15 Patio Covering Ideas

Whether you're looking for shade or protection from the rain, we've got patio covering ideas including simple umbrellas, DIY canopies, pergolas and elaborate pavilions.

Keep in mind: Price and stock could change after publish date, and we may make money from these affiliate links.

By: Gloria Ballard

Related To:

Shop This Look

Photo By: Brennan Gray

Photo By: Mark Woolcott Photography; Mile High Landscaping

Photo By: Shain Rievley

Photo By: Michael Woodall Photography

Photo By: Ive Haugeland

Photo By: Fred Donham, PhotographerLink

Photo By: Chris Amaral

Photo By: Nathan Fowler, Mileshko Photography

Photo By: Image courtesy of SamsGazebos

Photo By: Brett Hilton

Photo By: Land Art Design

©Patricia Wagner

Take It Outside

When activities with family and friends move outdoors, it's nice to have shelter from the sun or gentle rain. A covered patio serves the purpose, and cover options run the gamut from a simple umbrella over a cozy table for two to elaborate pavilions that can cover a crowd. Consider your space, your design style and your budget, and click through to check out a variety of ideas.

A pergola is the cover of choice for many patios, and defines the space for the cozy outdoor room above, which features a fireplace and comfortable seating.

Find More Ideas: 50 Patio Ideas and Design Tips

From: CLC Landscape Design

Steel With Style

A custom steel pergola outfitted with eye-catching hexagonal chandeliers creates a welcoming outdoor dining room on this concrete patio. Douglas fir joists complement the wood dining table below, while an accent wall of potted bamboo pulls the whole space together.

Find More Ideas: 10 Modern Light Fixture Ideas to Refresh Your Porch + Patio for Spring

From: Elevate by Design

DIY a Pretty Pergola

If you're handy, a pergola can be a fairly simple DIY project. Hang plants from the posts and rafters, grow vines over the top for more shade, or string lights overhead to complete the look.

Get the How-To: How to Build a Pergola

Consider a Canopy

A canvas canopy shields this outdoor kitchen from the elements. The canopy's best feature: In the off-season or when full sun is preferred, the canvas can be rolled up or put away.

Get the How-To: How to Build a Retractable Canopy

Outdoor Curtains for Privacy

A vaulted canopy shields those underneath from the sun, and curtains can be pulled across to create "walls" that give this outdoor space a glamorous, tent-like feel. Overhead lanterns add to the magic of this spacious gathering spot.

Find More Ideas: DIY Backyard Shade Ideas

Deluxe Pavilion

If bigger is better in your landscape, then by all means, go big. The wood pergola covers an outdoor kitchen and a dining area with two picnic-style tables and a massive fireplace. String lights on the ceiling add dimension and definition to the dining area.

See More of This Backyard: Watery Retreat in the Desert

From: Red Rock Contractors

Destination: Fire Pit

Smaller than a pavilion but just as welcoming, this patio leads to an inviting fire pit surrounded by built-in benches and shielded by a wood privacy wall and canopy, which act as the main focal point. A large cherry tree also shades the area while the layers of landscaping provide color and texture.

Find More Ideas: The Best Fire Pits Under $350

From: Shades of Green Landscape Architecture

Outdoor Great Room

The unique structure of this custom wood and steel outdoor lounge, with its elevated diagonal ridge, is a show-stopper in the landscape. It's made cozy with a fireplace and generous seating area where the homeowners and their guests are protected from the elements.

See More of This Space: Wood-Infused Outdoor Lounge

From: Nar Bustamante

Casual Dining Under Cover

An overhead trellis roof may be the perfect spot for a casual outdoor dining table. This structure has a built-in bench, forming a half-wall that anchors it in the landscape. Here, the white structure stands out against the green backdrop and pops with color in the pillows and chairs. Planters or hanging plants, strings of lights or an overhead fan are other embellishments that can cozy-up an outdoor dining room.

Find More Ideas: 30 Outdoor Bars That Will Tempt You to Sit and Sip

Cantilever Bocce Court

An umbrella is a portable go-to choice to shade any seating area whether it is next to an oceanside bocce court or in a small backyard. Offset or cantilever umbrellas are a great solution for a patio table without an umbrella hole or for any too-sunny space. You can find them in a variety of shapes and can range in size from about 6 feet to as wide as 12 to 13 feet or more to cover a large area.

Learn More: The 9 Best Outdoor Patio Umbrellas for Your Backyard

From: Erica Bryen Design

Tiny, Cozy and Covered

A tiny outdoor space may only have room for an umbrella, but it can still be inviting. The umbrella over this quaint dining area provides shade and lends privacy from onlookers that may be peering in from above.

Find More Ideas: 55 Gorgeous Fire Pit Ideas and DIYs

Eye-Catching Structures

Gazebos have provided outdoor protection and style in a landscape for centuries and can still add an elegant touch out in the landscape or on the patio or poolside.

Find More Ideas: Outdoor Gazebo Ideas

Privacy for the Patio

This large pergola has multiple functions: It softens the hot sun, shields the patio from nearby neighbors and gives a sense of privacy, and it provides a place to hang large lanterns for a festive gathering. A stone fireplace and a trestle table with benches set a rustic dining mood.

Find More Ideas: 50 Patio Ideas and Design Tips

From: Living Gardens Landscape Design

Underneath It All

This lower level stone patio comes with its own covering, provided by the floor of the upper level deck above. Ceiling fans bring a breeze to this covered space, while the hanging woven chair adds a whimsical touch.

Nature-Made Shade

Wisteria blooms on a trellis to create the "ceiling," and the vines provide a moderate amount of shade for the brick patio. The glass table reflects and complements the greenery and provides a comfortable, surrounded-by-nature place to relax.

Learn More: How to Grow Wisteria