Pool Shade Ideas: Ways to Cover Your Swimming Pool

For those who don’t want to shade the pool itself but still want a refuge from the sun, a shade pergola can be a good option. You can erect one right next to a pool, placing lounge chairs and other outdoor accessories under it to create a relaxing enclave. Enjoy as much sun as you like on the water, then retreat to this comfortable and shady spot to enjoy conversation, relaxation, and even drinks with family and friends.

Whether you are looking for a lightweight answer such as a shade sail or a more permanent option such as a pergola, you have a wide array of options available to you today. Look for shade options that use the latest technology in terms of material, so that you get the greatest value and a shade solution that protects you from harmful UV rays well into the future.

A pergola can provide ambient shade with just the right amount of filtered light over a pool. Placing a pergola over one end of a pool can also create a great, visual centerpiece.

Sometimes the traditional answers are the best. Freestanding umbrellas, such as the ones that have provided shade by pools for decades now, are a great option for those who want flexible and moveable shade. An umbrella placed on the side of the pool can provide a modicum of shade for those in the water and out and homeowners can place them wherever they like, adjusting them with the movement of the sun throughout the day. The downside is they look unseemly when closed.

Freestanding retractable canopies add a sleek, modern look as a poolside shade solution. The two-post system pairs a retractable canopy with a commercial-grade aluminum frame. This design allows the system to be installed over or next to the pool, providing rain and sun protection where and when needed. Adding to its flexibility, the freestanding canopy gives homeowners the option of retracting the shade on either side, leaving it even partially opened or closed.