8 guidelines for choosing the right parasol colour

Liking (or disliking) a colour is something personal. Some people like white, others prefer black. The beauty of a colour is something you can’t discuss. Even so, there are useful tips you can use to help you pick the right colour for the parasols in your business.

Avoid some colours



In very bright sunshine the colour of your parasol fabric can also colour the light under the parasol. This means that if you serve a vanilla ice-cream or a delicious piece of white fish, they will no longer seem virginally white. We eat with our eyes as well as our mouths, so if the fish doesn’t look the way people expect it to look, they won’t enjoy it.


    

  • Avoid parasols with yellow and orange tints.
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  • Ask for colour advice from your parasol expert; he can point you in the right direction.
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Dark colours or light colours?




I think that black parasols can be really beautiful, but in some circumstances – for example, on a grey and rainy day – dark colours can create a sombre atmosphere, especially if you have several large parasols standing next to each other.

			
 
			
 
				
				
			
 

				

				
				
				

				
				
				
			

			
 

				
				
				

				
				
				
Simple is not always simple


“We paid a lot of attention to the design of our restaurant. The decoration is sober and simple, and this is something our parasols need to match perfectly. The terrace and the building must form a single whole. We are happy that we took a lot of care when choosing our parasols. The quality and the appearance of the parasol fabric add to the authentic ambiance of our farmhouse setting”


Three-star chef Gert De Mangeleer (Hertog Jan and Bistro LESS)

			
 
			
 
				
				
			
 

				

				
				
				

				
				
				
Avoid your parasols becoming dirty by choosing the right colour




Parasols become dirty on some terraces more quickly than on others. This can be influenced by a number of factors: trees in the immediate vicinity, a high density of passing traffic, etc.


    

  • Trees turn the things around them green. But you will notice this less on a green parasol.
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  • Traffic pollution turns things grey and black. Again, this will be less visible on grey and black fabric.
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  • Some types and colours of fabric become dirty faster or slower than others. Ask for advice.
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Use colour to match your parasols to your exterior




When you dress each morning, you try to ensure that the colours of your clothes match each other as closely as possible. And you do the same with the colours in your interior. So why not with your terrace? Make sure that the colours in this ‘outside room’ create the same ambiance and show the same attention to detail as your inside rooms.


    

  • What colours are your table linen and crockery?
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  • What colour goes best with your tables and chairs?
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  • Avoid parasol colours that clash with your facade or the rest of the building.
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White is always good


“The choice of colour was a key factor when we bought our parasols. We wanted them to match the rest of the features on our terrace. We work with a pattern of special tiles in black and white. For this reason, we wanted parasols in one of these colours. Black attracts more warmth than white. And white is fresher and more summery. And so, we opted for white.”


Three-star chef Geert Van Hecke (De Karmeliet, De Refter, Zet’Joe)

			
 
			
 
				
				
			
 

				

				
				
				

				
				
				
Get yourself noticed with colour




Is your terrace surrounded by other terraces? If so, why not go for a parasol colour or a combination of colours that will attract people’s attention. Standing out from the crowd: that’s the name of the game! Your parasols need to match the other elements in your restaurant, but they don’t need to match your neighbour’s parasols. Dare to be bold!

			
 

			
 
				
				
			
 

				

				
				
				

				
				
				
And what will the town hall think?




Is your terrace visible from the road? Great! It will be easier to see and attract more customers. But be careful: many local authorities impose restrictions on the colours you can use on your terrace. Check your town/city website or contact the responsible official.

			
 

			
 
				
				
			
 

				

				
				
				

				
				
				
Protect yourself and your guests from the sun’s dangerous ultra-violet rays.


The sun emits dangerous ultra-violet rays that can seriously damage your skin. Burns caused by UV-rays can even result in cancer. A parasol fabric of the right quality can protect against these rays. Dickson is a manufacturer of sun-resistant fabrics that tests each individual colour to establish its Ultraviolet Protection Factor or UPF: the extent to which a particular fabric prevents UV penetration and thereby protects the skin. A professional expert can give you the right advice.


    

  • UPF12+ holds back 90% of all UV-rays.
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  • UPF30+ holds back at least 95% of all UV-rays.
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  • UPF50+ holds back 100% of all UV-rays.
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Demand a 10 year guarantee against the decolourisation of your parasol fabric


We’ve all seen them. Those dirty, washed-out parasols whose colours are no longer recognizable. They might once have been red (or blue or green) but after two seasons their colour has been bleached by the sun. This can ruin your carefully constructed business image. Shabby parasols create a shabby impression amongst your customers?


    

  • Most people think that every colour of every parasol loses its colour in the sun.
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  • Not true: some colours fade more quickly than others. The type of fabric and the way the colour is applied is also crucial.
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  • Dickson give a 10-year guarantee against the discolouration of their fabrics, even if your parasols are in the desert.
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In classic textiles, the colorant is added to the surface of the threads or fibres. This means that the colour is restricted to the exterior and therefore fades or disappears in after a time. You can compare it to the colour of a radish.

			
 
			
 
				
				
			
 

				

				
				
				

				
				
				
			

			
 

				
				
				

				
				
				
Long-lasting quality parasols are usually made from mass-coloured acrylic fibre. This means that the colour pigments penetrate to the interior of the fibres during the production process, before the threads themselves are even made. As a result, the colour does not fade and cannot be washed out. You can compare it to the colour of a carrot.

			
 
			
 
				
				
			
 

				

				
				
				

			
 
				
				
			
 
				
				
			
 

				
				
				
				

					

				
				
				

				
				
				
			

			
 

				
				
				

				

				
				
				

			
 
				
				
			
 

				

				
				
				

				
				
				
Pick the right parasol
 (and your terrace will be packed)


50 parasol tips for the catering world


The book of 'parasologist' Pierre Christiaens for the
 catering professional who wants to get more out of his business.

			
 

				Order your own copy here
			

			
 
				
				
			
 
			
 
				
 
				
			
 

				
				
				
				
					

				

				
				
				

				
				
				
			

			
 

				
				
				

				
				
				
Pierre Christiaans


"Parasologist" and author


















How can you get more out of your terrace? Why can the right parasol help to make your terrace more pro table? And how do you choose the right parasol?


In this book, ‘parasologist’ Pierre Christiaens offers insights based on his more than 25 years of experience and know-how in the world of parasols for catering businesses. With dozens of awards, his company Symo Parasols is most highly acclaimed parasol producer under the sun.


Pierre is most proud of his honorary title as ‘Maestro dell’Artigianato’ (Master Craftsman) of the City of Rome.


Symo Parasols also created the famous Sywawa ‘Sunbelievable’ design parasols.


In 2007, Unizo nominated Pierre Christiaens as the most creative entrepreneur of the year.


This book allows you to benefit from that creativity and entrepreneurial skill.
Because with the right parasol you can get so much more out of your business.