Spacious wooden deck with benches and attached pergola
You want to add a bit of spice to your patio. You’ve decided to install a pergola. But you’re wondering: how are you supposed to decorate this thing?
There are all sorts of directions you could go. However, some styles of decor are currently more popular than others.
Curious as to some pergola decorating ideas? Then read on. We’re going to review them below.
1. Hang Lights
One decorating idea you might consider is hanging lights from the top of the pergola. You could use just about any type of light for this purpose, but perhaps the best option is Christmas-style lights.
Wrapping Christmas lights around your pergola will provide it with a sort of dreamy aesthetic. It will create tons of atmosphere, offering just enough illumination to keep everyone visible after nightfall.
And the best part about Christmas lights? They’re cheap, weather-resistant, and easy to install.
2. Add Curtains
Want to bring a bit of elegance to your pergola? If so, you might consider adding curtains. Curtains will supply your pergola with a luxurious feel, elevating its overall aesthetic.
There are functional benefits to curtains as well. For instance, on a particularly sunny day, you could use them to block out the sun. They could also be used to keep the wind at bay, allowing for as pleasant an atmosphere as possible.
3. Wrap It in Ivy
A pergola on its own will do a lot for the aesthetic of your patio. But if you want to heighten your backyard aesthetic so that it reaches its peak, you should consider adding vegetation to your pergola, particularly ivy.
Ivy wraps around solid entities in unique and visually appealing ways. As long as it’s properly maintained, it will transform the look of your pergola for the good.
You don’t have to let it cover your entire pergola. You could just allow it to grow at the top, for instance. But regardless of how you let it grow, it will spice up your patio area.
4. Furnish It With Comfy Furniture
When you think of patio furniture, you probably think of plastic chairs or porch swings. While these staples certainly still have their place on the modern patio, there are higher-end alternatives available. These alternatives are essentially just like indoor furniture, and, when coupled with a pergola, can transform the look of a patio.
Keep an eye out for upholstered couches, upholstered chairs, upholstered footrests, and the like. However, make sure that they’re designed for use outdoors. If their upholsteries aren’t waterproof, they’ll take on mold and musty smells within a matter of months.
5. Hang Potted Plants
Another way to add vegetation to a pergola is to dangle potted plants from the top of the pergola. This is beneficial, as it allows you to add a variety of different types of vegetation. You could stop short at flowers, sure, but you could also add cactuses, peace lilies, Jade plants, and the like.
And the best thing about using potted plants? You can rotate them throughout the year, allowing you to adjust your pergola to meet the season.
So, while you could hang sunflowers and lavender during the summertime, you could hang pansies or aster during the fall, for example. The options are endless and can help your pergola to feel like a living, breathing entity.
6. Make Use of Privacy Slats
A newer trend among pergolas is to equip them with privacy slats. These are thin lines of wood that are installed on the sides of the pergolas, usually spaced out 1 to 2 inches between each. Though they don’t provide complete privacy, they don’t provide complete visibility either.
Helpful in regulating sunlight, they assist in establishing a soft and elegant atmosphere. Not to mention, they transform the look of the pergola itself.
Privacy slats can be installed vertically, horizontally, diagonally, or in a number of other configurations. Regardless, your pergola will take on a whole new aesthetic.
7. Appeal to the Kids
Pergolas can be used over all types of areas. However, if you have children, you might consider using them over kid-specific areas.
For instance, you could install a patch of soft artificial turf. You could then build toy chests and place them on top of this turf. To top it off, you could install a pergola, not only adding a unique aesthetic but helping to shade the area from the sun as well.
In this instance, you can think of a pergola as a refuge for fun. The kids can go there whenever they’ve grown weary from being under the sun.
8. Place It Next to the Pool
Pergolas are most commonly used over patios. However, there’s another type of area in which pergolas can thrive. That area is the pool area.
A pergola makes the for the perfect poolside haven, providing an ideal spot under which swimmers can lay towels, sunbathe, and congregate. Capable of being shaded or unshaded, they enable you to adjust with the mood of the gathering.
If you really want to bring together a pool-friendly atmosphere, you can implement outdoor furniture and maybe even a fireplace as well. Make your pergola area your one-stop shop for pool days and you and your guests are bound to have great experiences.
These Pergola Decorating Ideas Can Make All the Difference
When it comes to sprucing up your backyard, these pergola decorating ideas can make all the difference in the world. Put them into action and you’ll be reaping the benefits of an entirely new patio area.
On the search for a pergola? If so, you needn’t look any further than Backyard Living Structures. We offer pergolas of all sizes, shapes, materials, and styles and have designed them for countless properties.
