23 Pergola Ideas to Turn Your Outdoor Space Into a Majestic Setting

Add vines with lush greenery to a white pergola for a romantic outdoor setting. This display at a home designed by Kemble Interiors and SMI Landscape Architecture features hanging swings, making it a delightful spot to chat with a loved one or read a book.

Opt for a simple black pergola for a modern look. In a California home by designer Noz Nozawa, a pergola by Daniel Nolan Design covers a sleek dining area with a painted rug for low-maintenance meals al fresco.

For a softening effect, choose a pergola with a curved top. At a home by designer Patrick Printy, multiple curved and trellised pergolas with greenery create a dreamy pathway along the house.

At the home of designer Javier Burkle, the main outdoor entertaining space features a long pergola with four overhead beams that attach to a stone wall. The stone wall is a reference to the haciendas of Mexico, Burkle’s home country.

If you want to create a highly fairytale-like display, opt for a trellised gazebo instead of a pergola. This one at a home designed by April Powers is the perfect post-swim hang.

This patio in a home by Aamir Khandwala is covered with a complimentary white pergola for a modern approach that both pops against the green landscape but also blends in with the exterior of the home. It's the perfect place to perch for some flower arranging.

Designer Madeline Stuart gave the backyard of this SoCal home by architects Wallace Neff and John Byers the feel of a dreamy garden oasis with antique accent lighting and plenty of bougainvillea. The pergola is sloped and attached to the exterior of the home, creating a unique profile.

AP Design House weatherproofed this patio by adding Bermuda shutters and laying galvanized steel corrugated panels on top of a pergola. Do the same to your patio so you can enjoy your outdoor space rain or shine.

At a French-inspired cottage, wisteria shades a poolside grouping of bistro chairs. The rustic pendant light allows for evening hangs but blends in and doesn't steal the show from the striking purple flowers.

If you have a smaller backyard space, you can still reap the benefits of a pergola. Invest in a piece of furniture, like a daybed, with a built-in pergola. We're digging the chocolate brown cushions contrasting with the bright orange citrus tree in a backyard by Reath Design.

When a pergola doesn't seem like the right approach for your style or space, opt for a custom awning system or even just umbrellas. This will bring your patio some sun-protected spots vis-a-vis fabric, which often adds warmth, pattern, and softness. Mark Sikes opted for a fun blue and white striped cabana.

Another reason pergolas are a great asset? They give you a structure to attach electric heating systems to, furthering the amount of time you can enjoy your outdoor living space as the weather gets cooler. This one also has fewer beams, allowing for more sunlight.

A fire pit and a pergola are the perfect pair for the ultimate outdoor evening. While the tiled foundation and custom stone pathway make this patio by Terremoto peaceful and romantic on their own, the pergola adds an extra sense of intimacy.

Twisty branches and flowering vines scale this pergola at a home designed by Wendy Wurtzburger and Chris Bentley, making the structure feel like it grew from the ground beneath it. The mossy brick flooring contributes to the flow as well.

With a restaurant-worthy outdoor kitchen, the roof of this Brooklyn brownstone by designer Laurie Blumenfeld-Russo is a multi-season entertaining oasis thanks to the pergola. The tarp adds an extra layer of protection and shade from the sun.

For a client who really loves roses, Edmund Hollander planted some 250 English grandifloras. They look particularly romantic over the pergola and trellis beyond.

If you're building a pergola over a patio dining space adjacent to a swimming pool, consider extending it just slightly over the pool to provide a bit of shading at the water's edge. The concrete patio in this backyard by Ken Fulk blends beautifully with the more industrial support beams of the pergola.

Hang string lights between an opening to connect two pergolas. The opening allows you to choose between more or less sun exposure and also provides a clearer view of the stars at night.

On that note, don't cover the entire patio area in case you ever want space for a firepit or daybeds (plus, it keeps the backyard feeling open and airy). This is why you'll often see a pergola over a dining space, but not necessarily covering the pool area.

Designer Maria Augusta Luoro of Guta Louro Designs brought her neglected childhood home back to its former glory, and then some. Locally-sourced materials in the backyard allow this alfresco patio area to blend right in with the lush São Paolo countryside. A covered grill and wet bar allow for outdoor dining without the fuss of all the plumbing upgrades required for a full kitchen. Just take note that a pergola needs something solid to stand on, hence the patio.