16 Modern Pergola Ideas To Spruce Up Your Yard (2024)

FAQs

How to make a pergola look pretty? ›

To add additional shade and a natural element to the design, dress up the structure's supports and slats with climbing vines. Hang outdoor string lights from the pergola to make al fresco dinners even more enjoyable. Use colored glassware and napkins that echo the sky and greenery for a seamless look.

Pergolas can be easily upgraded in a variety of ways. Building a pergola roof or adding screening to your pergola will make the space waterproof and usable in any weather condition. You might want to incorporate plants, lights, or décor in your pergola design to make the space cosy and inviting.

If you're looking to create a cozy atmosphere in your gazebo or pergola, adding lights is an easy way to do it. You can either add solar-powered lights or ones that plugin. Solar-powered lights are great because they don't require wiring up to your house, but both can be fun if you use dimmable LED options.

How to build a pergola to maximize shade. There are two major decisions that should be made to maximize a pergola's use: where to face it and where to place it. Because the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, these structures should be faced so their rafters run north and south.

Both are designed to provide additional shade for outdoor spaces and both can be used to create wonderful focal points in the garden. The key difference between a pergola and a pergoda is that the latter has a solid roof made of slats.

A pergola has the potential to add value to your home, with many estimates putting the return on investment at somewhere around 50% to 80%. That makes pergolas one of the more valuable additions homeowners can put on their homes.

The colour of your pergola must match the façade of your house, your outdoor furniture and the decoration of your garden. Aluminium pergolas can be customised and come in an infinite range of colours. You can choose a classic anthracite grey aluminium pergola, a black pergola, a beige pergola, a brown pergola...

Pergolas with a cover are often referred to as pavilions. Although they are quite similar in design, a pavilion is a freestanding pergola with a fixed, stationary cover that generally completely covers the pergola.

While a white or natural wood pergola has a traditional feel, a dark paint or stain will make your pergola look modern. Try black or dark gray for a contemporary feel. Or opt for a bold color such as red or orange if it suits the style of your home and backyard.

Is it cheaper to build or buy a pergola? It's cheaper to buy a DIY pergola kit. These kits cost between $1,000 and $2,500 on average, and you won't have to pay for labor.

Can you Customise a pergola? ›

Each pergola is built to order and completely customizable to your specifications. Choose the style, dimensions, color, and options to make your backyard pergola your very own.

Pergolas can be customized to include curtains for privacy, string lights for nighttime lounging, picturesque box planters or hanging planters filled with fragrant herbs or flowers, and ornate trellises for fast growing flowering vines to climb.

You can also use wire to fashion a low budget pergola above a balcony or patio. To make the most attractive display, always use climbing plants that have flowers, colourful autumn leaves or scented foliage. Under a garden pergola you can easily create a barbecue corner or a spot for a large dining table.

Exciting decorations you can add to a pergola include LED lights, lanterns, hanging plants and outdoor furniture such as hanging chairs.

FABRIC WALLS OR CURTAINS

To provide additional shade to your pergola roof, you could potentially attach sheer weighted curtains to the frame of your pergola and draw them when you want additional sunlight, and close them so the sun doesn't intrude too far.

Western Red Cedar and Redwood are the two most commonly used woods for pergolas, aside from pressure-treated wood. Western Red Cedar (WRC) and Redwood are both naturally stunning woods and often lumped together.

Since most pergolas are made of wood make sure not to scrub too much since that may damage the natural texture of the wood. Make sure that the wood is smoothed down by removing loose splinters. Use a very light sander to even out the wood.