iPatioUmbrella.com Blog

We've got stories to tell. Stories about our products, our customers, and stories about casual living. Some are funny and informative. Some are exciting and thought provoking. Some might send you to other places on the net entirely. All we can do is hope you enjoy them, and learn a bit more about us.
  • The Best Patio Umbrella

    The Best Patio Umbrella

    We can debate about what the "best patio umbrella" is until we're blue in the face, but in all honesty, the best patio umbrella for your outdoor space is the one that makes you the happiest.   The best patio umbrella is the one that you feel makes that perfect addition to your patio outdoor room.  However, over the years our customers at iPatioUmbrella.com have often asked us on our opinions on the best patio umbrella choice for their particular space, and we've come up with a few guides to help in the process of eliminating umbrellas our customer doesn't  need in order to pick a selection of umbrellas they do need.

  • Five Things You Need To Know About Outdoor Shade

    Five Things You Need To Know About Outdoor Shade

    The great thing about having shady areas around your home is that they provide instant relief from the hot summer sun. You can sit under a tree, or lounge underneath your favorite patio umbrella, or find that perfect spot on your garden wall that's nice, shady and cool. But how do you decorate a shady area? Despite some misconceptions, there's a lot of shade-loving plants with different foliage, colors and even flowers that bloom without much sunlight.

  • From the finial to the base. All the parts of a patio umbrella

    From the finial to the base.  All the parts of a patio umbrella

    A great investment like a patio umbrella isn't a topic of regular conversation. I mean, when I talk to my friends about a new piece of furniture, like my new sofa, they ask about the leather, and the feet, and how wide it is, and the construction. When I talk to my friends about a patio umbrella, they never ask about the finial or the canopy fabric.

  • Offset Patio Umbrellas - 8 Ways To Enjoy Them

    Offset Patio Umbrellas - 8 Ways To Enjoy Them

    Offset patio umbrellas represent more than just another line we can carry. They're really great to own! We try to describe all the things that you can do with an offset, but ultimately, it's up to you to decide what you'd like to do with it, and how you are going to use it. We've put together a little list on what we think are cool ways of adding this great umbrella to your garden or backyard.

  • Large Patio Umbrellas for that Big Look

    Large Patio Umbrellas for that Big Look

    Some people just LIKE bigger umbrellas.  Why not?  For a little extra, you can have a great big canopy that has more shade and a bigger decorative impact on your outdoor room.   Most large patio umbrellas carry the some of the same feature as standard sized umbrellas, and the ones that don't offer something very special that you might want to consider.

  • The Fabulous Sunbrella Umbrella

    The Fabulous Sunbrella Umbrella

    Umbrellas made from Sunbrella fabrics are a stand out. Not only is Sunbrella the most popular outdoor fabric in the United States, they are also becoming increasingly popular worldwide as the 'must-have' fabric for beauty and durability.

  • Fiberglass - The Standard of Wind Resistant Patio Umbrellas

    Fiberglass - The Standard of Wind Resistant Patio Umbrellas

    Since the ribs of a wind resistant patio umbrella flex and turn and bend, wind hitting the umbrella will push and pull the canopy in different directions, but won't hurt the rib.  The wind flows over and through the umbrella without hurting it.  And if the umbrella actually happens to fall, the umbrella ribs will just flex as it hits the ground.  No breaking, no snapping, just bending.  The fiberglass ribs snap back to their original straight position, stretching the canopy out to where it should be, shading YOU!

  • Patio Umbrella or Market Umbrella. What's the Difference?

    Patio Umbrella or Market Umbrella.  What's the Difference?

    You'll often hear the terms patio umbrellas or market umbrellas, and ask yourself what the difference is. There is the industry terms, and then there are the terms that would just make life a little easier for you.  So what is a market umbrella, or a patio umbrella for that matter?

  • Noble History of the Patio Umbrella

    Noble History of the Patio Umbrella

    Today's outdoor umbrella has a long history. In every civilization, there has been the need for outdoor shading; from early man on to the courts of the Chinese Nobles. We've put together these interesting tidbits from history to show the hidden nobility of your patio umbrella.

  • How to Keep Your Cool When Temperatures Rise

    How to Keep Your Cool When Temperatures Rise

    There’s no doubt that the United States is a nation addicted to air-conditioning. Since the late 1940’s, when window units became available to the mass market, A/C’s have become standard equipment for modern existence. It’s almost impossible to imagine summertime without the constant hum of the condenser fan in the background. But unless you want to watch the summer season slip away from behind a window in your climate-controlled home, it’s important to find natural ways to beat the heat and get outdoors. Here are some factors that can help you keep your cool on the hottest summer days.

  • 7 Reasons to Invest in Patio Umbrellas

    7 Reasons to Invest in Patio Umbrellas

    Have you ever sat in the direct sun for a long lunch? It can be torture on hot days. You could be at home or at your local restaurant, and a outdoor umbrella can make the difference between having a nice day and feeling like you are being roasted for lunch.  Here are some really great reasons you should invest in a good patio umbrella.

  • Bistro Umbrellas - Patio Life on the Small

    Bistro Umbrellas - Patio Life on the Small

    Traditionally, bistro's are known for the small tables created for the purpose of providing a place in a confined area, or small location, also known as, you guessed it, bistro tables. These smaller tables where sometimes made of actual wine boxes, or where hand crafted for just the purpose of creating enough seating space to handle the usual patrons; poets and scholars and artists who where big on ideas, but kinda low in the cash department.

  • Recyle your Sunbrella Fabric

    Sunbrella, which is our flagship fabric line, and one of the most known outdoor fabrics in the US, has announced a fantastic new program for recycling used Sunbrella fabrics.   Here is a quote from the blog.

    The new program, “Recycle My Sunbrella,” operates through a new website - www.recyclemysunbrella.com. Anyone interested in submitting Sunbrella fabrics for recycling should visit the site for additional details on the return process.

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