Janece Maze is Associate Editor at Country Living, where she covers DIY projects, gardening, and travel. When she’s not in the kitchen creating a new recipe with farm fresh ingredients, you can find her on the road heading to a music festival or browsing a local consignment shop.  "},{"name":"Sarah Lyon","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/author/220907/sarah-lyon/","@type":"Person","description":"

Sarah Lyon is a New York City-based freelancer who produces interior design, travel and lifestyle content. Her work is featured in outlets including Apartment Therapy, Architectural Digest, MyDomaine, The Washington Post and The New York Times. Plus, her personal spaces have appeared on Apartment Therapy, The Everygirl, Houzz and more.","jobTitle":"Contributing Writer","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/rover/profile_photos/5051fe22-8a67-4327-ae30-031b88cb40e2_1692817628.file","email":"[email protected]","sameAs":["www.instagram.com/Sarahlyon9"]}],"@context":"http://schema.org","about":{"@type":"ItemList","numberOfItems":30,"itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"Pergola Covered Patio","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/home-design/decorating-ideas/g25596084/pergola-ideas/#slide-1","description":"Pergola-covered patios (cross-beams and a sturdy open lattice are attached to the side of the home) provide the best of both worlds with a breezy area that gets just enough sunlight and just enough coverage. 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RELATED: 15 Products You Need to Beat the Heat and Humidity","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/view-of-a-3d-decorated-house-patio-on-a-sunny-day-royalty-free-image-1721126630.jpg"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":18,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"Pergola + Firepit Ideas","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/home-design/decorating-ideas/g25596084/pergola-ideas/#slide-18","description":"The addition of a fire pit nearby or under a pergola will add warmth to cool evenings and it's a wonderful space to pull up a chair around the fire for conversation with friends and a glass of wine.RELATED: 16 Best Outdoor Fire Pits to Make Your Backyard Extra Cozy","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/lovely-outdoor-deck-patio-space-with-white-dining-royalty-free-image-1721133778.jpg"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":19,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"Shaded Outdoor Living Room","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/home-design/decorating-ideas/g25596084/pergola-ideas/#slide-19","description":"If you’re yearning for an extension of your living room space outside, seriously consider dressing up an empty area with a simple pergola framed idea equipped with shaded coverings, comfy outdoor furniture, and waterproof lights. 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","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/amp-backyardaddtl-5-1545095724.jpg"}}]}}

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mediterranean feeling patio with a pergola abovepinterest
Max Kim-Bee

30 Pergola Ideas to Add Style and Shade to Your Backyard

There’s no need to travel beyond your backyard for a relaxing outdoor retreat.

By and

Are you searching for more ways to create cool and welcoming spaces in your backyard? You’ve come to the right place! We’ve gathered dozens of pergola ideas to give your outdoor space an inviting look. (According to the National Association of Landscape Professionals, pergolas are a top outdoor living space trend for 2024!)

It can be challenging to create an area that’s constructed to keep you cool and cozy—especially if your yard doesn’t have shade trees to block the sun’s blazing heat—but that’s exactly a pergola’s primary purpose. Pergolas come in a variety of designs and sizes, making them a good choice for any style of home. They are also relatively easy to build with simple pergola kits. (If you’re timid about taking on a new DIY pergola project alone, take the time to research local contractors that can build a beautiful pergola for you!)

What Is a Pergola?

A pergola is a structure that provides shade from the sun’s harsh rays and, if enclosed, can keep you dry during periods of heavy rain showers. (Fun Fact: Pergola is an Italian word with ancient origins and is derived from the Latin term “pergola,” which references a latticework or trellis structure that supports climbing plants.)

A few key features distinguish pergolas from gazebos: A gazebo is a freestanding structure with open sides, a roof, and typically constructed in hexagonal or octagonal shape, while pergolas are structures that consist of parallel columns that hold up an open roof or grid of beams, rafters, or lattice work. They are typically made of wood (and other materials like vinyl and steel) and can be detached or attached to a home.

What Types of DIY Options Are Available?

Pergolas can be customized to include curtains for privacy, string lights for nighttime lounging, picturesque box planters or hanging planters filled with fragrant herbs or flowers, and ornate trellises for fast growing flowering vines to climb. Below, you’ll find plenty of inspiring ideas for pergolas of all styles, plus helpful sources to help you build your own and fun decorating ideas for existing patios and porches.

Before you begin, be sure to look into whether or not you’ll need a permit for your project, and consider hiring a professional for more complex builds. Now get started building the garden retreat of your dreams!

Find more ideas to upgrade your backyard:

1

Pergola Covered Patio

pergola covered brick patio
Eric Piasecki

Pergola-covered patios (cross-beams and a sturdy open lattice are attached to the side of the home) provide the best of both worlds with a breezy area that gets just enough sunlight and just enough coverage. Here, at a home designed by the architects at Historical Concepts and interior designer Barbara Westbrook, the pergola-covered patio provides both a potting station and an alfresco dining spot. The elegant architecture helps the area seems like a genuine “room.”

TOUR THE HOUSE

2

Natural Pergola

a man and woman sitting at a table outside under a pergola
David A. Land

Repurpose natural elements to recreate a rustic pergola. Interior designer Hadley Wiggins and Daniele Marin sit at a cozy outdoor dining table nestled under a whimsical pergola made from sprawling tree branches. A pea gravel patio helps define the outdoor space.

TOUR THE HOUSE

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
3

Entryway Pergola

pergola ideas cover entryway to a cottage
Mint Images//Getty Images

Take the road less traveled and add a pergola to an entry in need of some shade. Make it even more stunning with the addition of beautiful planters filled with greenery as well as furniture accents like wicker chairs.

RELATED: The Best Front Door Plants to Beautify Your Home’s Entrance

4

Courtyard Pergola

mediterranean feeling patio with a pergola above
Max Kim-Bee

Consider adding a pergola to an empty courtyard or garden space. A wood pergola and Mediterranean-inspired furnishings enhance an area with wood-burning brick oven and cooking station with stone counters. The finished project is an outdoor “room” perfect for hosting company or savoring a book alone on a lazy afternoon.

RELATED: Make Your Porch or Patio the Dreamiest Space Ever

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5

Freestanding Garden Pergola

black wood pergola in lavender garden with long table underneath
David Tsay, styling by Page Mullins

When California homeowner Jen Curtis isn’t hosting dinner parties out in her dreamy cottage garden, the pergola-shaded, 10-foot-long farm table (painted with outdoor paint for durability) becomes additional gardening work space.

TOUR THE HOME

6

Pergola with Flowering Vines

table with chairs under blooming wisteria and a pergola
alla_iatsun//Getty Images

Blooming wisteria adds an air of country charm to a pergola towering over a rustic dining area. Adding pretty flowering vines to outdoor settings will elevate the look of your spaces.

RELATED: 30 Best Flowering Vines to Add Vertical Color to Your Yard and Garden

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7

Pergola Swing

pergola ideas with an attached swing in a sunny garden
FOTOGRAFIA INC.//Getty Images

If you’re a big kid at heart and want an excuse to put a swing in your yard, get a pergola swing! You can get a custom unit built by a local contractor or DIY swing kits are available online too.

RELATED: More DIY Porch Swings to Add Suspended Style to Your Home

8

Pergola Walkway

pergola ideas walkway through a garden
SEAN GLADWELL//Getty Images

If you have a plain path in your garden, consider elevating it into a dreamy walkway with a pergola. The addition can perform a dual purpose by giving a bit of shade and style to the area and also serving as a space to pull up a side table and chairs when entertaining guests.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
9

Paper Lantern Pergola Decor

table set in garden under a pergola with paper lanterns
Johner Images//Getty Images

When in doubt, add paper lanterns to any pergola for an instant upgrade that transforms it into an inviting and festive space!

RELATED: The 9 Best Outdoor String Lights for a Guaranteed Patio Glow Up

10

Flower-Covered Pergola

pergola ideas for gardens
MANUELVELASCO//Getty Images

Fast-growing bougainvillea flowers crown the top of this elegant stone and wood pergola. This pretty and functional addition adds vibrant color, stylish flair, and shade.

RELATED: Discover some of the best flowering vines and ornamental shrubs for your gardening space in Country Living's gardening encyclopedia.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
11

DIY Firepit Pergola

pergola with firepit in middle and adirondack chairs around
Courtesy of Little White House Blog/Remodelaholic

Build the ultimate gather ’round space with a DIY pergola and fire pit setup. Created by Lauren Ashworth of Little White House Blog, and featured on Remodelaholic, this pretty structure is the grown-up backyard space of your dreams. It includes a fire pit, a movie screen, Adirondack chairs, six porch swings, a built-in bar, and a pergola.

RELATED: The Best Outdoor Fire Pits to Make Your Backyard Extra Cozy

12

Pergola Patio

pergola ideas for gardens
GaryAlvis//Getty Images

Not only does this simple wood pergola provide shade, but it also creates an inviting space that rivals any sitting room—especially when outfitted with pretty flowers and comfy furniture.

RELATED: The Best Outdoor Furniture at Walmart to Revamp Your Patio

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13

Dining Pergola

pergola ideas with a wood dining area on a patio
Nenov//Getty Images

Maybe you want to have lunch under the midday sun? A pergola is just the answer! Consider adding an intimate dining set to a space under a pergola to enjoy a delicious meal en plein air.

14

Poolside Pergola

poolside pergola with an outdoor sofa
MelanieMaya//Getty Images

Feel like you’re at a 5-star tropical resort with a freestanding wood pergola as a calming poolside escape. It’s ideal for cozying up after making a big splash in the pool and the perfect spot to enjoy a fruity seasonal sipper on a warm afternoon!

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
15

Plant-Filled Pergola

flower pots hanging from gazebo in garden
Zhanen Mo / EyeEm//Getty Images

Plant ladies, this one’s for you! Hanging colorful flower planters bring this otherwise plain pergola to life.

RELATED: 20 of the Best Hanging Planters and Accessories

16

Outdoor Fireplace Pergola

pergola ideas with fireplace patio chairs and a table
Victoria Pearson//Getty Images

If you’re one of the lucky people with an outdoor fireplace, adding a complementary pergola to the area will make a cozier lounging area—all day and night!

RELATED: 22 DIY Outdoor Fireplace Ideas for a Cozy Backyard

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
17

Pergola with a Fan

pergola at a house patio on a sunny day
Wirestock//Getty Images

For warm-weather climates, a pergola with an outdoor fan is absolutely essential. Recreating this project will require some electrical trenching and a bit of hard work.

RELATED: 15 Products You Need to Beat the Heat and Humidity

18

Pergola + Firepit Ideas

patio space with white dining pergola
alabn//Getty Images

The addition of a fire pit nearby or under a pergola will add warmth to cool evenings and it's a wonderful space to pull up a chair around the fire for conversation with friends and a glass of wine.

RELATED: 16 Best Outdoor Fire Pits to Make Your Backyard Extra Cozy

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
19

Shaded Outdoor Living Room

pergola with stylish garden furniture
KatarzynaBialasiewicz//Getty Images

If you’re yearning for an extension of your living room space outside, seriously consider dressing up an empty area with a simple pergola framed idea equipped with shaded coverings, comfy outdoor furniture, and waterproof lights.

20

Contemporary Pergola

contemporary pergola over a raised patio in the backyard of a house
LivvyLand

Austin, Texas, blogger, Olivia of LivvyLand built a cedar plank and polygal pergola to complete a patio renovation. The finished project includes charming string lights, an outdoor wicker furniture set, natural botanical touches, and a jute rug.

RELATED: The 10 Best Outdoor Rugs for Every Style and Budget

Lettermark

Janece Maze is Associate Editor at Country Living, where she covers DIY projects, gardening, and travel. When she’s not in the kitchen creating a new recipe with farm fresh ingredients, you can find her on the road heading to a music festival or browsing a local consignment shop.  

Headshot of Sarah Lyon
Sarah Lyon
Contributing Writer

Sarah Lyon is a New York City-based freelancer who produces interior design, travel and lifestyle content. Her work is featured in outlets including Apartment Therapy, Architectural Digest, MyDomaine, The Washington Post and The New York Times. Plus, her personal spaces have appeared on Apartment Therapy, The Everygirl, Houzz and more.

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