Room Design
Outdoor Spaces
By
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel has written on design for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Slate, Fast Company, and the international editions of Elle Decor.
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Published on 06/22/23
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A modern pergola offers partial shade that makes an outdoor patio, deck, backyard, or outdoor kitchenmore comfortable to use when the sun is beating down. This type of hardscaping can also help to define zones in your backyard, giving your outdoor space dimension, and can create a cozy sheltered feel to an open-air setting.
Whether you’re looking for a stylish contemporary pergola or want to upgrade an existing pergola so that it doesn’t feel dated—by painting it black, covering it in greenery, adding curtains, or other DIY interventions—check out these modern pergolas in a range of styles, materials, and finishes for inspiration.
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Go All Black
This modern courtyard patio from Architects Magnus has a contemporary black pergola that is located just outside of the primary bedroom that creates a transition between indoor and outdoor spaces. The black-and-white color palette accented with pops of vivid color creates a cohesive indoor-outdoor feel.
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Try All White
This all-white poolside pergola on a Dubai property from Fantastic Frank has a light and airy feel that matches the fencing and gate at the periphery of the outdoor space. The pergola offers partial shade around a seating area by day and is strung with LED string lights to define the space after dark.
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Use Natural Weathered Wood
This NYC rooftop pergola seating area from New Eco Landscapes has weathered wood for a natural look. Planters anchor the structure and the lounge space to give it an organic and built-in feel.
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Lighten It With Slat Wood
This suburban DIY dining patio pergola from A Beautiful Mess includes a slat wood roof and sides to shade the open space while maintaining a light and airy feel. The slatted wood is carried from the roof to the sides, creating a privacy screen to protect the dining area from neighboring views without feeling closed in.
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Try a Pergola Cabana Hybrid
This Northern California backyard from Cathie Hong Interiors includes a modern poolside cabana that swaps a closed roof and sides for wide pergola-style teak wood slats that are mixed with a black metal frame to give it a modern feel.
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Shade the Outdoor Kitchen
This Southern California outdoor kitchen is protected from harsh rays by a modern pergola that is painted taupe to complement the tile backsplash and built into the kitchen structure to make it a permanent fixture on the large outdoor pool patio. The pergola includes integrated lighting and a cover for the outdoor TV.
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Use Galvanized Metal
KG Designs used galvanized metal to build a custom pergola for this Seattle backyard that doubles as an arbor. The garden landscaping softens the contemporary backyard space that includes anoutdoor fireplace, water feature, and a modern seating area.
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Use a Reed Mat Roof
This outdoor dining space from Fantastic Frank has a reed mat roof that is more opaque than a typical wood pergola, but still allows some light to stream through. Billowy curtains, a live edge dining table with mixed seating, polished concrete floors, and a wall of plants give the space a breezy modern feel.
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Mix Materials
Mixed materials add dimension to this minimalist pergola and outdoor kitchen patio from Cathie Hong Interiors. Pale wood beams echo the wood slat cabinetry on the outdoor grill station and cast shadows on pale concrete flooring as the sun moves throughout the day.
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Go Dark
This modern pergola from Calimia Home has a classic lattice roof that filters light but is painted in a dark color that mimics the backyard fencing to create a cohesive modern feel. LED string lights hide in plain sight during daylight hours but add atmosphere for nighttime use.
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Channel Midcentury Modern
A Beautiful Mess channeled midcentury modern style with this DIY backyard pergola that shades the painted detached patio and works in tandem with a privacy screen that shields the view of the carport and the neighbors.
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Shade the Play Space
A modern pergola adds a partially shaded respite next to the kids' play area in this open backyard from Cathie Hong Interiors.
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Add Boho Style
Emily Henderson Design gave this outdoor patio a modern boho style feel by outfitting the space with woven furniture and accents like a kilim pouf, and lacing the chocolate brown wood pergola with string lights that complement the adobe-style fireplace.
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Use Contrasting Wood
Home Consultant installed a dark wood pergola on the light wood deck of this Spanish-style home in Los Angeles. Hand-carved pergola beams make the structure feel like it's been there forever. A woven swing hanging from a beam outside of the bedroom creates a breezy spot for morning coffee.
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Hang Pendant Lighting
Laquita Tate Interior Styling and Design hung airy natural woven pendant lights from this dark wood backyard patio pergola that help define the lounging and dining spaces.
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Hang DIY Outdoor Curtains
DIY curtains frame the corners of this patio pergola from A Beautiful Mess, making the simple structure feel more custom and the outdoor living room seating arrangement within feel cozier.
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Float the Pergola
Interior designer Anita Yokota floated this freestanding pergola in the middle of the backyard patio to create a modern outdoor living room conversation area that is anchored with an area rug and includes modern seating. The dark wood beams are contrasted with natural wood, echoing the nearby fence and vertical planters.
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Angle the Roof
A modern metal-and-wood pergola mimics the architecture of the home, from its slanted roofline to its mix of materials, creating a harmonious feel in this Northern California backyard from Cathie Hong Interiors.
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Whitewash It
This painted white pergola from Cortney McClure Design complements the whitewashed brick of the home exterior. An electrical panel in the center of the roof creates a spot for a contrasting black woven pendant light that complements string lights hung around the periphery of the pergola and the rest of the existing patio.
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Cover It With Vines
Leanne Ford Interiors restored the pergola on this home built in 1900, refreshing the timeless design and monumental columns with new paint. The adjoining patio was outfitted with an eclectic modern seating area in a neutral color palette that is anchored by a dramatic oversized pendant light. The newly refurbished space has a smattering of vines trained along the top but will eventually serve as an arbor for a vine-covered roof that will provide additional shade in years to come.
14 Free Pergola Plans
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Introduction
As an expert in room design and outdoor spaces, I can provide you with information on the concepts mentioned in this article. I have a deep understanding of various design elements and can help you explore different styles, materials, and finishes for modern pergolas. Let's dive into the details!
Modern Pergolas
A modern pergola is a structure that offers partial shade and can be used to enhance outdoor spaces such as patios, decks, backyards, or outdoor kitchens. It serves multiple purposes, including providing shade, defining zones in the backyard, and creating a cozy sheltered feel in an open-air setting. Modern pergolas come in a range of styles, materials, and finishes, allowing for customization and personalization.
Design Ideas for Modern Pergolas
This article showcases various design ideas for modern pergolas. Here are some key concepts mentioned:
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Go All Black: A contemporary black pergola located just outside the primary bedroom creates a transition between indoor and outdoor spaces. The black-and-white color palette with pops of vivid color creates a cohesive indoor-outdoor feel.
-
Try All White: An all-white poolside pergola with a light and airy feel matches the fencing and gate at the periphery of the outdoor space. LED string lights are used to define the space after dark .
-
Use Natural Weathered Wood: A rooftop pergola seating area with weathered wood for a natural look. Planters anchor the structure and the lounge space, giving it an organic and built-in feel.
-
Lighten It With Slat Wood: A suburban DIY dining patio pergola with a slat wood roof and sides to shade the open space while maintaining a light and airy feel. The slatted wood is carried from the roof to the sides, creating a privacy screen.
-
Try a Pergola Cabana Hybrid: A modern poolside cabana with wide pergola-style teak wood slats mixed with a black metal frame, giving it a modern feel.
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Shade the Outdoor Kitchen: An outdoor kitchen protected by a modern pergola painted taupe to complement the tile backsplash. The pergola includes integrated lighting and a cover for the outdoor TV.
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Use Galvanized Metal: A custom pergola built with galvanized metal in a Seattle backyard. The contemporary backyard space also includes an outdoor fireplace, water feature, and a modern seating area.
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Use a Reed Mat Roof: An outdoor dining space with a reed mat roof that allows some light to stream through. Billowy curtains, a live edge dining table, and a wall of plants give the space a breezy modern feel.
-
Mix Materials: A minimalist pergola and outdoor kitchen patio with mixed materials, including pale wood beams and wood slat cabinetry. The play of light and shadow adds dimension to the space throughout the day.
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Go Dark: A modern pergola with a lattice roof painted in a dark color that mimics the backyard fencing. LED string lights add atmosphere for nighttime use.
These are just a few examples of the design possibilities for modern pergolas. Each design choice can create a unique and stylish outdoor space.
Conclusion
Modern pergolas offer a versatile and stylish way to enhance outdoor spaces. By incorporating different design elements, materials, and finishes, you can create a pergola that suits your personal style and complements your outdoor area. Whether you prefer a contemporary black pergola, an all-white poolside pergola, or a natural weathered wood pergola, there are endless possibilities to explore.