STAY COOL THIS SUMMER WITH THESE BACKYARD OASIS DESIGN IDEAS
Spending all day indoors is a total drag when it's this gorgeous outside! All that fresh air, wildlife, and sunshine are good for the brain, but too much sun can spoil the fun. To avoid sunburns and heat exhaustion—while still exercising your right to lounge around on the patio all weekend—try these design ideas to turn your backyard into a shady summer oasis.
Keep Your Backyard Oasis Cool for the Summer
Ditch the home office, hot kitchen, or crowded dining room and spend some more time outside this summer! Whether you want temporary shade and heat relief or a permanent installation, there are plenty of clever ways to stay cool in the backyard. Whatever budget or space you're working with, you can easily transform your backyard into a mini oasis in Indianapolis.
Trellis Yard Partitions
For a backyard oasis on a budget, one of the simplest yet most beautiful additions is a trellis partition covered in climbing flowers. It essentially creates a wall of lush vines and colorful, blooming flowers. It's a great way to create an illusion of separate outdoor rooms in the yard while providing cool shade; this is especially nice for outdoor entertaining and meals. The sense of privacy makes it feel homier, and the blooming flower wall is a perfect backdrop for photo ops!
Vine-Covered Pergolas
If you don't want a full roof over your patio or a portion of the backyard, a pergola is a fantastic option. Overhead slats partially obscure the sun, but when you train vines to climb up and around them, it creates lovely dappled shade and a brilliant green canopy. You can also weave twinkle lights throughout the slats for added ambiance at night—so dreamy!
Shade Sails
One of the best temporary, low-budget solutions for adding shade to the backyard is with a shade sail! You can hang these simple fabric canopies above dining areas or pool lounge chairs for heat protection on super sunny days. Some come with legs to prop them up, while others have string ties to fasten to nearby structures. You can even make a DIY version of a shade sail with an opaque tablecloth or bedsheet and some strong twine.
Cantilever Umbrellas
These ingenious umbrellas have swiveling, adjustable heads that you can rotate 360° wherever you need shade in your backyard. It's a great solution for alternating between shade on the patio and shade on the lawn or garden. Install it on the edge of the patio so you can easily access the turn crank and position it however you like.
Plant Some Trees or Tall Shrubs
While it isn't exactly an instant solution for shade, planting trees and shrubs will provide plenty of shade down the road! There are plenty of fast-growing trees for shade that you can grow in Indianapolis. Feel free to ask our staff for recommendations on the best varieties to suit your backyard!
Install a Fountain
Fountains are constantly cycling water through their pumps, which can help cool the air around them! Studies show that a fountain can decrease the temperature in your backyard by as much as 4°F. Fountains are definitely a worthy addition to your backyard oasis—that soothing sound of running water is so relaxing! Plus, water sources are great for attracting pretty pollinators and wildlife. It makes for cool air, a great view, and the perfect backyard ambiance for relaxing all summer.
To see all our plants, furniture, and outdoor accessories for creating shade and keeping cool, visit Dammann's Garden Company. We'll help you complete your perfect backyard oasis in Indianapolis so you can spend sunny afternoons outdoors without turning red as a lobster.