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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.
"Aside from their practicality, there’s also a certain amount of charm and achievable luxury you immediately get with a pergola," says Kendra Poppy, trends expert at Yardzen — an online landscape designer. "Pergolas are having a moment and we don’t think they’ll go away anytime soon. Though it’s a simple structure, it can make your backyard feel like more of a destination — a place where you plan to stay awhile."
When browsing these pictures for inspiration, you'll find there are a lot of options — from modern fiberglass pergolas to traditional wood, metal and lower-cost vinyl options. Poppy's advice: "You’ll want to consider your budget, style preferences and appetite for maintenance (wood requires more), before deciding a pergola." Luckily, we've rounded up simple DIY ideas (think small wood structures) alongside luxury setups complete with shade sails, retractable screens and gorgeous outdoor lighting. Start scrolling to find a favorite!
1
Infuse Greenery
Allow climbing and creeping plants to take over your pergola, as landscape architect Janice Parker does in this inviting space. A few of our favorites: ivy, honeysuckle and climbing roses.
RELATED: Best Ground Cover Plants That Require Little Maintenance
2
Extend Your Living Space
Put a pergola in the front or backyard to create the illusion of a large living space. "One of our favorite ways to incorporate a pergola is to convert a back patio or front entrance into a porch by adding a pergola overhead," says Poppy.
3
Add Curtains for Privacy
Elevate your pergola with curtains, whether you buy a set or make them yourself. They look great, but they can also help protect you from harsh sunlight, cold winds or rainy weather.
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4
Hang String Lights
Create a dreamy backyard setup with string lights, just as landscape designer Kate Anne does here. Not only will the glow make it possible to enjoy the space at night, it creates the perfect ambiance.
5
Create Backyard Zones
Design a backyard with separate zones, like a dining area, lounging space and small gardens. "Pergolas create a distinct outdoor room and at the same time, their open structure allows for connection to the rest of the yard," says Poppy.
6
Relax With Lounge Chairs
Create your very own backyard cabana with a poolside pergola that provides a nice amount of shade when you need it. Use UV-blocking curtains for further sun protection!
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7
Craft a Cozy Corner
If you've got a corner of your backyard that isn't living up to it's potential, consider adding a pergola — along with some pavers and comfortable outdoor seating. Here, Tilly Design surrounds the wooden pergola with grass and greenery to make it feel like it's own cozy corner.
8
Embrace Bright Whites
Adjacent to a forest of greenery, Yardzen uses fresh white hues to make this outdoor lounge space pop. Under the white pergola, find a natural wood dining table, white wicker chairs and white pebbles as flooring.
9
DIY a Small Pergola
If you're looking to elevate a small space, consider making a pergola yourself! It shouldn't take much time as long as you have some basic power tools on hand.
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10
Level Up Outdoor Dining
Bring the luxury of the indoors straight to your backyard with striking lighting fixtures and contemporary furniture. Plus, landscape designer Kate Anne went for a pergola with extra shape and pattern for another touch of elegance.
11
Go for More Than One Pergola
Reinvent your backyard with not just one, but three pergolas over the patio. For this dreamy design, Janice Parker layers in gorgeous greenery for an elevated appeal.
12
Make a Statement With Black
A dark structure adds drama and creates contrast in this neutral backyard. And since black absorbs more sunlight, the dark pergola may actually keep you cooler.
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13
Choose Natural Stone Flooring
Turn to natural materials like stone and wood to make your outdoor design feel comfortable and relaxed. To keep it casual, the white pergola is made to blend seamlessly with nature.
14
Add a Roof
While some pergolas are retractable, you can add roofing material to make the structure more permanent. Interior designer Jessica Risko Smith elevates the space with wicker seating with blue cushions and white round tables.
15
Decorate With Paper Lanterns
This tiny pergola — illuminated by paper lanterns — exudes a charming, rustic vibe. Important to note: You shouldn't leave paper lanterns up for an extended time outdoors, especially if it may rain.
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16
Suspend a Swing
Get playful with your seating choices, considering most pergolas can support the weight of a porch swing. Cushions or no cushions, swings provide fun and relaxation for all ages.
17
Grow Climbing Vines
For a sense of privacy, add a living plant wall on one side of your pergola. Our suggestion: Ivy (think pothos) and vines that survive year after year.
18
Keep It Natural With Raw Wood
Great backyard design ties back to nature, which is why we love how Yardzen used raw woods to build this pergola. "Overhead, pergolas establish an intimate feel, but with no walls, they allow you to be immersed in nature," says Poppy.
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19
Protect a Pathway
Use a pergola to shade a walkway, which might even help your surrounding plants if they can't tolerate full sun. Take a note from landscape architect Janice Parker and choose a curved design for a more unique aesthetic.
20
Choose a Deck Pergola
Protect a beautiful patio design with a wood slat pergola, then add shades or a retractable screen on the side for more privacy. Keep in mind that the way in which the roof is slatted will provide more or less shade.
Alyssa Gautieri
Associate Lifestyle Editor
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have personal experiences or expertise. However, I can provide information on various topics based on the search results I have access to. For the concepts used in this article, here's some information:
Pergolas
A pergola is a garden feature that provides shade and architectural interest to outdoor spaces. It typically consists of vertical posts or pillars that support crossbeams and an open lattice or roof. Pergolas can be made from various materials, including wood, metal, fiberglass, and vinyl. They can be designed in different styles, from rustic to modern, and can be customized to suit individual preferences and budgets .
Uses of Pergolas
Pergolas offer several benefits and can be used in various ways to enhance outdoor spaces:
- Infuse Greenery: Pergolas can be adorned with climbing and creeping plants, such as ivy, honeysuckle, and climbing roses, to create a lush and inviting atmosphere.
- Extend Living Space: By adding a pergola to a front or backyard, you can create the illusion of a larger living space. It can convert a back patio or front entrance into a porch-like area.
- Add Curtains for Privacy: Curtains can be added to a pergola to provide privacy and protection from sunlight, wind, or rain.
- Hang String Lights: String lights can be hung from a pergola to create a dreamy and cozy ambiance, making the space enjoyable at night.
- Create Backyard Zones: Pergolas can help define separate zones in a backyard, such as a dining area, lounging space, or small gardens. They provide a distinct outdoor room while maintaining a connection to the rest of the yard.
- Relax With Lounge Chairs: A pergola near a poolside can provide shade and create a relaxing space with lounge chairs. UV-blocking curtains can be used for additional sun protection.
- Craft a Cozy Corner: Pergolas can be used to transform an underutilized corner of a backyard into a cozy and inviting space. Adding pavers, comfortable outdoor seating, and surrounding greenery can enhance the ambiance.
- Embrace Bright Whites: Using fresh white hues in combination with a pergola can create a visually striking outdoor lounge space. It can be complemented with natural wood furniture and white pebbles as flooring.
- DIY a Small Pergola: For small spaces, building a pergola yourself can be a cost-effective option. Basic power tools are typically sufficient for the construction process.
- Level Up Outdoor Dining: Pergolas can be used to elevate outdoor dining areas by incorporating striking lighting fixtures, contemporary furniture, and unique shapes or patterns in the pergola design.
- Go for More Than One Pergola: Multiple pergolas can be used to reinvent a backyard, creating an elevated appeal. Layering in greenery can further enhance the aesthetic.
- Make a Statement With Black: A dark-colored pergola can add drama and contrast to a neutral backyard. Additionally, black pergolas may absorb more sunlight, potentially keeping the space cooler.
- Choose Natural Stone Flooring: Natural materials like stone and wood can be used for flooring to create a comfortable and relaxed outdoor design. A white pergola can blend seamlessly with nature.
- Add a Roof: While some pergolas have retractable roofs, others can be made more permanent by adding roofing material. This can provide additional protection from the elements.
- Decorate With Paper Lanterns: Paper lanterns can add a charming and rustic vibe to a pergola. However, it's important to note that they should not be left outdoors for an extended period, especially in rainy weather.
- Suspend a Swing: Pergolas are often sturdy enough to support the weight of a porch swing, providing a playful seating option for all ages.
- Grow Climbing Vines: To create a sense of privacy, a living plant wall can be added to one side of a pergola. Ivy and other vines that survive year after year are popular choices.
- Keep It Natural With Raw Wood: Using raw wood materials for pergolas can create a backyard design that feels connected to nature. The open structure of pergolas allows for an intimate feel while being immersed in the surrounding environment.
- Protect a Pathway: Pergolas can be used to shade walkways, providing relief from direct sunlight and potentially benefiting nearby plants that prefer partial shade.
- Choose a Deck Pergola: A wood slat pergola can be used to protect a beautiful patio design. Shades or retractable screens can be added for increased privacy, and the slatted roof design can provide varying levels of shade.
Remember, these are just some ideas and suggestions for using pergolas in outdoor designs. The specific design choices will depend on individual preferences, available space, and budget considerations.
Let me know if there's anything else I can help with!
