Garden parasols: find the coolest sunshade for your space

From the colourful to the classic and the imaginatively shaped: these durable modern garden parasols by some of the world’s best designers and manufacturers are all you need to bring beauty and shade to your outdoor space

‘Meteo’ garden parasol by Konstantin Grcic for Kettal. Two blue parasols with white sofas below them next to a pool with a view of the city below.

(Image credit: press)

By Rosa Bertoli

last updated 24 August 2023

in Buying Guides

The sun's here, and hopefully to stay: our selection of contemporary garden parasols is an ode to summer and a practical edit of some of the best parasols from the world's leading designers and manufacturers. Creatively conceived and robust for the outdoors, these parasols are perfect to add a bit of shade as well as colour and creative inspiration to your family-friendly urban garden, poolside or balcony.

‘Free’ Parasol by Ethimo

Two white parasols on a balcony with round holes along its sides, white awnings below it and the blue sky behind it.

Ethimo’s outdoor furniture expertise comes to life in the ‘Free’ collection of parasols: featuring a solid aluminium frame (with multiple weights available for bases, depending on its use), it is available in red, white and dove grey, and comes in two square sizes and one rectangular. The essential sunshade design is a perfect complement to the architecture of both large and small outdoor spaces.

ethimo.it

Two Tone Patio Umbrella by MoMA Design Store

Orange garden parasol from MoMA Design Store

Available in orange and blue, MoMA's bi-colour lightweight parasol is made in Italy with waterproof canvas, and its orientation can be adjusted to shade a desired area and to regulate its height. The practical, classic design features a pointed stand that can be inserted into the ground, or can be used with a stand.

store.moma.org

‘Atlantis’ Parasol By Skagerak

A white and blue striped parasol with a wooden bench under it in front of a staircase.

The classic striped motif of this large parasol brings to mind beaches along the serene holiday moods of the French Riviera and Italy's Versilia. Skagerak's ‘Atlantis’ Parasol also features leather-reinforced fabric and a metal-reinforced wooden pole, making it more resistant, while a pulley system to open and close the umbrella contributes to the ease of use.

skagerak.com

‘Shadoo’ Garden Parasol by Fermob

A hand holding a yellow parasol with the blue sky and clouds behind it.

Available in three pastel shades, Fermob's Shadoo Parasol features water-resistant Sunbrella fabric and a wide shade with a clean silhouette. The French, outdoor furniture specialist created a parasol that easily adapts to any space, thanks to the traditional, minimalist shape and fresh colour palette, ideal to get your garden or poolside for the summer.

fermob.com

Shadylace parasol by Chris Kabel for Droog

A green parasol made of a leaf pattern with a bird on top of it and buildings and trees behind it.

Rotterdam designer Chris Kabel has created a city parasol for Dutch design collective and brand Droog, whose shade mimics the green foliage of a tree, made in collaboration with Dessailes lace. The Rotterdam-based designer has brought his fascination for nature to a popular outdoor product, drawing from the natural shade of trees for inspiration. Filtering the sun through a composition of delicate leaves, the parasol offers a moment of connection with nature that can be added to any city balcony.

droog.com

‘Ensombra’ Parasol by Odosdesign for Gandia Blasco

An overview of fan shaped parasols in different colours next to a long thin pool.

Inspired by the design and movement of a fan, the ‘Ensombra’ parasol from Spanish outdoor furniture specialist Gandia Blasco is a welcome variation on the garden parasol theme. ‘We have transferred the system of opening and closing a fan to a different product type, the sunshade, to obtain a simple system that can be opened and closed over a single slat,’ say Odosdesign, the creative team behind the piece. The parasol features a galvanised steel base and a stainless steel thermo-lacquered shaft. The shade's adjustable slats are available in white, agate grey, concrete grey, bronze, sand, black, blue grey, wine red, orange brown and grey brown, to add a pop of colour to your garden. Create a dynamic chromatic composition by combining a few.

gandiablasco.com

‘Gea’ Parasol by Chi Wing Lo for Giorgetti

Giorgetti’s outdoor offering made its debut in 2017 with a collection by Chinese designer Chi Wing Lo. Named after the Greek word for ‘earth’, the ‘Gea’ collection celebrates the openness of outdoor living. Mounted on a 360-degree swivel frame with a stainless steel or marble-insert base, the sail-like parasol is a welcome breath of fresh air in the world of sun screens.

giorgettimeda.com

‘Bistrò’ Parasol by Fattorini + Rizzini + Partners for Paola Lenti

A purple rounded parasol with a sofa under it, chairs and potted plants around it in front of a historical looking two storey house.

Paola Lenti collections aim to create new domestic landscapes, and this sunshade by Milanese design studio Fattorini + Rizzini + Partners is a playful nod in this direction. The parasol sits on an upholstered pouf, and is equipped with a detachable side table.

paolalenti.it

‘Meteo’ Parasol by Konstantin Grcic for Kettal

A square brown parasol with two loungers under it in front of a pool with a view of the ocean.

Konstantin Grcic's practical parasol design for Kettal started with a simple idea: turning the obstacle-like parasol foot into something useful and beautiful. The ‘Meteo’ collection marks the first collaboration between Grcic and the Spanish outdoor furniture brand, and ‘aims to explore the largely untapped design potential of modern parasols’. The base of the parasol becomes seating, dining table and even a planter, offering ‘a useful gesture to an otherwise obtrusive element’.

kettal.com

‘Titan’ umbrella collection by Janus et Cie

A blue and white parasol with a table and chairs below it with a view of the ocean.

Janus et Cie's parasol collection comprises classic sunshades in bright and traditional colours. ‘Sleek lines and modern shapes provide the framework for these stunning umbrellas,’ says Janice Feldman, the brand's founder. ‘“Titan” is one of those rare examples of quantity and quality. The umbrellas are huge – and among the most innovative, elegant shade solutions in the industry.’ Built with superior aluminum alloy and an interior galvanised steel stem, the parasols can be customised in more than 85 awning-grade textiles. Each model is also available in three sizes, for maximum garden design flexibility.

janusetcie.com

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Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.