Landscape Design
Which Pergola Is Right for You?
A covered pergola can increase the time you spend in your outdoor living space. Which covering should you choose?
Whether you’re planning an outdoor entertaining area or want to improve the one you have, a covered pergola could be the missing ingredient that creates a versatile space you can use no matter what the weather’s doing. These inspiring options will have you transforming your own outdoor room before you know it.
A simple and relatively inexpensive roofing option is transparent Colorbond. Pair it with a black wood frame for a contemporary look, or opt for a tinted version if you want to keep out those harsh summer rays.
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Wood Paneling
If shade is what you need to make your outdoor zone more usable, a wood-lined pergola could be the way to go. Consider incorporating a couple of panels of clear, corrugated roofing to let some light in.
If shade is what you need to make your outdoor zone more usable, a wood-lined pergola could be the way to go. Consider incorporating a couple of panels of clear, corrugated roofing to let some light in.

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Plant Cover
If you’re looking for shade but aren’t too worried about protecting your outdoor area from the rain, covering your pergola with vegetation could be an appealing option. For cool climates, building designer Paul Caracoglia of The Drafting Studio suggests planting deciduous vines on a wood pergola. Wisteria, for example, opens the area to the sun in winter but keeps it cool and shady in summer.
“Fruitless grape vines are great too,” Caracoglia says. “A fruitless variety means there’s no mess from fruit dropping or from birds feeding on the fruit.”
Tip: Outdoor furniture covers are a budget-friendly alternative for protecting your furniture from the elements.
If you’re looking for shade but aren’t too worried about protecting your outdoor area from the rain, covering your pergola with vegetation could be an appealing option. For cool climates, building designer Paul Caracoglia of The Drafting Studio suggests planting deciduous vines on a wood pergola. Wisteria, for example, opens the area to the sun in winter but keeps it cool and shady in summer.
“Fruitless grape vines are great too,” Caracoglia says. “A fruitless variety means there’s no mess from fruit dropping or from birds feeding on the fruit.”
Tip: Outdoor furniture covers are a budget-friendly alternative for protecting your furniture from the elements.
Alternatively, bamboo shading adds a textural element to a casual outdoor living area and can deliver the shade you’re looking for without busting the budget.
Slats
Wood slats won’t keep out the rain, but if shade is your goal, they’re a stylish option to consider.
Wood slats can add a decorative element, particularly useful if you’re trying to disguise a cheap roofing material.
Wood slats won’t keep out the rain, but if shade is your goal, they’re a stylish option to consider.
Wood slats can add a decorative element, particularly useful if you’re trying to disguise a cheap roofing material.
Design tip: Think creatively when it comes to the design of your pergola. Unlike with additions, which are often designed to contrast dramatically with the original house, Caracoglia suggests matching a pergola to the style of the home.
“I would try to match the pergola to the theme of the house,” he says. “I’d look at what’s already there so it doesn’t stand out.”
“I would try to match the pergola to the theme of the house,” he says. “I’d look at what’s already there so it doesn’t stand out.”
Metal
Laser-cut screens add a contemporary look to outdoor areas, and are favored by architect Dominic Bagnato because they provide shade and privacy without blocking too much light. Metal siding is another option, Bagnato says. “Copper or zinc is the way to go if you are trying to show it off,” he adds.
Laser-cut screens add a contemporary look to outdoor areas, and are favored by architect Dominic Bagnato because they provide shade and privacy without blocking too much light. Metal siding is another option, Bagnato says. “Copper or zinc is the way to go if you are trying to show it off,” he adds.
Carefully angled metal louvers can be a smart choice for an outdoor dining area if keeping the western sun at bay in the afternoons is a priority.
Awnings and Shades
A waterproof awning makes this outdoor area cool and comfortable without making the space dark. Well-designed, sturdily built shades and awnings can be just as durable as other pergola materials.
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A waterproof awning makes this outdoor area cool and comfortable without making the space dark. Well-designed, sturdily built shades and awnings can be just as durable as other pergola materials.
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A sturdy awning like this one can cope with all kinds of weather, so you don’t have to panic if the wind kicks up and you’ve forgotten to retract it.
Lined
Insulated roofing can create a seamless effect between indoor and outdoor areas and can keep a deck or pergola far cooler than other covering materials. Lined ceilings can also be handy when it comes to installing lighting and overhead fans — there will be no electrical wires in sight.
Insulated roofing can create a seamless effect between indoor and outdoor areas and can keep a deck or pergola far cooler than other covering materials. Lined ceilings can also be handy when it comes to installing lighting and overhead fans — there will be no electrical wires in sight.
Lining pergolas with unpainted wood can add beauty along with protection from the elements. A lofty pergola that allows plenty of airflow and light will prevent it from feeling too dark or enclosed.
Louvers
Louvered pergolas allow you to control the light at will. With the flick of a switch you can close the louvers completely if you and your guests are caught in a downpour in the middle of lunch.
Louvered pergolas allow you to control the light at will. With the flick of a switch you can close the louvers completely if you and your guests are caught in a downpour in the middle of lunch.
Louvered pergolas can work on traditional homes as well as other styles
Louvers are also handy when it comes to cross-ventilation. Open them up to cool things down and close them when you need protection from the wind.
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Indoor-outdoor living is what many of us aspire to, but it pays to consider the seasons when you’re designing a covered outdoor area. This pergola is covered with translucent polycarbonate sheets, letting the sunshine flood in when needed and also keeping rain out.