The best backyard umbrellas and outdoor shelters for shade and cover - with Labor Day deals on our favorites

These backyard umbrellas and outdoor shelters are seriously cute and will make an elevated addition to any backyard space

pool sun lounger umbrella
(Image credit: Designer: Richardson & Associates Landscape Architecture photographer: Stacy Zarin-Goldberg Photography)

From the boho and playful to the more structural and contemporary look, backyard tents and outdoor umbrellas are a surefire way to make the most of your extra alfresco space. No matter the size of your backyard, they can provide a dedicated zone for entertaining and add a touch of whimsy during the summer months. 

'Backyard tents and shelters are a nice addition to a relaxing space,' says Kat Aul Cervoni, landscape designer and founder of Staghorn NYC and The Cultivation by Kat. 'They can provide coverage from sun and sometimes rain, give privacy, helps define a special destination and can help define a style or set a mood.'

Spending long and languid summer evenings may have been your life for the past few months, but if you haven't invested in an outdoor umbrella during summer, now's the best time to pick one up from the best outdoor furniture brands, with a hefty discount of course.  

Best Labor Day deals

Best arched patio umbrellas

The arched patio umbrella provides a structured look that I like. Providing shade and looking smart and chic all at once, the cantilever base prevents it from interrupting furniture groupings and, when used with a dining table, keeps the middle of the tabletop free.

Best playful cabanas

A backyard cabana in white

(Image credit: Business & Pleasure)

A cabana is a cute addition to any backyard that can bring a boho feel. Easy to set up and adding a touch of whimsy, cabanas are perfect for a backyard party or trip to the beach. Large when open but compact to carry, I've been loving Business & Pleasure's offering. Here are three that I've got saved in my basket.

Best parasols

A backyard parasol

(Image credit: Article)

While parasols are closely associated with poolside outdoor furniture or a trip to the beach, they can make a nice shaded seating area. Transform an unloved corner of your backyard with an umbrella for that immediate summer feel - add a gas grill or outdoor bar and you're good to go.

Best pergolas with a canopy

An aluminium framed pergola

(Image credit: Walmart)

A pergola is a bit more of a permanent structure for your backyard, and a perfect solution for entertaining during the summer months ahead. A pergola offers outdoor structure consisting of columns that support a roofing grid of beams and rafters, topped with fabric. Make sure you go for a waterproof fabric and pick from a frame that is rust-proof. Aluminium is a go-to for this kind of outdoor shelter. Here are three of my favorites.

Oonagh Turner
Livingetc content editor and design expert

Oonagh is a content editor at Livingetc.com and an expert at spotting the interior trends that are making waves in the design world. Writing a mix of everything and everything from home tours to news, long-form features to design idea pieces on the website, as well as frequently featured in the monthly print magazine, she's the go-to for design advice in the home. Previously, she worked on a London property title, producing long-read interiors features, style pages and conducting interviews with a range of famous faces from the UK interiors scene, from Kit Kemp to Robert Kime. In doing so, she has developed a keen interest in London's historical architecture and the city's distinct tastemakers paving the way in the world of interiors.