Shade and privacy for balconies, terraces and porches: the most creative ideas to be inspired by

When the warm season arrives, and the temperatures are so pleasant that they encourage us to spend more time outdoors, we all start to take advantage of our balconies, terraces and porches for all times during the day.

Having a quick lunch or organizing a dinner with friends: these are all things we like to do in late spring and summer. But sometimes, we wish we could create a more intimate space, away from the eyes of neighbors and passers-by. And at other times we cannot stay outside when it is too hot because there are no trees around us that give us their shade and coolness.

In these cases, however, we can adopt a myriad of different solutions to screen and shade ourselves, such as the ones you see below:

If it's a balcony or porch, the concept of shading it and protecting it from the sun with light curtains could be really romantic.

Terraces (but also balconies and courtyards) immediately become more elegant and modern using a sail shade.

However, if the sail shade is not big enough, you might prefer the softness of Roman blinds - which are even more beautiful when you decorate them with strings of lights on each side.

Then there are fabric clad panels to consider: these frequently use translucent, outdoor fabrics and/or materials, including bamboo. And the latter is also used as a light material used for sliding panels or those which can be hung up.

Curtains that unroll from to top: like mats, but used to improvise walls instead!

Bamboo also looks great when used for a vertical panel that provides privacy.

And there are those that cover the balcony railings with split bamboo canes.

And if you want an eco-friendly solution, among the many plants that can be grown in planters to create a hedge, you can plant and grow actual, living bamboo!

Have you considered that, instead of using bamboo canes, you could also use de-barked and weathered branches to shield yourself from the elements?

Then there are the design solutions using wooden slatted walls, which can be modulated in any way: they can be angular structures set in a horizontal environment ...

And they can even be used in the vertical position! They really look very sophisticated and elegant.

What kind of shade or privacy screen do you prefer?