For someone looking to add a little style and functionality to their garden in one go, there are not many options that fit the bill better than a patio cover. There are many different styles of this device on the market, but one that does a good job at an attractive price is the soft patio cover.

Soft patio covers usually take the form of retractable fabric awnings and sunshades. The drawback to these is that while they keep out sun and rain, they will not offer protection during the winter against the cold and will not extend the seasonal use of your patio much beyond warm autumn evenings.

The plus side to soft patio covers is that they are cheap when compared to the cost of aluminum patio enclosures, but their functionality is less versatile and their basic use is limited. That said, soft patio covers are an easy choice to give some protection while you decide on making an enclosed sunroom or solarium. Some of the top names and styles to keep in mind when searching for awnings and soft patio covers that are retractable or fixed are Colosseo dome awning, Pisa elongated awning styles, Parthenon extended or projection models, Trevi awnings that are actually a retractable canopy and the newest vertical drop awnings with stainless steel guide wires made by a company that understand why you want to cover your patio just by looking at their name, which is Rain&Wind&Bugzip. Yes! That’s what patio enclosures and soft patio covers are all about, keeping the rain, the wind and the bugs away from the outdoor areas you enjoy with your family and friends.

For those with a larger budget an enclosed patio in aluminum finish will offer long-term, year-round protection without inhibiting light and sun from flowing in. For those on a limited budget, the best solution is to buy affordable canvas awnings, sunshades or soft patio covers and then add fabric sunscreens around the patio to create a temporary enclosure to keep out bugs.