One of the best ways to beautify a yard and make it more functional is by adding a patio pergola. Basically, a patio pergola is an outdoor living space that consists of cross rafters and no walls. it’s an outdoor room that provides a pleasant place for relaxing, dining or enjoying a yard. Besides serving as a patio cover, a pergola can be used as a garden trellis or provide shade for walkways. In some cases, a pergola is built simply for decorating a lawn. Here are five patio pergola ideas, along with a few considerations and warnings.
Combine a Pergola with an Arbor and Trellis
You could combine a portion of a pergola with a small arbor and a trellis. In other words, all these hardscape landscaping items can be integrated to form an entryway to a garden. To make the area more functional, consider adding seating nooks for relaxing. You might even want to include a vine or two if you have enough room.
Have at Least One Closed Side
If you need more privacy, you don’t have to have all your sides open even though most pergolas feature four open sides. To increase seclusion, consider using three trellises on one of your sides. While giving some privacy, your pergola is still connected to a landscape and can feel open.
Make Use of a Small Area of a Deck by Creating a Corner Pergola
Even a small pergola can be decorative. If you don’t want a large, ornate pergola but just want to have a few hanging baskets or need a place for vines to grow, why not use just the corner of your deck for your pergola.
Use Your Pergola as a Passageway
Some homeowners use a pergola to transition from a front yard to a backyard. In other words, they’re used as pathways on the side of a house. To make your pergola even more inviting, include some rambling vines.
Mix Your Pergola with a Patio or Deck
Besides standing on their own, pergolas can also be combined with decks or patios. Adding a pergola can help in designating a seating area or other traffic zones. For example, you could have a pergola design that includes a lounge area, including a built-in bench.
The Advantage of PVC Pergolas
Pipe fittings, which are typically used for plumbing purposes, can also be used for building PVC pergolas.
- One benefit of PVC material is that it can easily blend in with a home that has vinyl siding.
- Furthermore, as most homes today do have vinyl siding, a PVC pergola fits in well with a neighborhood.
- Another huge advantage is that PVC is virtually maintenance free and won’t rot or rust.
- To clean your PVC pergola, all you need to do is rinse it, using a garden hose.
Considerations and Warnings
- Often the terms “patio” and “pergola” are used interchangeably. The only difference is that a patio is considered as an extension to a house, while a pergola is usually created to be a significant part of a garden.
- Many homeowners use their pergolas for growing vines or plants needing support. Some of the best vines that are suited for pergolas include those such as ivy, clematis, wisteria and hops.
- Besides being attractive, vines growing on a pergola can also provide privacy and shade.
- Most pergolas are partly open or completely open to the sky. However, they can also be integrated into a home’s roof structure.
- Some homeowners include a fire pit with their pergola, which gives a contemporary appearance.
- An advantage of a pergola is that you don’t have to worry about making complex connections between your roof or house and a pergola. This makes it easier for you as a homeowner, regarding your time and money.
- To hide an ugly view or shield a space from harsh sunlight, you could use fabric. It’s a good idea to include pullbacks so that it’s safer.
- Be sure your pergola blends in with the style of your house.
- When locating a spot for a pergola, study your landscape, noting points of interest.
- Look for natural elements that can be incorporated into your structure. For example, maybe you have a large tree trunk in your backyard that can serve as support. You could build a roof around it and add a solid back wall for privacy.
- Before building your pergola, be sure to check with your local building department for approval and a permit.
Questions? Stop by our e-commerce store at Worthington Millwork and check out our new pergola systems, as well as our wide range of American made architectural building products. Please contact us.