Should You Choose Lighter or Darker Colours? A Guide on the Best Outdoor Umbrella Colours

Colour is an eternal presence in our lives. Not only is it incredibly effective in drawing the eye to objects and visuals, but it can influence our mood and make us feel certain ways.

That's why you'll want to choose the right colours for your outdoor umbrella whether you're at home or setting up an outdoor restaurant eating area. That's what we're going to talk about here today, so read on to learn the best outdoor umbrella colours for both aesthetic and practical purposes!

Matching vs Contrasting Colours

There are a couple of colour schemes that people use when they want to create a fabulous, cohesive design. The first is called an 'analogous colour scheme.'

Analogous color schemes are the most common combinations when designing a space. This 'matching' scheme refers to three adjacent colours on the colour wheel are used to create a well-rounded design.

Examples of analogous colour schemes include red-orange-yellow and dark-blue-light-blue-green. However, they do not all need to be warm or cool colors. Yellow-green-blue is a perfectly acceptable analogous color scheme that incorporated a mixture of warm and cool hues.

'Contrasting' colour schemes are based on complementary colours, which are directly across from each other on the colour wheel. The idea of using complementary hues together is that they will balance each other out, which certainly is the case when you choose to do this.

Examples of harmonious complementary colour schemes are orange and blue, yellow and purple, and indigo and green. Note that while red and green are complementary colours, they generally should not be used together as they are overly associated with the holidays.

Finally, you have one more option for a cohesive colour scheme- pairing black or white with another colour.

This is perfect for those who plan to get multiple outdoor umbrellas because you can have some dull and others bright. If you're using a black umbrella, this stands out beautifully alongside light colours such as yellow or sky-blue. A white umbrella goes well with darker colours like dark red, royal purple, or even its own complementary colour: black.

Don't Be Afraid to Stand Out

It's Okay to Blend In

While you absolutely shouldn't be afraid to make your outdoor decor stand out, it's also alright if you want to blend in with those around you. If your home is a ruddy red colour, there's no shame in getting a firey-red umbrella. If you have canary-yellow home trim, you can totally get a dandelion hued umbrella to go with it! Having a cohesive colour scheme is nothing to be ashamed of.

White and cream umbrellas are some of the most popular colours for when you aren't looking to stand out. This makes sense- they go with any environment that you may incorporate them in. However, be cautioned that they do tend to show up more dirt, dust, leaves, and mildew.

Another great way to blend in is to go with a natural colour scheme. Incorporating shades of green and yellow will ensure that your outdoor decor will integrate seamlessly with the grass and foliage of your yard. You also may want to select a sky-blue or cornflower-blue umbrella to match the sky. These shades of blue work especially well with cloud-white umbrellas or outdoor furniture!

What Colour Umbrella Is Good for a Hot Summer?

Truthfully, the colour of your umbrella doesn't really matter. The best choice is the one that matches what you're doing. However, if you ask us to choose which colour umbrella is good for a hot summer, we would have to say that it's black. That might seem a little odd, as the colour black absorbs more heat then other colours however because you are standing under the umbrella the heat on the top will not affect you.

Black or charcoal umbrellas are also longer-lasting than other colours as they tend to fade less quickly. They also are less likely to show bird droppings, which is something that you absolutely must think about unless you want to be cleaning your parasol every day. Plus, even if you do plan on cleaning it daily, you want a colour that won't be stained by these droppings. Charcoal is your best bet here!

So, why are umbrellas generally black in colour? The answer is simple: these umbrellas last longer than other colours!

More on the Best Outdoor Umbrella Colours

While there are many ways that you can choose umbrella colours for your home, the decision is ultimately up to your preference. Though black umbrellas are best for keeping the sunlight from becoming too hot, there's no shame in getting umbrellas that match your home or are in a shade of yellow that makes you smile each time you see it.

Now that you know the best outdoor umbrella colours for your patio, deck, yard, café, or restaurant, it's time to get started. 

Contact us to ask about our many affordable residential shade solutions. We're here to help you choose the perfect backyard umbrella to go with your overall home aesthetic, so why wait? Start designing!

Please note the contents of this post is information only and general in nature.
If you require advice it is best to contact one of our shade specialists who can review your particular circumstances and then provide tailored advice according to your needs.