Match A Slatted Design To Your Furniture
‘The Viking Friluftsliv Garden’ designed by Will Williams at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2021
This striking pergola has been hand crafted from the hardwood iroko, which, as well as being durable, adds a wonderfully organic and warm tone to the scene. What’s more, the slatted design will allow a warm summer breeze to comfortably flow through, whilst still offering plenty of shade.
Pairing it with a wooden dining set-up in a matching hue brings a real sense of harmony to the zone. And, just out of shot is a modern cooking area, so there’s everything needed for chic outdoor living.
Love the look? Our buying guide for the best wooden garden furniture is full of great picks.
Orchard Ambiance Thatched Pergola
The dining area of this pergola shelters under a thatched roof, but the thatch is supported by cables rather than slats. The cables extend beyond the thatch to support vines that grow up the posts at the front of the pergola, turning the pergola into a trellis. Bright lemon and lime colored accessories carry on the cheerful orchard theme.
Attached Pergola Design Ideas
To make a new attached pergola blend with an existing home, choose a complementary style and color scheme. With stately columns and crisp white paint to match the house trim, this pergola caps a brick patio along the front of the home. Along with the surrounding trees, the attached pergola filters the sun streaming into the large windows.
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Summer At The Hamptons Patio Pergola
This pergola continues the style of the house because it is attached to the front of it. The flooring is made of grey stones so are the walls and the supports of the pillars.
The white wooden lumber of the pergola matches the color and style of the house ornaments while also making an elegant contrast with the grey stones and the green grass.
What Is The Point Of A Pergola
The purpose of a pergola is to block harsh glare from the sun while allowing gentle light and fresh air in. A typical pergola wont completely block sunlight, but some designs feature louvers or ceiling coverings to provide complete shade.
Pergolas establish a pleasant outdoor space that is part enclosed, part open. The ceiling above establishes an intimate feel, while the open sides maintain strong visual connections to the surrounding yard, making the space beneath the ceiling feel larger than its footprint. Youll commonly see pergolas positioned above outdoor spaces intended for spending prolonged time, like outdoor kitchens, dining areas, or lounge zones.
As structural items, pergolas are often focal points in a landscape design, and serve as style indicatorsa modern pergola helps everything else in your yard feel a little more modern. Practically speaking, pergolas also offer infrastructure to mount a host of accessories .
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// Pergola With Greenery
The pergola above the garage doors in this rendering is a beautiful design choice. Our designers chose to paint it white, like the homes trim, so that it becomes a clear extension of the garage structure. Next, the greenery that wrapping itself around the beams of the modern pergola takes this homes cottage aesthetic to the next level.
What Is The Best Height For A Pergola
‘The minimum height of a pergola should be no lower than two meters to provide enough head room, though some pergolas can be higher,’ advises Leigh Barnes of Jacksons Fencing. ‘We would recommend checking any site-specific critical measurements prior to assembly when thinking about the height of your pergola.’
‘Also remember the taller the pergola the more unstable it may become and it may also be harder to maintain,’ he adds.
The team at Perfect Pergolas agree on keeping the structures above two meters, suggesting a height of around 7ft 8ins from the ground. This gives ample room for taller people to walk beneath it comfortably, the team says. And, if the structure is used for growing vines, a generous height means you are less likely to bump your head on the bunches of grapes which hang down in the autumn, they add.
If you’re now wondering how wide a pergola can or should be, Leigh Barnes says it can be as wide as you like, as long as it’s built with enough timber struts to support the roof.
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Create A Stylish Outdoor Dining Area
Pergola ideas are a lovely way to elevate alfresco entertaining we adore this scene from Lights4fun
Love the idea of dining alfresco, but not so keen on your food being completely open to the elements? Use a pergola to protect food and guests from rain, wind and birds.
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.
Bistro Corner Bar Pergola
This awning pergola defines the space for a small, bistro style bar. Below the pergola, the pass-thru has a window that opens out over the three stools for protection from a short sprinkle. The combination of white with natural wood, the potted plants, and the braided sunflower rug add to the fun, casual feel.
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Corner Retreat Pergola With Suspended Lamps
This pergola provides comfortable bench seating for your garden while also supporting your garden by providing vertical space for staggered planters at each end of the bench. The colorful pillows tossed onto the benchs white cushioned seat and back echo the colors of the garden flowers, adding to the cheerful look of the nook.
Instructions For How To Build A Diy Front Porch Pergola
Taking down the Old Faux Porch Beam
The first thing we did was take down the faux beam that required the tall members of our familydef not Jason & I to duck down before going through our front door.
To read my 3 Reasons to take down faux beams in your house
Replacing the Missing Siding on the Front Porch
He replaced the missing siding with some leftovers from the garage and used one side of the faux beam to cover the opening from where it had once been.
Securing the Pressure Treated Board to our House
Using pressure treated boards from the back deck we took apart, he mounted one to the house to attach the pergola to with exterior bolts.
Attaching the Front Porch Columns to the Front porch Pergola
We found some pre primed white porch posts at Lowes for $90 each and decided to use them to attach the other end of the pergola to.
Connecting the Columns to the House
Jason then added a pressure treated board across the front of our new DIY pergola connecting the two porch posts.
The porch posts were attached to our bluestone patio with post bases.
Jason drilled holes in the stone and screwed the posts into the brackets with masonry screws.
Cutting the Lattice Boards Down to the Right Size
Using a table saw Jason zipped down a few boards to go across the top of the posts for a vine to climb through.
Creating the Front Porch Pergola
We added a few more pressure treated boards going the opposite direction to create a lattice.
Lastly, we primed & painted the front porch posts.
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Combine A Natural Roof With Decorative Lights
A canopy of leaves creates a soothing ambience, like in this set-up from Lights4fun
Take a style cue from the set-up above and grow climbing plants up and over your pergola. It’ll provide a natural ceiling that offers protection from sun and showers perfect for your outdoor seating ideas.
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.
Try A Pergola With A Difference
While classic white, black and wood seem to dominate when it comes to choosing a pergola design, why not break out of the box and choose something a little different when it comes to color. Structural elements of a pergola can also be used in a deconstructed way to create an alternative look.
‘This pergola was designed to create a perspective from a specific window in the house,’ explains landscape designer John Nash , who is known for his innovative gardens. ‘The pergola straddles a stream leading to a cascade and pond. It is made of powder-coated steel, and the design had to be calculated by an engineer.’
This type of modern pergola design works really well in gardens that feature gravel and rock landscaping, as well as those with a Japanese garden feel.
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// Pergola As One Of Many Layers
If dimension is something thats important to you when planning the design of your homes exterior, this design should pique your interest. With such a sprawling landscape, our designers matched that energy in the exterior design. This home has it all: multiple balconies, a screened-in porch, and a patio area. But the silent star of the design is the modern pergola. Its placement is ideal for creating a staggered layout to the exterior, plus it provides shade for the patio.
Moonlight Drive Parkside Pergola
Light the sidewalk from your driveway to your house with this sleek, contemporary, black pergola. Attach lights to the slats, and add a clear cover between them to provide shelter from the rain. Lighting fixtures in the planter and in the posts beside the driveway welcome guests with more light as they enter your home.
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Sizing Your Diy Pergola
A DIY pergola or arbor only has to support its own weight and the weight of whatever you hang from it. This allows you to extend beam and rafter spans.
On a larger pergola, however, you dont want the lumber to appear unsubstantial, so it is important to increase the size of the members appropriately.
Move up to 6-by-6 posts and 2-by-8 beams and rafters to keep the pergola looking sturdy. Add intermediate posts and additional beams anytime a beam or rafter span is longer than 12 feet to prevent sagging in the future.
Best Garden Furniture For Under Your Pergola
The best garden furniture under a typical sized pergola is a 4 seater rattan furniture set. This is because they tend to frame the space nicely without spilling out past the boundaries. In addition, rattan is a tough material from naturally renewable palm, widely grown in Asia, Africa, and other parts of the world. Rattan furniture can withstand harsh environmental conditions and provide great aesthetic appeal under your newly built pergola.
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Create Or Extend Your Current Porch This Easy Way
An attached front porch pergola roof covered with climbing vines
Here is a typical ranch style home
Now you see same ranch home with a front porch pergola, shutters and landscaping
Here is a typical two-story home
Now here’s the same two-story home with a front porch pergola
A pergola-covered front porch with functional outdoor space
Go For A Freestanding Design In Chic Shades Of Grey
The joy of freestanding pergolas is that they can go wherever you want them to, and all that’s required is simple fixing plates to secure them into position. Many of the latest luxe designs offer mix and match options such as sliding roof panels with UV protection, wind-diffusing side panels and built-in LED lights to light up your garden as day turns to night.
‘Pergolas are popular as they allow you to make the most of your garden,’ says Richard Searle of Kettler . Accompanied with the right outdoor furniture, you can use a pergola to expand your living room space so you get all the comforts of indoors outside. Pergolas are incredibly versatile, which makes them so well suited to patio and deck areas.’Choose a design with a strong powder coated aluminum frame and you can leave it outdoors all year round for winter use too.
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Attached Pergola Ideas To Boost Shade And Style
Jessica Bennett is the digital assistant home editor at Better Homes & Gardens. With a knack for writing and editing, she covers decorating, home improvement, cleaning, organizing, and more for BHG.com. With nearly five years of combined experience in digital and magazine journalism, she has contributed over 800 articles for BHG.com to date, and her writing on interior design and decorating has been featured in 16 national print magazines, including Do It Yourself, Country Home, Beautiful Kitchens & Baths, Secrets of Getting Organized, and more. Jessica received a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism and mass communication from Iowa State University. She also completed a secondary major in French language studies. Prior to graduation, she was inducted into the Kappa Tau Alpha honor society, which recognizes academic excellence in the field of journalism. She is currently pursuing an interior design certificate from the New York Institute of Art + Design.
An attached pergola acts as an extension to your home, deck, entryway, or garage. This structure can offer coverage and shade for more comfortable outdoor living while helping connect indoor and outdoor spaces. Use these attached pergola ideas to find a style that fits your home and lifestyle.
Contrast Concrete Flooring With Roof Overhangs And Deciduous Vines On A Front Door Pergola For A Relaxing Atmosphere
Its now time for a more unique pergola design. Flanked by two structures of the house, this front door pergola creates a cozy, shaded breezeway in a contemporary and pastoral home.
This alfresco spot is protected from the blazing sun but will still be very brisk, making it perfect for cool afternoons and early mornings. You can place some chairs and stools here or simply keep it stripped back.
The wood pergola itself contrasts the concrete flooring for an eclectic vibe, which you might love. It has that rustic wooden texture that we think can make any space feel more lived-in and homier.
Besides, there are also roof overhangs and trellises to support some deciduous vine shade. Not only do these plants provide extra shade and fresh air, but they also make your home look much greener and more relaxing!
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Botanical Promenade Pergola With Planter Implements
Shade a sunlit pathway with a pergola that extends all or part of the way along its length. Planters filled with flowering plants fastened between supports cross the walkway overhead adding color and fragrance as well as shade. Hanging baskets, small trees, and plants in tall planters shade the sides of the path.
Bali Blinds Slatted Pergola
The slanted slats on this pergola create more cool, relaxing shade for hot, summer afternoons. The wood of the pergola matches the wood around the exterior of the house as well as the wood used for the seating and tables. The grays used for the flooring, cushions, pillows, and tiles in the table top also echo each other.
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Pergola Ideas That Will Add Style And Shade To Your Backyard
You don’t need to travel far for a relaxing outdoor retreat.
Creating an outdoor space that’s cool and comfortable can be a bit of a challengeespecially if there aren’t any trees to block out the hot summer sun. Thankfully, it’s easy to install a pergola that provides shade and style. Although pergolas are available in a variety of designs and sizes, they all have one primary purposeto provide cover from the natural elements.
Island Thatching Pergola Cover
If you dream of being somewhere like Tahiti or Polynesia, sitting under this pergola will make you think that youre already there. The arched roof of the pergola is covered with thatch. The open wicker furniture adds to the island feel, but to further the theme, add tropical plants like potted palms, bird of paradise, orchids, or plumeria.
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Repurpose Crittall Panels Into A Pergola Roof
Crittall-style doors are an iconic look that never seems to date. As they tend to be used most for kitchen extensions that lead out into the garden why not pick up the look with pergola ideas in the same material to add a seamless design link between your interior and exterior spaces.
This super stylish Crittall-style roof panel houses an outdoor dining space that includes a neat kitchen area. It’s a hard wearing and practical option that looks good too. It also picks up on the black trend that’s big right now so is super easy to accessorise as well.
Plethora Of Design Styles
Pergola designs vary immensely and you can always opt for a new look by combining individual elements of different styles. A modern sunroof pergola is a simple extension that gives additional shade to your home and keeps it cool on hot summer days. The standalone Tuscany pergola lies on the other side of the spectrum with intricately carved stone pillars, plush wooden trellis and décor that match the structure to perfection. Borrowed from Italian Renaissance gardens, the more classic designs also double up as beautiful walkways with a curved and vine-covered top.
Modern pergolas go well beyond the simple stone and wood creations, Savvy designs crafted in vinyl, aluminum and other lightweight materials are quickly gaining popularity. Amalgamating a casual and contemporary atmosphere with the magic of a traditional pergola outline, these are both easy to install and maintain.
There are a seemingly unlimited number of pergola styles and designs available. With each home owner having his own specific pergola demands, a one size fits all solution is definitely not the ideal choice. Even with a basic pergola structure, one can easily alter its theme and mood by changing the decor, accessories and lighting.
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