I’m so excited to share with you this great post about Pergolas. My husband and I just moved and our backyard is super boring, especially compared to our backyard we just moved from. We talked about putting up a Pergola in the backyard to give us some shade, then 2 days after talking about it I got this guest post and was super excited to share it with you!
Using Pergolas in Your Landscaping
{Guest Post: Maurine Anderson}
Pergolas are beautiful archways that are reminiscent of Italy’s Tuscany region, most commonly used in gardens and parks. Although traditionally covered with trained climbing or trailing plants, a pergola can be left bare or accented with any variety of shades and curtains for a customized look and ambiance. If you’ve been looking to give your home’s landscaping a sophisticated upgrade while adding some shade, a pergola could be just the answer. Here are some great ways that you can incorporate pergolas in your landscaping.
Shade your back patio.
Pergolas are used perhaps most commonly in landscaping today as awnings over backyard patios. Pergolas traditionally have slatted roofs, which function wonderfully and even provide a great deal of shade as is. If you desire, however, you can also install a solid roof over your pergola for a more versatile, all-season patio cover. Or, you can even install solar panels directly on top—a perfect way to conceal them. It’s also an option to install a fabric shade underneath the slats for added shade, or to add climbing plants to your pergola for a more natural type of shade. You can even install rolling shades that hang down the sides of your pergola for those occasions when you want to block out sunlight coming in from the sides. (As an added bonus, these rolling shades will give your patio more of a “roomy” feel.) For something more whimsical, try hanging curtains along the side pillars. Another bonus of having a pergola over your backyard patio? It’s easy to install string lights or hanging lights on one, giving your patio a more entertaining feel.
Frame a walkway.
Pergolas look especially stunning when installed over garden walkways. You might install a bare pergola simply to add interest to your landscape, or you might install climbing plants on your pergola and line your walkway with low shrubs or hedges to make your walkway a garden retreat that stands out on its own.
Create a new seating area.
A pergola is also a great way to set apart an area in your yard for additional seating. As this article suggests, adding an extra seating area to your yard is a great way to make your yard party-ready, especially for summer barbecues. Try installing a patio-sized pergola in an open area of your yard and then placing one or two pieces of outdoor seating underneath, along with some accent tables and accent decor.
Add some poolside shade.
Do you have a pool in your backyard that is surrounded by a large, sunny deck? Adding a pergola is a great way to add some shade to your deck while still lending your deck an open-air feel. As with a patio, you can leave the pergola as is, or you can install shades along the roof or sides to shut out more sunlight.
Add interest to a deck.
Does your home have an open, outdoor deck out front or out back? Adding a pergola that coordinates with the wooden frame of your deck is a great way to add some interest without it being overbearing. As an added bonus, installing a pergola allows you to hang that porch swing or hanging bench you’ve always dreamed of having. You can even install curtains along the sides for an added touch of privacy.
Frame your garage door.
This article shares a neat idea for the front of your home—try using a short pergola to frame your garage door. Doing so will add some shade to your driveway area, and it will boost your home’s curb appeal. As an added bonus, you can cover your pergola with creeping vines for an extra touch of greenery in your front landscape.
Frame an outdoor movie screen.
One fun DIY option is to create a wooden frame around an outdoor movie screen and to then frame the top of the screen with a short pergola. This is a great way to add something entertaining to your landscape while still allowing the movie screen to blend in with the rest of your landscaping. Just search “pergola movie screen” on Pinterest to find some great DIY tutorials.
