Patio umbrellas offer far more advantages than what meets the eye. Although most people consider these umbrellas to be for aesthetics only, patio umbrellas offer additional shade and privacy. Patio umbrellas can be used in both residential and commercial spaces. With a variety of styles, sizes and materials, residential homeowners and commercial business owners can choose the very best sunshade for their property.

Residential umbrellas are sunshades that are used in residential settings such as homes and condos. They are used to shield out rain, wind and sunlight. With their flexible statures and easy-to-maneuver designs, it’s easy to tilt residential umbrellas in various directions in order to better keep out sun rays, direct light and gusts of wind. The larger the umbrella, the better, as it offers a large platform of protection.

Residential umbrellas are not only used to block out various weather conditions, but also to create a more comfortable space. Since many umbrellas are small in size and need to be moved around as the sun shifts throughout the day, people find small umbrellas to be more of hassle. Fortunately, when choosing large residential umbrellas, it’s easy to have the perfect balance of shade, aesthetic appeal and comfort.

Many people choose off-set umbrellas that can be placed anywhere. Off-set umbrellas are unlike other types of sunshades, as they do not need to be placed through a center hole in a patio table because the pole is not in the center of the canopy. Instead, the pole is off to the side, making these umbrellas ideal for such places as public swimming pools and outdoor bistros. More importantly is that with off-set umbrellas, there is more room to sit, relax and dine.

When shopping for commercial umbrellas, businesses also find market umbrellas to be useful. These sunshades were first used in outdoor cafes and markets. They don’t have a fancy skirt that many other commercial umbrellas have, giving market umbrellas their sleek, distinct appearance. Furthermore, market umbrellas have a vent at the top of the design that allows wind to escape and prevent the piece from blowing away. With this streamlined design, market umbrellas are a top choice for outdoor restaurants, cafés and bistros.

Today’s patio umbrellas are built strong and sturdy, many with steel or wood reinforcements. It’s important to choose commercial umbrellas that have durable fabrics such as nylon, canvas or plastic. Many of these materials can also be made to block out the sun’s harmful rays. Not only are these umbrellas safer for the family, but also they keep the temperature cool and comfortable so that the outdoors can be enjoyed for longer periods of time.