Pergolas give you that feeling of an outdoor room, but allow plenty of light and fresh air due to their open structure.
Intimate seating arrangements or dining tables laid out under a pergola is a wonderful destination in any garden. The open structure of a pergola makes it feel like a room but one that is immersed in fresh air. It is the perfect place to spend time outdoors with friends and family.
Pergolas are garden structures that have posts or columns and a roof constructed of open rafters. Although a pergola’s open roof structure is open to the elements, providing only light shade and no protection from rain, pergolas can create pleasant seating locations in the garden that truly feel like outdoor rooms. If needed, there are many ways to achieve more shade, including training climbing vines over the top of your pergola, adding fabric shades that can be pulled in between the rafters or by adding a layer of lath (thin strips of wood) on top of the pergola.
Pergolas can be freestanding or attached to a house or other structure. Sometimes when attached to a house, a pergola may be preferable to a solid roof because it allows more light into the house and does not shade windows.
There are many different materials and styles of construction for pergolas. For a more natural look, try a pergola constructed out of unstained, natural cedar that will weather grey. A pergola with columns and painted white has a more formal or traditional look. A more modern or contemporary pergola can be constructed with steel and a louvered top. For those looking for low maintenance, there are pergolas that are wrapped in white vinyl or PVC. Regardless of what style you choose, a pergola will be sure to become the focal point of your garden and a favorite place to sit.
