Outdoor Patio Umbrellas, Stands & Bases

Buying a patio umbrella and base.

Choosing the best patio umbrella and base.

Shade is an essential part of creating a comfortable space outdoors so that you can enjoy your patio seating or outdoor dining set at any time of day. If you don’t have much natural shade or enough space to erect a pergola or gazebo, then an outdoor patio umbrella or two will be crucial for helping you make use of your outdoor space.

To choose the best patio umbrella, start by assessing how much room you have. Are there trees, walls or railings that will limit how large your umbrella can be? Remember, there are different shapes of umbrella for patio use available. For a balcony or small deck, a rectangular patio umbrella or a square patio umbrella might work better than the classic circular design.

If you live in a windy area, you might also want to stick with slightly smaller outdoor patio umbrella designs. And you will want a hefty patio umbrella base to keep things stable.

Getting the most out of your patio umbrella and base.

With the right patio umbrella, you’ll be on your way to creating the outdoor oasis of your dreams. Start making plans to host backyard parties or choose to enjoy your lunch in the great outdoors a few days out of the week. You could even bring your favorite book out to a backyard hammock to spend a little time to relaxing with nature.

And did you know that patio umbrellas can also come in handy at night? While the primary job of any umbrella for patio use is providing shade, you will also find solar-lighted patio umbrella designs that are useful at night. Remember outdoor lighting is crucial if you want to throw an outdoor dinner party or have cocktails under the stars.

Whether you stick with a traditional patio umbrella or choose a solar-lighted umbrella, always take care of your purchase by folding it away when it’s not in use.