Personally, I think a lighted patio umbrella looks quite lovely. It looks especially spectacular during the night, or when it is dark. During the daytime however, it does not have that ethereal effect.
A great tip to get the most out of your umbrella stand is to take down the umbrella stand, along with your patio umbrella, when you are not using them. This will help keep the patio umbrella stand and your patio umbrella safe from damaging winds. When you are ready to use them, simply break them out and enjoy a nice day outside.
You can buy a nice black patio umbrella at any local store such as Lowes or WalMart. They are not hard to find. You can also order it online at amazon or overstock.
Yes, its good to have a new big patio umbrella in your garden. Since a patio is open to the sunlight it would be very beneficial if you choose a large one, cause it would be nice to be on a good shade that being exposed directly to the sunlight.
Solar is a very efficient power source, but I think it would be more cost effective to get it for the house instead of the umbrella. solar lights might be nice but it may be better to use just a normal patio umbrella instead.
It can be very nice to have a patio umbrella for hot summer days, but you need to make sure that you close it at night. You never know when a beautiful day is going to turn into a stormy evening. The wind could catch the umbrella and bend it in the wrong direction. It could break it in half. It could even drag your table across the porch if the two are connected.
You can find nice patio umbrellas for a decent price on ebay. You can even decide if you want to buy them used or new. If you are looking for a certain color I would reccomend comparing prices between Lowes and Home Depot online to see which store has better prices and then buy in stores.
I would go with a patio umbrella. One that is a bright color and opens and closes very easily. Also one that is easily reached so that you don't hurt yourself when opening and closing.
Anywhere that sells furniture will likely have clearance sales now and again which you can keep up with in the newspaper or online. However, a good option for a nice patio umbrella where you will always be able to find something nice without being too pricey is patioumbrellas.com or cushions and umbrellas.
Your local Walmart, Hardware Store, Home Depot or Costco will all have a nice selection of patio tables with umbrellas, at the right time of year at least. It may be harder to find one in the middle of winter.
A five piece patio dining set is the perfect size for a small group of people as it usually includes one table and four chairs. You can sometimes get an umbrella along with your set if you are interested in a little shade but they are not always included. Look for patio dining sets that are made out of quality materials such as nice wood, cast aluminum, resin or wrought iron. Make sure that the table is roomy enough to eat a full meal in comfort.
Wal-Mart has really nice patio sets that are pretty inexpensive. I got a great one with an umbrella and four folding chairs for a little over $100. It's metal with a glass table top.
Attractive patio storage units can be found at the following website: http://www.thefind.com/furniture/info-patio-storage. Some are nice looking bins and others are actual furniture with storage space.