5 Types of Pergola Designs for Your Outdoor Space 

Looking for different types of pergola designs for your garden space? A pergola is a wall-less, wide-open structure supported by four beams and a fancy roof design that provides shade and seclusion in an outdoor space. Pergolas are an incredible way to bring the wow factor to your backyard. Functional and stylish, they are ideal for sprucing up your outdoor space while providing much-needed shade on scorching summer days. 

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The best part about pergola designs is that they are super versatile. From using plants to decorating with lights, bold colors, and more, there are thousands of ways to make a pergola your own. They can even be used to create canopies over pathways and are a great way to channel your personality and take your outdoor space to the next level. 

Here are 5 of the most popular types of pergola designs to help you beautify your backyard. 

5 Types of Pergola Designs 

Pergolas are one of the most customizable outdoor structures, so your options with shape, size, and material are quite vast. 

However, experts at Trueline believe there are 5 basic pergola styles that homeowners seem to love. These include:

Freestanding Pergolas

As the name suggests, a freestanding pergola stands as a landscape element detached from your home. These are the top pergola design choice for many homeowners because of several reasons. 

Firstly, they’re incredibly easy to style and are the simplest way to build a patio cover that will get the most out of your backyard. If you have a large patio space in the middle of your yard, simply add a pergola, a couple of comfy chairs, and some extra shade for an epic outdoor seating space at a distance from your house. 

Freestanding pergolas can also be used to create a relaxing corner in your garden, or paired with a couple of sun chairs for the ultimate lounging space beside the pool. 

Attached Pergolas 

In this design, one side of the pergola is directly attached to your home’s wall. This style is perfect if you wish to cover a space connected to your house, such as a patio or deck. These pergolas flow more naturally with the rest of your house’s design and can extend your home’s feel to your outdoor space. 

Louvered Pergolas

A louvered pergola comprises a series of movable louvers as rafters with angled horizontal slats. These slats can be opened and closed as needed — they can act as a means to let sunlight in on colder days and a cover during hot or rainy days. 

There is great diversity in the types of louvered pergolas — you can find both manually-operated and automatic models depending on your needs. 

Arched Pergolas

While pergolas are typically flat-roofed, there are plenty of arched design options for those looking for something different. Arched pergolas are the secret to a unique, elegant look and are typically paired with some climbers, fairy lights, and flowers to bring a romantic feel to your garden space. 

Awning Pergolas 

Awning-style pergolas stand right against a wall with one end being supported by columns. These are typically attached over garages, doors, and windows for extra shade and an elegant outlook. These can come with retractable covers made of vinyl, but homeowners also use flowering climbing vines and other coverings for added aesthetics. 

5 Pergola Design Tips 

Once you’ve chosen a pergola design for your outdoor space, you might want to spruce it up with some decor elements and final touches. 

Here are five of our favourite pergola design tips to get the inspiration flowing! 

Decorate With Nature 

Adorn your garden pergola with some beautiful climber plants for that whimsical, fairy garden appeal. We recommended scented flowers like roses, wisteria, and clematis for a truly enchanting feel. 

Paint Some Pretty Hues 

A dollop of paint can go a long way in making your pergola more unique and integrated with the rest of your outdoor design. You can opt for a pastel theme to lighten up your space and combine it with sleek paving and stylish furniture for a contemporary and fun outlook. 

If you prefer a softer design (which is common for garden spaces), use muted colours like soft brown, cream, and sage for a more natural finish. For a more adventurous, eye-catching design, integrate some bold primary hues for an instant boost in liveliness, colour, and fun. 

Illuminate With Style 

If you’ve opted for a whimsical, natural roof, combine it with some warm, decorative lighting for a truly magical feel. Use strings of festoons and twinkling fairy lights, or hang boho paper lanterns for a cosy glow and laid-back, dreamy atmosphere. You can also opt for LED lights as an affordable outdoor lighting option. 

For a chic and elegant feel, you can even install a stunning chandelier at the entrance or roof of your pergola as a statement light centrepiece. If you’ve got a lattice pergola ceiling, use strings of mesh lights across the top. Just wait for the sun to go down and watch the roof turn into a sparkling overhead galaxy! 

Create Harmony in Design

Once your pergola is installed, design the rest of your space to match it. For instance, if you’ve chosen a gorgeous, wooden, slatted pergola, pair it with a wooden dining set-up and matching garden furniture to create harmony in your space. Use complimentary colours and matching hues so different aspects of the garden space flow well together.

Install Swings & Hammocks 

A swing or hammock hanging off of a pergola is a classic design idea — one that never goes out of style! While benches and sofas can be used as seating options, they can often make your space feel bulky, over-styled, and crowded, especially in smaller gardens and patios. 

Installing a whimsical garden swing or a comfy, dangling hammock is a great way around this problem. You can even install a larger swing bed and dress it up with colourful sheets and pillows for a boho-chic feel. This is a great way to amp up your pergola’s quirkiness while also creating the perfect lounging space for lazy summer afternoons!