Garden Parasols: Shade, Style, and Serenity
Garden parasols are some of the most important additions for any outdoor space, especially if one wants to keep their garden shady and stylish at the same time. These accessories come in a variety of shapes, styles, colours and materials which ensure that you can turn your garden or patio into a colourful oasis and one which compliments the wider garden design. There are options for someone who loves old-fashioned sophistication in the timeless wooden parasols, as well as for a contemporary style connoisseur – the innovative LED cantilever parasol. A garden parasol can have colourful shades or neutral tones; depending on the preferences. These colors can be vibrant which give it a pop. The fabric used for the parasol can range from durable polyesters to luxurious canvas. In this article, we delve into the world of garden parasols and discover the different options available to you if you’re in the market for one.
Style and Function
Starting with the variety of styles of parasols on the market. The two main styles are freestanding/through table upright parasols and cantilever parasols. The through table parasols offer less flexibility in their use as they are designed to slot through the centre of a dining table. You can use these parasols in freestanding form however we always recommend a heavier base to ensure the parasol stays upright. Cantilever parasols offer much more flexibility, these can have wheeled bases on which enables them to be moved around the patio or deck to suit where the sun coverage is. When it comes to function, cantilever parasols also score big. With most of our cantilever parasol range you have the flexibility over the height and tilt angle of the parasol itself, meaning in most cases you don’t even need to move the base whatsoever. The through-table upright parasols don’t offer similar flexibility in that respect.

Materials
All of our parasol options come with a strong and long lasting aluminium frame, available in a number of differing colours. The Maze Zeus range of parasols for example come with a lighter grey frame whereas the Harbour Lifestyle Ares range of parasols have a slightly darker shade of grey with their aluminium frames. The Nova Antigua and Nova Apollo range of parasols come with either a dark grey or white frame option as standard. Elsewhere on the market you can also find timber framed parasols, however as a company we choose not to retail these as they can deteriorate over time when not treated regularly.
Modern Adaptations
When you think of a garden parasol, you think of a parasol that you manually open and secure into place, it’s been a very similar design for decades. Nowadays, modern garden parasols come with an easy to use crank handle to open up the canopy, like the Nova Antigua for example. Cantilever parasols come with a more elaborate, but similar style of handle. These handles are generally used as the main contact for lifting, tilting, rotating and opening the canopy. A good example of this style of modern solution to opening the canopy on a cantilever parasol can be found on the Harbour Lifestyle Eros range of parasols. Another modern addition to cantilever parasols is the introduction of LED lighting to the inner spines of the canopy, enabling you to use the parasol into the evening as night draws in. Two examples of the LED parasols we offer are the Harbour Lifestyle Ares, which has a solar powered setup and the battery operated and rechargeable Nova Galaxy cantilever parasol range.

Size
The shape and size of your garden parasol is an important factor in the decision making process when purchasing your parasol. Generally speaking garden parasols come in three different shapes; Round, Square or Rectangle. Some products within our range come in a choice of one or two shapes, such as the Nova Antigua and Harbour Lifestyle Ares. Size is an important factor when choosing your new parasol, you don’t want to purchase a large 4m x 3m parasol if it’s going over a small 2 seat bistro set, likewise you don’t want to choose a 2.5m square parasol for a set which has a footprint of 4m x 4m. Before buying your new parasol it’s always important to have the dimensions to hand of the area or furniture piece you’re wanting to cover so you don’t make the mistake of buying the incorrect size.
Which Base?
Some of our parasols come with a weighted base included such as the Maze Banana and Maze Zeus range of cantilever parasols. Others, such as the Harbour Lifestyle Ares and Harbour Lifestyle Eros range of parasols, come with bases, but you may want to look at upgrading to a different style of base, especially if you want wheels to allow you to move it around easier. A lot of the sub £200 parasols will need a base to be purchased separately, in which case we’ve got you covered. From budget bases such as the Nova 16kg base for upright parasols to the more eye catching and premium looking Nova Stone Filled Base or Harbour Lifestyle Granite Wheeled base.

To conclude, when choosing your new garden parasol, there are so many different varieties out there. You need to be armed with the dimensions of the area you want to be protected from the sun and then choose from there. Consider what material you want your parasol to be made from, what shape you’d like it to be and what colour will suit your garden style. If you enjoy using your garden into the evenings in the Summer, you may also want to look at LED options too.
Whatever parasol you’re looking for, Nuvo Outdoor Living has the solution for you. Shop now by clicking this link and take a look at our full range of parasols and bases. Should you have any questions or need any advice, please contact our friendly sales team on 01386 718 674.