Home Mortgage Alliance Corporation (HMAC)

The backyard pergola: ducking the sun with style and beauty

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Published Date 8/8/2024

It’s not a stretch to imagine ourselves literally melting in the summer heat like Oz’s Wicked Witch of the West. As summers have become progressively hotter, many of us spend as little time as possible outdoors unless we have pools to hurl ourselves into a few times a day.

Realtor.com’s Larissa Runkle has one word for you: pergola. Available in kits you can order online if you don’t have the budget to have one built, this affordable, easy-to-assemble structure comes in a variety of styles and sizes, making it virtually impossible not to find one you love.

She offers several pergola types for your consideration, the first of which is to house an outdoor kitchen. “One of the most common ways we see people styling their backyard pergolas this season is as a cozy and convenient summer kitchen. “I love how the pergola establishes another home away from home outside in an adorably fashioned little getaway,” says designer Megan Nelson.

How about covered outdoor dining that doesn’t require the adjustment of a huge umbrella each time the sun hits you? If your kitchen is not far from the backdoor, you might be more inclined to use your pergola as a romantic al fresco dining space. “Bringing the dining room outdoors under a pergola is a trend that’s really taking off,” says designer Anna Tatsioni. “I’m a huge fan of how the pergola here creates a natural and airy ceiling, blending seamlessly with the greenery and creating a sense of privacy and tranquility.”

Lounging is what backyards are for, after all. So keep in mind that there is no hard and fast rule that your pergola has to house anything complicated. Creating a simple lounge space with comfy patio chairs, sofas, and end tables to make your pergola feel like a space you want to inhabit. “This is a perfect space for homeowners who want to extend their living space and create a laid-back backyard retreat for relaxation and entertaining,” says Tatsioni. “I’m a big fan of choosing a mix of seating options and adding other unexpected elements like this hanging chair.” Add a coffee table with a tabletop fire feature and you’ve got evening enchantment all year long.

With any pergola design, it’s possible to create a sense of intimacy to transform the outdoor experience by mixing lighting string lights and lanterns, creating a magical ambiance that can help extend the usability of the space well into the evening.

Realtor, TBWS

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