Designing a pergola

Define your purpose

[{"selector":"#anim-d4e9ce08-c7d6-486c-b72a-314c89c2e618","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5d052138-a4db-4716-8d8c-3fb733ab058d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0c87a6fe-aade-484b-b748-3cbe698d93db","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5cb0a0a5-0166-47fb-a48e-16e85878db98","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e0d6d209-2bb0-4bbf-a66d-7bcfaf2ec0be","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-12367d74-f83b-4a5f-ae5a-d160cbb4c509","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-104.48548%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e62434c5-5b55-46c5-8a8e-856815c337e5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-4.003906264577328%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] © Image from barretteoutdoorliving.com

Choose the right location

[{"selector":"#anim-50d71143-03bd-4335-9ffd-8432eb6792d1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-100d8fd3-50ed-4026-9a7b-a5b8d9749673","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3418237e-db6c-4de2-9ef0-23281dd71d5b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9288efc1-bcb7-428d-b50d-e96a562f7583","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-12187da6-c2cc-4eba-a49b-e326273d6ce9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cdf0194f-b1bb-41d6-bd2c-de2ee5191c15","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-102.02532%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f72a2a0a-4b35-49ce-8056-c388c2aa5f98 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(22.85451560813624%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] © Image from pinterest.com

Select quality materials

[{"selector":"#anim-5dca41d9-c4df-4bbf-935c-1e8d8082b2da","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0f0d2961-a09c-40f1-85ef-74c374a3950e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8a359f88-cc15-4284-ab36-7a58a3d700ce","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a7f5d75a-5e5b-49a2-9b07-5e3bb4b0ef29","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-70e65e41-db4b-4ba7-93ef-6b8e02ba90d9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-465c1d00-cf9c-4703-aa97-4c95e0be60b2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-101.75879%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-333ea7e4-8ac0-4b21-a9a9-85221b920850 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] © Image from willgamblearchitects.com

Design the structure

[{"selector":"#anim-463067fd-e852-4cdb-9c39-5c259f0a4802","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c40908e6-d93e-443a-82ce-b71d407c3fa1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9381af70-1dbd-4da7-9ea3-fda85073cca7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-264f76de-a853-451e-9073-7b2ec28362fb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-df2b08d4-97ff-4c35-a405-a6c95e3426c4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7301912a-e08e-4d60-ae1b-a330419594f8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-104.48548%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4a707ec6-62f9-4479-9839-85701f2acaec [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.552713678800501e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] © Image from directshopfittings.co.uk

Build or hire a contractor

[{"selector":"#anim-4ac82b1a-c0b4-4d5f-96d1-e25998189592","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6f7fd3cc-c774-46b7-b1d8-749eb83a5f73","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f49328da-6d40-490e-92a0-800646673241","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-82eab5d4-4fff-439b-82ce-052837b7f115","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-37f2e24a-a5c5-4579-a272-4aa272a86c84","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3a0f4c8f-2bb3-43be-a0bc-7b32158705b0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-104.48548%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3ae9bcb2-9743-402c-b69d-e34470ae4bc1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] © Image from heartlandpergolas.com

Add additional features

[{"selector":"#anim-ee0351a4-fcc1-442b-8a30-fcef60aedde9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-352922d7-1482-41db-9f2a-3d840f7416f4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2f894310-906d-4889-8e0f-0241d3670de7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-48c5bbf2-9ea6-4103-aa7f-100527d1598b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-252d0fb0-a671-4a04-8398-b422e0b03699","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-708de080-2695-4e96-8899-37fc0e1fcc18","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-104.48548%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-77343f9a-c186-4d17-8f11-4698902f775c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] © Image from realestate.com.au

Add finishing touches

[{"selector":"#anim-a779313c-a494-47e2-b324-3d736c2b5472 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.552713678800501e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-05f78473-42b9-40f5-a300-9cadbc3d3d6b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f076f82a-42e1-4e85-bee8-2fcf5647a815","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d333cb30-4b43-49c9-a607-f64b7cf76e65","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-750422d1-d3a3-45fb-a1f0-522a1ed2e674","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3a99c5a5-3ffa-45e6-b386-be5bb9372b17","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-30856683-37ca-4719-a92f-e4a2e7a5f826","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-104.48548%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] © Image from uniqueoutdoortx.com

Visit our article to learn how to choose the right trellis for your home garden

[{"selector":"#anim-d0a96569-d88c-41d6-9e5c-7579b088db89","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9181bdc2-e085-44ce-9f8e-f3db0fb41916","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-875daefd-f6e7-4a79-ac43-7430ac897765","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-248daec6-69e0-4b85-bfb3-16671c4f47d5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(105.67567%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] © Image from containerwatergardens.net Trellis garden

Swipe up to watch our next web story on outdoor lighting ideas for a modern home

[{"selector":"#anim-bb43cc31-c27c-450a-ba74-afa58d199f2e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4cb1c01a-7b30-40bc-9e83-1db0b7739fad","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4049093e-0639-4975-8516-d8b546c48b37","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6f1f427c-2023-4670-b159-dc7ee205d06a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(105.67567%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4e831a62-340c-4dc4-8838-79c99b25c4d3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] © Image from aqlightinggroup.com Outdoor lighting ideas

Designing a pergola

Transform your backyard into a paradise with our guide

Define your purpose

Determine why you want to install a pergola and plan accordingly

Choose the right location

Select a spot that offers the desired sunlight, shade and accessibility

Select quality materials

Opt for durable and weather-resistant materials that match your style

Design the structure

Plan your pergola's aesthetic vision and its desired dimensions

Build or hire a contractor

Decide whether you want to DIY or hire a professional for construction

Add additional features

Enhance functionality with lighting, curtains, or built-in seating

Add finishing touches

Personalize your pergola with plants, furniture, and décor

Visit our article to learn how to choose the right trellis for your home garden

Swipe up to watch our next web story on outdoor lighting ideas for a modern home