A well-planned pergola can add usable outdoor living space to a lackluster backyard, garden or patio. Below are five ways a pergola can enhance your home’s exterior:
1. Accent your garden. A pergola is composed of a series of columns that support open cross-beams–the perfect habitat for climbing plants and vines. It can also be customized with a trellis, wirework or lattice, allowing you to create a lush, vine-covered garden structure. Trumpet vines, grapevines and several varieties of roses tend to work well with pergolas. Clematis is another popular choice–it can grow along the sides as well as over the top, providing additional shade.
2. Define an outdoor living room. Nothing delineates an outdoor living room quite like a pergola. Not only does it provide open cover, but it instantly adds a welcoming atmosphere and European charm to your outdoor dining room, cocktail destination or casual hangout. It’s also a handy place to hang party decorations, holiday lights, stereo speakers or other decor elements.
3. Connect sections of your yard. While most pergolas have four columns for a room-like structure, you can add columns to create an extended covered walkway. Hung with wisteria and other climbing flowers, a pergola can become the prime location for a relaxing stroll. You can use it to connect your back door with an outbuilding or garden, or you can combine it with an archway arbor to frame your gate. Keep in mind the structure should be tall enough to allow people to walk beneath it without having their heads brushed by trailing vines.
4. Make some shade. A pergola provides partial shade, filtering harsh glare while still allowing enough sunlight to reach your plants. You can increase the amount of shade by growing more climbing plants across the top or even dressing up the sides with sheer curtains. For added protection, vinyl pergolas are fabricated with Titanium Dioxide, a powerful sun protectant commonly found in sunscreens for infants and people with sensitive skin.
5. Add romance to your home. It’s no wonder pergolas are a common site for marriage proposals. This Renaissance-period garden feature adds a touch of old-world romance to any landscape. Place a bench beneath a free-standing pergola to create a private nook for gazing at the sunset or stars. For extra charm, hang planters filled with roses, lilies or other favorite flowers.
The versatility of pergolas makes them a highly desirable landscaping element that adds both beauty and value to a home. And the possibilities aren’t limited to these five ideas–you can use them as a starting point to create your own custom pergola.
~Ben Serviss, 2010
By: Ben Serviss
About the Author:
Interested in creating an outdoor living space? Check out pictures of our rustic cedar pergolas to see how they can help define your landscape at Rick’s website for fencing, decking, cedar and vinyl pergolas in Oregon and Washington.
