Summer has finally arrived. The temperatures are rising, the garden furniture is out, and suddenly the question of shade becomes rather urgent. A great garden parasol does more than block the sun — it sets the tone for your entire outdoor space, and if you choose well, it becomes one of those pieces you return to year after year, season after season.
With so many garden parasols on the market, from mass-produced polyester canopies to handcrafted artisan designs, knowing what to look for makes all the difference. Here's our guide to finding the perfect parasol for your garden.
1. Think About Where It Will Live
Before anything else, consider your space. A large patio or terrace can carry an 8ft garden parasol with ease, creating a generous canopy for dining or lounging. A smaller courtyard, balcony or bistro corner will suit a 6ft parasol — still impactful, but proportionate to the space.
Think about whether you need it to shade a dining table, a pair of sun loungers, or simply to act as a decorative focal point. The answer will guide both the size and the style you choose.
2. Choose Quality Materials
The canopy material matters more than most people realise. Mass-manufactured parasols often use synthetic fabrics that fade quickly, feel cheap, and do little to elevate the look of your garden.
Our garden parasols use 100% cotton canopies — a natural, breathable fabric that provides genuine shade, holds colour beautifully, and improves with age. Paired with a durable metal pole and frame, these are parasols built to last.
3. Consider the Craftsmanship
This is where our parasols are truly different. Every parasol in our collection is handmade by skilled artisans in Jaipur, India, using traditional hand block printing techniques that have been passed down through generations.
Hand block printing is a slow, deliberate process. Carved wooden blocks are individually pressed onto the fabric by hand, one motif at a time, building up the pattern with a rhythm and variation that no machine can replicate. The result is a design that is genuinely individual — no two parasols are exactly alike.
This is the opposite of mass manufacturing. These are not parasols turned out by the thousand in a factory. They are made by people, with skill and care, in a tradition that deserves to be celebrated.
4. Choose a Design That Works Hard
A garden parasol should earn its place. That means choosing a design that complements your outdoor furniture, adds colour and personality, and works across different settings and seasons.
Our Jaipur collection includes four distinct designs — each one a different expression of the same artisan tradition:
- Citrus — fresh botanical motifs in green and warm orange, perfect for Mediterranean-inspired spaces
- Riviera Palm — palm and cypress motifs in soft green and pink, relaxed and resort-style
- Rosebud Floral — delicate rose pink florals with a scalloped edge, romantic and summery
- Azure Palm — bold azure blue botanicals on an ivory base, graphic and striking
All four are available in 6ft and 8ft, and all feature the same decorative scalloped edging and detailed border trim that gives each parasol its high-end, considered finish.
5. Think Beyond the Practical
The best garden parasols are not just sun umbrellas. They are design objects — pieces that change the feel of a space, that make your garden look intentional and curated rather than assembled from whatever was available.
When you choose a handmade Indian parasol over a mass-produced alternative, you're also choosing to support the artisans who made it. The Jaipur co-operatives behind our collection work to fair wages and safe conditions — and the craft they practise is one worth preserving.
Find Your Perfect Garden Parasol
Whether you're drawn to bold colour, delicate florals, or classic botanical prints, our garden parasol collection has something to suit every outdoor space. Each one is handmade, individual, and designed to be enjoyed for years to come.
Free delivery on orders over £60.
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