Patio umbrellas are the most updated decorative and functional accessory to the patio or deck. Once upon a time the only reason to have an outdoor umbrella was to protect one from the hot rays of the sun. Today patio umbrellas are as much a part of the decor as the furniture or the plants.
Year ago patio umbrellas were used for shade only. Most often at night the umbrella would be closed and in some cases removed from the center of the table. Those days are gone. Today the outdoor umbrella is not only useful during the daylight hours, it is a part of the decor and ambience of the patio during the evening hours giving outdoor umbrellas greater use and giving us more for our money.
There is something about patio umbrellas that allow them to create a focal point and make everyone beneath the dome feel as intimate as if they are in an outdoor room. In fact, before the cantilever umbrella was put to use on patios, occasionally the umbrella post would be an obstacle more than a accessory. With the advent of the cantilever patio umbrella, the dome of the umbrella floats overhead with no intrusion into the scene whatsoever.
Even patio umbrellas that still have the shaft that fits into the middle of the dining table have taken on a new use. With the use of solar string lights, the dome of the umbrella now doubles as a ceiling in a room with no walls. The dim light offered by solar lights is sufficient to create the perfect setting for an intimate dinner for two or a gathering place for an outdoor pool party at night.
With the selection of patio furniture, one should immediately consider the size, shape, and style of the patio umbrella. It goes without saying now that without an outdoor umbrella as the finishing touch, you will not have the complete patio.