Maximizing outdoor venue spaces—design tips from Shoreline Awning and Patio

Thoughtful design turns outdoor areas into memorable guest experiences that translate into increased revenue streams. Maximizing outdoor spaces starts with a vision, then moves to planning for comfort, flow, and a sense of place that guests treasure and share with their friends.

At Shoreline Awning and Patio, LLC, we have been assisting customers with outdoor seating designs since 1982. Our team includes skillful designers who are dedicated to making your vision their own, a manufacturing team using top-level materials to manufacture everything to your specifications, an experienced and talented team of ironwork artists, and a skilled installation team. We serve a wide range of businesses and homes from Monterey to Ventura.

With our state-of-the-art fabrication and sewing facilities in Paso Robles, we manufacture many of our products locally, ensuring the highest quality and attention to detail. We also offer a diverse range of top-of-the-line patio covers and outdoor living products from respected distributors like Equinox, Four-Seasons, and Outdoor Elements.

Over decades of experience, we have developed design strategies that help outdoor venues turn their landscapes into highly sought-after destinations. From al fresco dining to wineries, breweries, weddings, events, and outdoor activities, custom-designed shade structures from Shoreline help merge landscape, views, and comfort with the spirit of place.

Those strategies include:

Creating outdoor spaces with purpose.
Layering shade for comfort.
Designating zones.
Using landscape to tell a story.
Designing for efficiency, easy access, and safety.
Furnishings and comfort.

Create outdoor spaces with purpose

Create each outdoor space with a purpose. Large and medium spaces can accommodate communal activities, such as walk-in wine tasting or dining. Small spaces are more intimate for couples or a group of a few friends.

Custom-designed pergolas or shade sails are perfect for designating larger spaces. Pergolas, patio covers, awnings, and even gazebos create a sense of intimacy for smaller spaces.

Open spaces, courtyards, and decks can be tailored to create unique atmospheres for each space. Adding natural features and original ornamental ironwork from our talented iron artists is a unique feature to every space, including awnings, anywhere in San Luis Obispo County and beyond.

Layer shade and comfort

Shade is comfort, even in the cooler times of year. The best shade covering for the space not only blocks the sun’s rays in summer, it can also be:

Adjustable to keep the sun out of guests’ eyes.
Customized with electrical wiring for fans, lights, or heat.
Constructed to accommodate a fireplace or propane heat lamps.
Include adjustable shades or sides that can block the wind and help maintain desired temperatures.

We offer creative solutions for every kind of outdoor seating, from storefront branding, streetside seating, patio/courtyard, and open spaces.

Designate zones

Depending on your venue, designate zones for certain activities. Tossing horseshoes or playing bocce ball are fun, but some guests might find the activity distracting.

Flexible, multiuse areas that can easily accommodate activities like yoga classes, craft fairs, or wedding ceremonies, add versatile offerings as well as creating additional profit streams.

Shade structures can include shade sails or custom pergolas.

Use the landscape to tell a story

The views at outdoor venues motivate guests to return again and again, bring their friends, and recommend your venue. Position seating and activity spaces to leverage exceptional views. Enhance the spaces with pollinator-friendly plants, water features, pathways, and natural geological formations.

Design for efficiency, easy access, and safety

Smart outdoor designs consider staff efficiency, safety, and comfort as well as the comfort of guests. Guest spaces need to be easy and safe for staff to access and tend to guests.

Along with arranging seating that has enough room for staff to move about easily, features that enhance walking from place to place include:

Shaded pathways and seating create critical protection from the heat for busy staff. Pathways can be covered with custom-designed pergolas, canopies, or a variety of other types of custom-designed covers. Locating fixed or retractable awnings on strategic sides of buildings also creates shaded, protected spaces.

Furnishings and comfort

Weather-resistant shade and durable cushioned seating encourage guests to settle in for an enjoyable time. When guests are relaxed, they’ll order the extra bottle of wine and appetizers, or prolong their stay with dessert and coffee. Every satisfied guest spreads the word about your excellent venue!

Our talented Shoreline team can custom-design and manufacture the perfect all-weather covers. From Central Coast and San Luis Obispo awnings, to shade sails, pergolas, and a variety of solid, latticed, or louvered covers, our products are created from the highest quality materials.

Financing is available!

Our financing partnership with Hearth Financial provides flexible, convenient financing options for both our commercial and residential customers. Financing your project make is possible to:

Preserve savings while still getting the custom shade solution you deserve.
Complete your entire project at once rather than postponing elements due to budget constraints.
Increase property value with professional-grade awnings and patio covers that enhance your outdoor living space.
Energy savings from reduced cooling costs can help offset monthly payments.
Enjoy your new outdoor space immediately without waiting to save the full amount.

Trusted custom shade designs since 1982

Shoreline Awning & Patio has been a trusted name on California’s Central Coast since 1982, offering top-quality custom shade structures and outdoor living solutions. We serve every community from Monterey to Ventura.

Our services include custom-design, manufacturing, installation, and a transferable lifetime warranty.

Single, branded awning for your storefront.
A unique outdoor space for relaxing with family and friends.
Poolside shade structures for comfort and beauty.
Al fresco dining spaces for streetside, patios, or courtyards.
Unique covered entryways that make a statement and promote brand recognition.
Covered spaces for weddings, picnics, winetasting, and other events for private and public venues.