Many people may not be familiar with a pergola, but they can be an excellent addition to any backyard design. A pergola is a garden feature that has vertical posts, or pillars, that support cross beams or open lattice. Some people choose to leave their pergolas plain, where others may choose to add to theirs with woody vines, which can provide further shade.

Pergolas can be used to create shaded walkways or sitting areas. They can be useful as an extension your house or as cover for an open terrace or patio.

Benefits to adding a pergola to your backyard landscaping plan include,

Let’s discuss some of the excellent ways you can incorporate a pergola into your backyard design, we have included some examples of the many pergolas we have built at Second Nature.

A pergola can be an excellent addition to your pool and hot tub landscaping. With a pergola over your hot tub, you can enjoy your hot tub in the shade and at the cooler temperatures that a shaded area can afford.

With the addition of a pergola around your hot tub you also gain privacy that allows you to enjoy your hot tub in peace!

With storage benches built into your pergola you not only add valuable seating space but can also gain storage that can be used for towel storage or hot tub maintenance supplies, such as necessary chemicals or tools.

A freestanding pergola can be an excellent way to define a space in your outdoor living area. For example, a pergola can be used for a sitting area or an outdoor kitchen.  These areas are not always right next to your house but may be removed from the house in a separate part of your yard or on a part of the patio or deck not directly adjacent to the house.

A pergola does not have to be a physically large in order to be a focal piece in your backyard design. A small pergola can provide a large impact without requiring a large footprint. A small pergola can give you a lot of bang for you buck when upgrading or revamping your backyard landscaping.

A pergola can be a great way to provide some cover for the chef as they do some backyard grilling! A pergola can also provide additional storage and create a defined area for your grill.

The addition of a pergola on your patio can greatly increase the usability of your patio by providing shade during the sunniest, and often hottest, part of the day. In addition to bringing additional function to you patio, a pergola can add a specific design element to the patio and your entire backyard and landscaping plan.

A patio pergola can be used to extend your living space with a dining area, seating area, and/or outdoor kitchen.

Wood is the most common material used for pergolas. While you might see metal pergolas available in some of the big box stores you’ll find that they are not as sturdy and permanent as a wood pergola. A wooden pergola can be completely customizable; you are not limited to the size or design elements of the manufacturer. Wooden pergolas are often made from cedar or redwood, which both make a great choice for outdoor application and require minimal upkeep while maintaining a beautiful look.

With a custom build pergola you can choose any design you can think of! We can even help you come up with a new design of your own. For example, you may be drawn to the design elements of both a gazebo and a pergola. While a pergola is typically square in shape with cross beams instead of a roof and a gazebo has a round or octagon shape with a complete roof, we can build a gazebo pergola that combines elements from both of these backyard landscaping features.

Maybe you have decided you want to have more than a simple deck on the back of your house. If you are looking for a backyard landscaping plan with more visual interest you may want to go with a deck pergola. A deck pergola can help keep you cool on your deck by providing additional shade. Whether you have an outdoor living area that you don’t utilize due to the sun or if your small children would benefit from the shade provided by a pergola so that they can play, a deck pergola can increase the usability of your deck.

A pergola does not have to be a freestanding structure in the middle of your yard or patio. There are multiple reasons why you may decide you want a pergola attached to your house. An attached pergola can be more cost efficient. Because it attaches to your house there is likely less material needed for construction. A small yard could also be another reason; an attached pergola can be a great use of the space available. Also, an attached pergola can also provide shade inside the home, as well as outside.

If you are dreaming of an outdoor kitchen, an outdoor kitchen pergola is an excellent addition to your backyard landscaping. With a pergola you can define the space of the outdoor kitchen, provide shelter for both the outdoor kitchen elements and whoever is doing the cooking in the outdoor kitchen, and the vertical support beams can be used for additional storage!

Convinced that it’s time to add a pergola to your outdoor living space? Second Nature Outdoor Living can help with everything from deciding which type of pergola is right for your outdoor space, to design and build. Give Second Nature a call today to get started! 816-844-7733

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