23 Pergola Ideas That’ll Transform Your Outdoor Space

If you’re looking for a way to take your outdoor oasis to the next level without sacrificing your comfort or breaking the bank, consider adding a pergola to your backyard. This popular outdoor structure, similar to an arbor and sometimes confused with a gazebo, is usually supported by posts that can be freestanding or attached to your home. With the increasing popularity of outdoor living spaces, a solid pergola structure can even increase a home's value.

We've found 23 cool pergola ideas that represent different styles, sizes, materials, and budgets sure to inspire you.

What Is a Pergola?

A pergola is an outdoor structure, usually constructed of four posts and a roof. It’s a simpler kind of structure than a gazebo (although the two are commonly confused for each other), and pergolas can be customized to meet a wide variety of outdoor living needs.

Pergolas can be built of wood as well as vinyl, aluminum, and other materials, and they can be freestanding or attached to your house (to provide shade for an attached porch). Pergolas come at a lower cost to build and install than some outdoor shelters, like gazebos, but are usually more costly and robust than arbors.

Garden-Inspired Pergolas

Shaded pergolas were meant to be found amongst the sprawling beauty of a garden. Sit and smell the roses.

1. Freestanding Garden Patio

For an interesting geometric look, add a cube-shaped pergola to your backyard. You can choose to paint the structure a dark color to create an extra-shady spot. To complete the look, opt for outdoor wood or wicker furniture that’s dark with cushions or pillows in a lighter color for contrast.

2. Garden Oasis

Plant lovers, this one's for you! Use your pergola to shelter your beautiful plants or bring your bland structure to life by hanging planters from the beams or walls. For some natural (and beautiful!) shade from the sun and showers, grow climbing plants up and across the top of the structure.

3. Open and Airy Lattice

Channel the vibes of an English garden with the design and functionality of lattice sides on a pergola. Paint the lattice with a weather-resistant color to match your home or leave it as is for a more natural look. Either way, it’ll add some sophisticated style to any al fresco sanctuary.

4. Keeping It Close to Home

While freestanding pergolas work well for those with large backyards and sprawling gardens, a pergola can also add a romantic and serene garden vibe in a smaller space. Consider creating a pergola attached to your home to cultivate a covered outdoor porch area that can help bring the outdoors in—and vice versa.

Luxurious Pergola Additions

While a classic pergola structure can help you create a space that’s both stylish and shady, why not customize your plans? Just hire a professional for tough builds and let your imagination run wild.

5. Outdoor Kitchen With an Awning

Don’t let bad weather tarnish your outdoor kitchen dreams—construct a pergola awning to cover it. You can design the kitchen to simply include a grill and countertops on each side for prep, or you can expand the framework of the pergola to add a fireplace and some bar-height seating.

6. Light It Up With a Fire Pit

Don’t need a whole outdoor kitchen but still want to enjoy some fiery warmth on a chilly outdoor night? Because of their airy design, pergolas can work well with fire pits and create the perfect campfire experience in a cleaned-up, sophisticated way. And if you toast marshmallows over your fire pit, it’s basically still an outdoor kitchen!

7. The Sleek Outdoor Bar Experience

Maybe you’re less about cooking and eating outdoors and more about enjoying the chance to imbibe. Good news: Pergolas can also be combined with outdoor bars so that you can get your sip on in style. Depending on your design, you may even be able to wire electricity to include an outdoor refrigeration system.

8. Consider a Koi Pond

Water features make any outdoor space that much snazzier, and if you’re hoping to substantially step up your outdoor living game, a koi pond might be a great addition. You could have the pergola cover both the pond itself and a sitting area, or you can keep to a more minimalistic choice and choose one or the other.

9. Sleek Pergola With Glass Ceiling

If you love having an open pergola that doesn't block your view of the summer sky but you want to avoid the worry of tree debris and inclement weather, install glass panels on the roof.

10. Island Escape With Thatched Cover

For an authentic island feel, build a thatched roof over your pergola for some cool shade. You can use cables to support the vines and vegetation, or simply use the slats. For a bit more magic, wrap LED lights around the side and cross support at the front.

11. Poolside Pergola

After taking a dip in the pool, relax under the shade of a poolside pergola. You can keep it simple by adding a few lounge chairs and a table, or deck it out with a fireplace and full outdoor kitchen.

12. Modern Pergola

If you live in an urban area with no backyard, don’t fret! You can turn your sun-soaked rooftop into an oasis with a pergola. For a softer look, construct a classic pergola structure made of wood and incorporate lights and plenty of hanging planters and potted plants. To complement the urban landscape, opt for a bare modern metal structure that’ll perfectly frame your city view.

13. Rustic Grecian Pillared Pergola

Construct a patio fit for a Greek God in your own backyard. To achieve this design look, paint the columns of your pergola white to mimic the look of Grecian columns.

14. Intricate Aluminum Designs

Not all pergolas are made of wood. Intricately designed aluminum pergolas offer a chic and modern feel to any backyard area—not to mention fun shade patterns that the sun will throw across your porch or yard. (Just be sure you don’t end up getting a strange tan sitting underneath it.)

15. Keep It Sharp With a Smart Pergola

A pergola that can automatically sense how much shade you need and adjust itself to that level? It’s not science fiction. It's the reality of a smart pergola, which can help keep your outdoor space just right for relaxing in, no matter what the weather decides. (They can even help lower your energy bills, too.)

Small Design and Decor Updates

Maximize your time spent hanging out under your pergola by adding accessories that encourage you to stay awhile.

16. Boho Light Fixtures

Shifting the look of an outdoor hangout from day to night requires a single key element: lighting. If you’re looking for a more interesting way to illuminate your pergola, hang a mix of light fixtures like pendants or woven lanterns from the top of the structure for a dramatic look.

17. Go the Edison Route With Exposed Bulbs

Exposed bulbs are all the rage for a vintage yet updated indoor look, and they translate great into outdoor spaces, too. Consider lighting your pergola up with exposed bulbs to create a casual yet well-thought-out vibe, day or night.

18. Cozy Up With an Outdoor Sofa

Tables and chairs are excellent additions to any outdoor seating area, pergolas included. But why not up the ante and make the coziest space possible by including an outdoor sofa? Just imagine kicking back and reading under the sun on a warm summer afternoon or cuddling with a loved one on a cool fall evening.

19. Keep It Cool With a Fan

Make your pergola oasis an extension of your home interior by adding a ceiling fan to it. It’ll make entertaining and relaxing on hot summer days a breeze.

20. Hammock and Chill

A pergola is the perfect hangout spot to get some rest and soak up Vitamin D. The only thing that could make it better is by adding a warm-weather must-have: a hammock. They’re available in a wide variety of colors and prints so you’ll have plenty of options—just make sure to check whether your pergola can support the hammock and your weight before you go shopping.

21. Dreamy Daybed

Hammocks are always a solid option, but for those that love to lounge outdoors in warmer weather, an outdoor daybed is the way to go. To select the right one for your pergola space, check out the size of the space, decide whether your pergola structure can support a hanging daybed, decide who's going to use it most, and then buy accordingly. You'll get all the comforts of being in bed, plus the serene vibes from being outdoors.

22. Romantic and Curtained

Don’t you love the thought of being at a fancy poolside resort where you can sit in a cozy cabana and sip on cool cocktails all day? Bring a secluded cabana feel to your own backyard by upgrading your pergola with a set of outdoor curtains. You can choose a thicker fabric that matches the color of your outdoor furniture, or go for a sheer lightweight fabric that’ll give your space a whimsical vibe.

23. Get Swingin’

Of all the decor elements and furniture choices that can be added to a pergola, few carry the unique combination of whimsy and usability that a swing seat does. These days, many different types of outdoor swing seats are available, from cozy egg chairs that’ll feel like your own private nest to swing benches big enough for two. It’s all up to you.

What You Need to Consider for Your Pergola Design

You can outfit your pergola with table settings, chaise lounges, even wet bars, windows, lighting, garden boxes, and sound systems to make it into the alfresco sanctuary of your dreams. 

Before jumping into a pergola project, you need to consider some essential details. Among them:  

• Location: Think about whether you want to design a pergola attached to a deck, add one to your house or next to a pool, or build a pergola around a tree. You can even place your pergola in a specific direction for optimal shade.

• Budget: The average cost of a pergola is $10 to $60 per square foot. The two biggest expenses will be labor and materials. If you have a small budget, plan carefully and use your DIY skills.

• Materials: Pergolas can come in all different materials including hardwood, plywood, vinyl, metal, fabric, and glass.

• Construction: Those with some construction experience can create their own structure or use a pergola kit. If construction isn’t your forte, hire a local pergola contractor.

• Building codes and zoning laws: Most outdoor structures, such as decks and pergolas, require the approval of a building inspector, so check your local guidelines and zoning laws in advance to avoid setbacks.

Paul F. P. Pogue contributed to this piece.