best deck shade ideas. The distinct feature separating a pavilion from a pergola involves their roofs. Pavilions have covered roofs, but pergolas don’t. 

But how do pavilions differ from gazebos? A gazebo typically has a domed, oval, or circular roof. The overall structure and roof atop a pavilion are long and rectangular.

The functionality of a pavilion makes it an ideal deck shade option for entertaining. Pavilions feature fully enclosed roofs. These roofs can block out the bright sun or keep guests dry during a sudden bout of rain North Carolinians know all too well.

6. Retractable Screens

As we all know, getting complete shade from unwanted sun and precipitation can be tricky. That’s why it’s also important to consider retractable screens as a deck shade option. 

Like retractable awning deck shades, retractable screens are easy to extend and retract. Retractable screens differ from awnings regarding where you place them. Instead of blocking out what’s above you, retractable screens stay on the sides of your deck.

Retractable screens can make your deck much more comfortable all year round, from sunny days to cold winter evenings.

7. Shading a Deck With Trees and Plants

If you have a green thumb or consider yourself an avid gardener, you can take a more natural approach to a shadier deck. Instead of awnings for deck shade, plants, and trees can also shade any outdoor space.

Are you unsure where to start when it comes to planting trees? Hybrid poplar, scarlet oak, and cottonwood trees are options that are native to the Carolinas while also providing excellent shade.

Understandably, you may want something easier to plant and faster to provide shade than what trees offer. In that case, we recommend planting hydrangea and azalea shrubs for additional shade and beautiful flowers. 

Whether you’re ready to update your yard or want to learn more about deck shade options, contact Charlotte Deck Builders. Our team of custom luxury hardscapers has over 15 years of experience working throughout Charlotte, NC, and the surrounding area. We specialize in using time-tested and professional construction techniques for built-to-last completed projects.