The Various Aspects Of Contemporary Pergola Design

Pergolas have been a functional decorative structure for centuries. These permanent structures are a simple way to add shade, privacy, and definition to an outdoor space. They can be freestanding, attached to a structure, like a home, or even attached to two buildings. More traditional pergolas have open, cross-beam roofs that support lush greenery, but contemporary pergola design is often quite different from the pergola designs of yesteryear.

Why Choose a Pergola

There are a lot of great reasons to add a pergola from theluxurypergola.com to your outdoor living space. Not only does it allow you to make your yard more user-friendly, but it also looks fabulous. Pergolas allow you to enjoy the outdoors with light shading and cool breezes during the hottest parts of the day. And they offer a measure of privacy, especially if you have denser foliage growing on it or add fabric panels, latticework, or retractable curtains. If you’re interested in creating an open-air living room of sorts, you can decorate your pergola with lighting, speakers, outdoor rugs, comfy couches, lounge chairs, and even a bar. If you like the idea of an outdoor kitchen, a pergola can serve as the perfect covering. Do you have an outdoor pool? A pergola pairs well with a swimming pool, offering swimmers an area to relax outside of the water.

Roofs

Contemporary pergolas don’t always conform to the same design principles as more traditional pergolas. Many of today’s pergolas have fully covered roofs or enclosed sides. Retractable curtains and partially closed-in sides are other additions that are more commonly found in contemporary pergola design. Bioclimatic pergolas are gaining a lot of attention because they can adapt to different weather conditions. They are made from rows of aluminum blades that can move at will. Other features of this type of roof include hidden drainage groves, LED lights, outdoor speakers, and more. Roofing materials can even be glass or frosted vinyl.

Materials

Many pergola owners prefer to construct them from more durable materials than wood. Wood requires regular maintenance and degrades over time. But materials like fiberglass, aluminum, vinyl, and composite decking boards have a much longer lifespan when taken care of appropriately. Vinyl needs the least care and maintenance, and although fiberglass is light and strong, requiring fewer columns and a more shallow footing, it is the most expensive option. Aluminum pergolas are another contemporary favorite. Oftentimes, it is painted and embossed to look like natural wood, but it is preferred because it can withstand the elements and is cheaper than wood. Composite decking boards, like Trex, resemble natural wood the most, and they’re more durable. Homeowners like composite decking boards because they don’t splinter or rot, and they don’t require too much maintenance. Teak and other hardwoods are also a favorite among natural wood choices as they are more durable and weather-resistant than softer woods like cedar.

There are a lot of advantages that come with adding a pergola to your outdoor space. You’ll enjoy it’s beauty and best of all, you can personalize it in ways that you may not realize are possible. Contemporary designs are bringing pergolas up to date with today’s design principles in surprising and beautiful ways.