Relaxing outdoors means exposing yourself to the nature's elements. Therefore, you'll need a patio umbrella to keep those harmful elements from damaging your skin. You should choose the most suitable umbrella for your patio. You can choose according to the shape, size, color and fabric and your budget should be able to accommodate this taste of yours.

Free standing umbrella is for a bigger patio. They can benefit this type of patio because more often than not, you need to move them around. There are also ones that are located in the middle of a patio table and would obviously suit a much smaller patio.

How much shade do you need when you are outside? The season and latitude of your climate should be able to give you some ideas on how big your umbrella's diameter should be. Normally they range form 6 to 11 diameters.

As well, other considerations include; a sturdy design, strength of pole, the material of the base (stainless steel or aluminum) and hub (nylon or plastic), durable fabric, ease of storage, opening and closing.

You can find poles in hardwood, teak, mahogany and ash. If you prefer the non wood variety, go for chrome steel or anodized aluminum.

In terms of fabric, patio umbrellas can come in acrylic, vinyl, polyester and synthetic thatch. The umbrella is also coated with chemical that resists stain, sun rays, rain and snow. When you are using one, you want to spray on a coating once a year.

These patio umbrellas also come with their own set of accessories. They are replaceable canvas, lights, torches, fabric cleaners and carry-bags. To create desired moods are the main purpose of the lights. There are also remote controlled umbrellas for those who go for style.

A base of an umbrella should always match its size.

There are a few differences between a patio and a market umbrella. The market umbrellas are lustrous because they do not have the hanging valances around them unlike a patio umbrella. They have sturdier frame and a crown of fabric on top, which is a wind vent. They can let the wind to escape form underneath the umbrella. The market umbrellas are normally tabletop versions.

Both patio and market umbrellas are good not only for keeping out the elements but also as part of your deck furniture decor. Purchase each, ready-made or custom made as per your deck furnishings design.

An offset umbrella is also worth considering too. There are some with tilting feature. An offset umbrella's pole is located at the side of the table. This can be quite convenient as it is out of the way.

Opting for an offset umbrella? Whether it is a manual or automatic version, offset umbrellas can give better protection from the sun. The sun shifts its position and this will affect the shade. Therefore, you should get an umbrella that can better protect you the whole day through. A down side is that these umbrellas hardly ever come with wooden poles.

When you are making your purchase in an online or offline store, take note of its warranty (between one and five years), timeframe for delivery and availability of insurance in case of damages during delivery. Some merchants even offer free shipping.

Other than materialistic considerations when deciding on patio or market umbrellas, you may have some health reasons to do so. And what better way to do that than by putting up these umbrellas, without sacrificing style? Consider the patio or market umbrella as a long-term investment in your quality of outdoor living.