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Benefitting from a garden screening idea such as a covered pergola doesn't need to cost the earth. Work with mother nature instead, and opt for natural reed or even bamboo – and not only will they bring beachy vibes along, but they will also add a little more privacy to your space too. For a pergola idea that really blends into the garden opt for a roof made from natural materials. You can pick up reed screens from DIY stores and just secure them in between the beams of your pergola structure. If you've gone for a super basic DIY pergola design as a more budget-friendly option, that's not to say that your pergola can't be the place to be for gorgeous garden party ideas!
Corner Pergola Ideas
5 homes that spotlight a captivating play of light and shadow - Architectural Digest India
5 homes that spotlight a captivating play of light and shadow.
Posted: Wed, 01 Nov 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
When your outdoor space feels comfortable, functional and stylish, you're bound to spend more time enjoying the fresh air. There are endless ways to use a pergola to craft a dreamy backyard design — whether you favor a rustic, wood pergola covered in vines or a sleek structure paired with modern outdoor furniture. Use the garden feature to shade an alfresco dining table, establish a cozy conversation nook or protect a walkaway. From small gardens to spacious patio designs, we've rounded up charming pergola ideas to elevate your exterior and get it ready for outdoor entertaining.

Modern Pergola Ideas to Shade Your Outdoor Space
Whether you are a commercial developer or a homeowner looking to enhance your outdoor living area, our pergolas are the perfect addition to elevate your space. A carport is a protective parking space for cars, similar to a pergola but usually with a rain-proof roof. Its columns provide vertical climbing support for plants, while wires can be stretched between the posts to provide 'walls' of foliage and flowers. The Italian word 'pergola' usually refers to a timber frame on which fragrant, climbing plants grow, to provide dappled shade for a seating area. Pergolas have been popular since ancient times – thought to be about from about 800 BC – and were used in hotter countries to provide shade from the heat of the day.
Porches & Patios

We’ve designed the pergola plans so you simply slip these columns over treated 4×4 posts embedded in concrete. When screwed to the wooden posts, these columns provide a stable, solid base for the overhead lattice framework. A pergola is an outdoor structure with an open, gridlike roof held up by columns or posts without walls. Pergolas are composed of columns, beams, bracing, and rafters and may have batten strips or louvers.
Many also have built-in flooring that is designed to sit directly on grass. They also often have a floor that is raised above ground level for a better vantage point. Whether cantilever or radius, as well as 2 or 4 posts, it can have a solid roof.
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If you choose to ignore the requirement to install on piers, there’s really nothing we can do to stop you. The open frame of this black metal pergola offers sparser shade than other versions, but the coordinating privacy wall cuts the sunlight on the plush seating. Overhead bulbs and a wide fire pit give guests a reason to stay long after sunset. A pergola on one side of this house mirrors the full porch on the other, while lush plantings soften the geometric angles of the walkway, container garden, stairs, and roof lines. Our best garden parasols buying guide has plenty of great designs. 'To create a stable pergola we recommend securing the posts into the ground with Postcrete,' says Leigh Barnes of Jacksons Fencing.
Pergolas can be used to grow vines because the vines are supported by the rafters, which are usually spaced 24 to 30 inches apart. Although usually square, a pergola can be installed along walkways to provide shade, which is called a pergola promenade. There may be more posts for longer or larger structures, but the basic form requires four posts arranged in a rectangle.
Use It as the Perfect Garden Entrance
Complete shade is often most effective when combined with existing structures, or with the right furniture and vantage point. If you’re considering pergola shade options, artfully draped fabric happens to be another great method for shielding from the glances of neighbors or traffic. It's also useful for adding protection to decks and other elements from color fading from the elements, but be sure to pick a fabric intended for the outdoors. More than just outdoor eye candy, a pergola can provide shelter from the elements. You can create your very own shaded oasis right next to your home by building your pergola as an extension of your roof or overhang.
Keep Things Small and Simple
This scene is reminiscent of a balmy evening meal at a restaurant table along the seafront.Looking for more striking ways to illuminate your space? We like this sleek design, which turns the covered space into a room of its own complete with lighting, sofa and even a coffee table. One of the best uses for a pergola is to create a zoned area, defining key parts of the garden for their various uses – one of which, of course, is relaxation. To avoid the space feeling too enclosed, train the plants up one side of the pergola and over the top, leaving the other three sides free. Then finish the scene with hanging paper lanterns and strings of festoons for a cozy glow.
By keeping it unattached (about 4 in. from the eaves), you don’t have to deal with moving existing gutters or matching eaves. You also don’t have to mess with frost footings (in colder climates). However, if you have clay soil, it’s best to dig to frost depth (if greater than 24 in.) for your footings to prevent frost heave. Here’s a summer project designed to keep you cooler on even the hottest of days. The classical columns support an overhead wooden lattice that works like a big shade tree, letting only a portion of the sun’s radiance shine through.
Since the area is to be used as an outdoor lounging / living /dining area, garden lights and a ceiling fan were also installed to keep its users comfortable. It is made from a combination of white powder-coated metal posts & beams, and white-painted wood top with a latticed design/cover. This example uses a simple all-wood structure which was fixed on a solid concrete base. To take advantage of the ambiance and the shaded area, a bench made from natural driftwood and a driftwood dining table were placed. This wood patio pergola is just as colorful as the blooming flowers in the garden which surrounds it. The small design uses simple white-painted wood framing to match the white wood siding on the exterior walls of the house.
The white finish of this design matches the white frames of the windows of the architecture, so it looks like it is a part of the main structure despite not being directly connected to the house. This garden features a white-painted pergola simply used as an accent piece in the garden to where vines and flowers can crawl and grow into. This adjustable metal kit uses powder-coated metal framing in dark brown to give it a durable finish in mocha brown to match the outdoor furniture pieces. These designs are on a raised concrete base where the steel side and top slats are also attached. The continuous vertical and horizontal lines, combined with the black paint & raw concrete finish, gives a very modern-industrial look.
With the addition of some string lights and a candle or two, your new dining space will feel cozy and intimate – perfect for an elegant dinner party with friends. Combined with a trellis, it's also the perfect support for climbing plants, which will soften the look and create a green and leafy screen as they grow. It's definitely one to consider if you're thinking about updating your garden fence ideas. A black, charcoal or deep gray adds a dramatic accent to any outdoor space, and is perfect if you're after an industrial edge. It uses star jasmine plants, selected for their scented white blooms, which are entwined across a structure made from reclaimed oak and scaffolding poles.