How to Keep Your Patio Cool in Summer?

Tips to Keep Your Patio Cool in Summer

Summer months are a wonderful time of year to enjoy the outdoors but sometimes that summer heat can be a little too much depending on where you are located or the time of the day.

There are several ways to keep your patio or porch cool. One of them is retractable screens (standard retractable screens, motorized screens, or large opening screens).

Why Does Your Patio Get Hot?

Patios get hot when they are facing a certain direction or in certain parts of the world. Some of the issues you could face are the following.

  • South facing patio
  • Dark surfaces
  • Aluminum that reflects the sun

If you have a space that gets far too hot to stand you may want to purchase some retractable screens such as motorized screens or large opening screens. Shade your space with a more opaque screen mesh to keep the sun at a minimum or go for an awning or pergola that can keep it more shaded.

12 Easy Patio Cooling Ideas

When summer heats up, your patio can quickly turn from a relaxing oasis to an uncomfortable space. But with the right strategies, you can transform your outdoor area into a cool, breezy retreat where you’ll want to spend hours lounging. Whether you’re looking to block the sun, keep the air moving, or add some natural cooling, there are a variety of options to choose from. From misting systems and shade structures to creative fan setups and cooling plants, these ideas will help you create a more comfortable outdoor experience without the scorching heat. Cool patios can be a game-changer during hot months! Here’s a breakdown of some effective ways to keep your patio cool and inviting all season long.

1. Use Retractable Screens

Retractable screens can be installed to cover your whole patio and create an outdoor oasis. You can have motorized screens or large opening screens cover the area or enclose it. Opt for a mesh that is more opaque to keep the sunlight at a minimum and shade the whole area. Retractable screens are designed to let fresh air in but can also block UV rays. If you have a sliding door, single door, or french door, by adding a retractable screen you can create more airflow but also add shade to your home to keep it cool.

2. Use Outdoor Shades

If you have an outdoor area or patio, you can use outdoor shades such as motorized screens to close in the area when needed to keep it shaded but also allow fresh air to flow through. The nice thing about motorized screens is that they are controlled by a remote, so if you have several screens enclosing your patio you can create an outdoor oasis with shade.

3.  Use Shade Sails or Pergolas

To create shade in your outdoor space you can opt for shade sails or pergolas which unlike retractable screens cover from above to shade the area. They come with multiple material/fabric types, as well as colors. So depending on your home’s decor or outdoor area design, you can customize it to fit. The plus of a pergola is that you can attach a retractable screen to it. A motorized screen can be mounted to the top and create shade on the sides of your space.

4. Set up Canopies and Awnings

Canopies and awnings are also very useful in shading your space. Canopies are more of a stand-alone product that is not attached to your home but an awning is attached to your home and jets out to create shade. Awnings and canopies will create shade from above and you are not able to attach a retractable screen to it.

5. Create a Cross Breeze

One natural way to keep you cool in the summer is to create a cross breeze in your home. You can create this by opening one door and another across the way from it. To blow across the area you are trying to keep cool. This is the most energy-efficient way to keep cool. Think about adding retractable screens on these doors so that you avoid insects in your home and keep the area breezy. Depending on the mesh chosen, you can create shade in the interior of your home as well.

6. Use Ceiling Fans and Misters

To overcome extreme heat, you can add misters to your outdoor area where you might want to sit with your guests. This relieves the heat for the short term. Depending on the layout you could also add ceiling fans to the outdoor area or within your home. It generates more consistent airflow throughout your space. 

7. Choose Neutral or Light Toned Colors for Materials

Many of these options we have listed can be chosen in light materials to keep the area from getting warmer. For example, when choosing a motorized screen, retractable screen, or an awning, you want a lighter color material to not keep the heat in the area you are trying to cool down. 

8. Plant Trees and Bushes Nearby

If you have a patio that has green space you can plant some trees to shade the area. Of course, this takes time to grow and completely shade your place but it provides the best shade and privacy too. Bushes are also an option but you will want to make sure they are tall enough to shade the space. If you are on a patio in an apartment or townhouse you can purchase tall plants to shade the area around the perimeter of your patio or deck.

9. Reflective and Heat-Reducing Materials

Using reflective and heat-reducing materials on your outdoor patio will help keep the area cool. When choosing your outdoor furniture make sure that it will not absorb and reflect heat which will make it uncomfortable for you and your house guests. You can also consider adding heat-reducing flooring options to not make it uncomfortable when you are walking on the outdoor patio area.

10. Enhancing Airflow

Enhancing airflow when you’re outside is tricky because you will already have adequate airflow, but when you are adding additional things to your outdoor patio to block the sun, you may need to reconsider airflow. You need to find a healthy balance between sun-blocking material that will still allow air to flow through to cool your outdoor patio space. We recommend using a 90-grade solar mesh which will block most of the UV rays but still allow air to flow through.

11. Cooling with Water: Fountains & Waterfalls

Adding fountains and waterfalls to your outdoor patio area may also assist in keeping the area cool, as mist will come off of them. Adding water elements to your outdoor patio area will be naturally calming as well and enhance the overall experience, helping to tie it all together.

12. Solar-Powered Cooling Devices

Integrating solar-powered cooling devices in your outdoor patio area will help keep your space cool while also being energy efficient. You can install a solar-powered fan that will move the air around in the area and be powered by a solar panel. You can also add a solar-powered misting system that can be set up on a timer to mist your outdoor patio area when certain conditions are met. Most electronics nowadays can be powered with solar, you just may have to spend a bit more money for the equipment and installation.

Retractable Shades Are the Best Option for Keeping Your Patio Cool in Summer

There are many options to keep your patio cool but retractable screens or shades would be the best option to keep your space cool and comfortable to enjoy. You can choose from a single retractable screen, a French retractable screen, a large opening retractable screen, or a motorized screen. Depending on your patio setup, it’s the best option to keep you cool but also keep unwanted insects out. Mirage retractable screens offer so many possibilities when it comes to shading a variety of openings and designs. You can also mix and match products such as motorized screens on some of the openings then a regular screen on one side or a large opening screen on that side. The variety of mesh and color options also offer extra shade protection in the home. If you opt for a Suntex 90 you will have the max opacity and can guarantee it will shade your space.

Conclusion

As you can see there are a variety of options to keep your patio cool during the warmest months of the year. You want to make sure that you and your guests are the most comfortable you can be. Depending on your home’s design or what area you are trying to shade and keep cool, you want to make sure that you make an educated decision.

FAQs

Yes, a reflective cover will help keep your patio cool as it will deflect the powerful UV rays from the sun. Using a reflective material to cover your outdoor patio furniture when you are not using the space will block the heat so your furniture is not uncomfortably hot when it’s time to enjoy.

If you want to naturally cool your patio area, shade-providing plants are a great option as they can enhance airflow, block sunlight and lower temperatures. There are so many different types of plants that can help assist with this, but some of our favorites are fast growing shade trades such as maple trees, willows or poplar trees. For smaller plants you could add vines, banana plants or shade-giving flowers such as hydrangeas or ferns.

Yes, installing a pergola around your outdoor patio area will help keep it cool and also offer shading for you and your house guests. There are many different pergola designs and some even have retractable roofs that can allow sunlight in at certain points, but you can also close them to block direct sunlight. The added benefit of having a pergola installed in your outdoor patio area is that Mirage retractable screens can easily be installed on them for added benefit.

Yes, repainting your patio can make it cooler, but it will depend on the type of paint and color that you use. It’s important to use light colors as dark shades and colors will absorb heat which will make your outdoor space warmer. When you are shopping for your paint we also suggest inquiring about heat reflective paint options as that may be the best option for your needs.

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