A pergola draws people in with its beauty and shade, creating a central location for friends and family to gather.

Homeowners who have discovered the joys of relaxing and entertaining in their backyards are often thinking about the next enhancement they can add to their outdoor space. 

Backyard enthusiasts crave continued improvements, as each one adds beauty, visual appeal, and an opportunity for enjoyment. Enhancements to your outdoor spaces help create a mood or personality for your home and they are an extension of your family’s warmth and hospitality. 

If you are considering the next addition to your landscape, consider installing a pergola. Here’s why:

A Pergola (further) Extends Your Living Space

If you have already installed a deck or patio, you likely added it to extend your living space beyond the walls of your home. If you have found that you love your outdoor living area but that it’s not quite so useful on a summer afternoon when the sun is beating down or if you wish you had protection from inclement weather, a pergola may be right for you.

A pergola extends your living space and increases the amount of time you can spend outside. Designed and oriented correctly on your lot, a pergola can cast enough light shade to make even a warm afternoon enjoyable or if you still need additional protection, you can install a retractable shade cover for even more shade. Some shade covers will even protect you from light rain, perfect for those unpredictable summer storms.

Design Options Abound with Pergolas

If you choose to add a pergola to your landscape the first thing you’ll need to decide is, “custom or kit?” A design professional like myself can help you design a pergola from scratch and can have it custom-built right in your backyard, Or you can purchase a kit from one of the many well-known manufacturers in the U.S. With a kit, you won’t have the same design flexibility—you’re typically limited to rectangles and fixed dimensions—but all the parts will be delivered to your home for you or your design professional to assemble and install.

Your next decision will be materials. There are a variety of materials to consider and all come with advantages and disadvantages:

Pressure-treated wood: A pressure-treated wood pergola is often your least expensive option. They’ll have a reasonable lifespan but pressure-treated lumber can warp, crack, and split over time. This type of pergola generally looks best if painted or stained.

Cedar wood: Cedar (typically Western Red Cedar) is a popular choice for pergolas. It’s naturally insect resistant and looks beautiful right from the sawmill. You can leave it untreated to turn a soft silver gray, or stain and seal it to hold its color. A cedar pergola is more expensive than a pressure-treated pergola, but you’ll typically get a longer serviceable lifespan from cedar.

Vinyl: If you’re looking for a pergola that requires very little maintenance, vinyl is certainly worth consideration. You cannot easily paint a vinyl pergola, however, so your color choices are limited.

Fiberglass: Fiberglass pergolas are generally the most expensive way to go, but they come with significant benefits. Because fiberglass is so strong, you can span much longer distances without posts, (in some cases, about 20 feet) giving you a cleaner look). Fiberglass can be painted any color you want, and the paint will hold up better than on wood. Finally, fiberglass pergolas are perfect for adding to either a deck or an existing patio. Due to their light weight, fiberglass pergolas don’t require the same deep footers as other materials dictate.

A Pergola is an Entertainer’s Dream

The real magic happens on many a pergola once the tools are packed up and it begins providing both form and function to your outdoor living space. Pergolas provide support for everything from chandeliers and ceiling fans (consult with an outdoor designer like myself first, please!) to small speakers, strings of lights, and even fabric. You’re only limited by your imagination.

Pergolas extend your outdoor space, offer a variety of design options, and can be tailored to fit even a modest budget. If you’re in search of a way to create an outdoor oasis, one that offers energy or tranquility (or both), a pergola might be the perfect enhancement to your deck or patio.

If you’re excited about the idea of adding a pergola to your outdoor landscape experience, don’t hesitate to contact me, and I can show you what would work best (and where) for your specific situation. Just message me here, right below this blog post, or click this “contact” link, or you can email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com And you can call me anytime at (407) 743-2399.

Here are some idea starters from what’s trending now.

Are you looking to spruce up your backyard or outdoor area? Maybe you want to do more entertaining or add a pop of personality to your outdoor spaces. 2023 has arrived with exciting outdoor furniture trends that are stirring excitement. 

From luxurious interior brands taking on the outdoors, using mixed materials, larger dining and seating groups, to bold pops of color, these new furniture styles are perfect for updating or creating a new and exciting space in your backyard or patio. Here’s a look at some top outdoor furniture trends making waves.

Mixed Materials and Collections

Outfitting your outdoor patio with mixed materials and collections is a great way to create a practical and stylish space. This year, we’re seeing the use of complementary mixed materials in outdoor furniture, such as teak wood with aluminum, ipe wood with wicker, rope with aluminum, and natural materials. 

Don’t be shy about mixing outdoor collections as well. Integrating different colors, accent tables, and chairs from various collections provides an eclectic designer look.

Lighter Frame Colors

Lighter frame colors with neutral, natural finishes are another hot trend that gives your outdoor space a modern and breezy feel while adding a touch of sophistication. Light gray, off-white, and taupe are all popular tones for outdoor furniture frames that are perfect for making both small and large furniture groupings look chic and inviting. These lighter colors are an excellent backdrop for vibrant outdoor accessories like cushions and pillows while taking cues from the natural environment.

Interior Styles and Brands are Moving Outdoors

Luxury interior brands are expanding their collections for outdoor environments, allowing consumers to bring the same looks and styles they have inside of their homes outside as well. Bernhardt, Vanguard, and Lexington are just a few higher-level brands offering outdoor collections that boast quality, durability, and longevity. With these luxury outdoor collections, you can seamlessly extend your interior design into your outdoor spaces for an inviting space that truly reflects your personal style.

Larger Dining and Seating Groups

Now that gathering and socializing are back in full swing, we are seeing larger dining and seating groups as a hot trend to accommodate more entertaining outdoors.

Make your outdoor living area comfortable and inviting with chaise lounges for extra seating around the pool, rockers by the fire pit, extra-large or modular outdoor sectional sofas, and counter-table height bar stools for outdoor kitchen areas.

Bold Pops of Color

Outdoor furniture is moving away from traditional all-grey or neutral schemes to bold and brightly-colored choices for cushions, pillows, rugs, and accessories.

Geometric shapes, abstract designs, and stripes on umbrellas and pillows add more pizzazz, especially in tropical Florida.

Modular and Stacking Furniture

Modular outdoor furniture is gaining popularity as more people look to optimize comfort and convenience. This creative design approach gives you versatility and functionality as pieces can be rearranged and styled with multiple seating options, interchangeable components, and optional custom pieces to fit your needs and accommodate guests.

Quality and Warranty Guarantees

The outdoor furniture industry has moved to prioritize quality and warranty guarantees. Since more and more customers are investing more in high-quality, durable outdoor furniture made to last, we are also seeing an increase in the use of maintenance care products and replacement cushions due to the longevity of frames.

Sustainably-Made Furniture

For outdoor furniture connoisseurs looking for reliable and luxurious pieces to add to their outdoor living space, sustainably-made furniture is a trend worth keeping an eye on. Brands are now utilizing marine-grade polymer material—known for its strength and durability—as a more sustainable approach to outdoor furniture.

Take Seaside Casual furniture, for example, created from EnviroWood®, an all-weather marine grade recycled HDPE polymer composed of the same material used to construct milk jugs.

Are You Ready for Some Elegant Outdoor Living?

What’s currently happening in the outdoor furniture market is providing us with high-quality, durable, sustainable, and eclectic designs that are made to fit your space and style. 

If you’re ready to incorporate some of these exciting trends into your outdoor living area, let me know, and I can help you determine what will work best for your outdoor spaces, situation, and needs.

I’m easy to reach – you can choose a contact method right below this blog post. You can also click this “contact” link, or you can email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com And, of course, you can always call me anytime at (407) 743-2399.