You’re lying in a hammock or on a cushioned chaise lounge, enjoying a breezy summer afternoon on your deck. After half an hour, however, you flip over in frustration as your skin reddens and you start sweating more than expected. You thought creating a cozy retreat on your deck was a smart idea, but you’re beginning to realize your biggest mistake: you didn’t add any shade, and now you’re overheating.
Many decks, patios, and porches exposed to direct, unfiltered sunlight are often neglected during the hot summer months. Summer is meant to be the season for relaxation, hanging out by the pool, and serving another round of burgers fresh off the grill. To provide adequate shade and improve the usability of your outdoor space, we suggest a simple solution: build a pergola to update your deck.
Why Get a Pergola for Your Deck?
Pergolas have become one of the most popular deck trends in recent years. In fact, we previously recommended pergolas as an excellent way to add natural shade to your outdoor dining areas on the deck or patio.
What is a Pergola?
A pergola is an outdoor structure built over a seating, entertaining, or dining area. In some architectural styles, pergolas are long and narrow to stretch over a path or walkway. A pergola features sturdy vertical pillars or posts that support an open-lattice crossbeam grid, providing partial shade. Some pergolas can be covered to fully shade the space below. Pergolas can extend from your house wall or be freestanding anywhere on your deck or in your yard.
Pergola Benefits
- Pergolas add much-needed shade to a deck or patio, allowing you to stay comfortable for hours, even during an extended sunny afternoon. Protect your outdoor living furniture from inclement weather and transform the deck outside your back door into an extension of your other living and dining areas.
- Pergolas are extremely customizable. You can build your own pergola, work with a landscaping professional, or order a pre-designed kit from a trusted manufacturer. There are hundreds of unique styles, color options, and materials to choose from, from cedar wood to vinyl to fiberglass.
- Pergolas give you more options for entertaining. If you love hosting big parties and get-togethers, pergolas grant you the structure you need to extend your party space by adding functionality to your deck. Quick examples—you can hang chandeliers, fairy lights, a speaker system, or fabric from your pergola to create a wholly original space. We’ll cover some of our favorite functional pergola ideas later in the article.
Tips for Building a Pergola on a Deck
Planning to add a pergola to your existing deck? Follow these guidelines to achieve the best results.
- The top priority for a pergola is structural safety. To ensure it’s safe, use durable materials that create a strong foundation. When building a pergola on your deck, use high-quality hardware, including post bases that are designed to be visible, timber bolts to connect wood to wood for your top frame, and post-to-beam supports, ideally hot-dipped galvanized.
- Before starting, consult your local building department to find out if permits are required. permits.
- Keep your pergola stable by avoiding materials that could make it top-heavy. When unsure, opt for fabric panels or light wood lattice. If you’re concerned about stability, add railings between the posts as a precaution.
- You don’t have to build it yourself—with a Trex® Pergola™ kit, you get the strength of an all-aluminum design and stainless steel hardware. There are many options for sizes, shapes, and styles to fit your deck. You can even add a manually retractable fabric canopy for maximum shade.
How to Pair a Deck, Pergola, and Furniture Together
Planning becomes easier when you know from the start that your space will revolve around a pergola. Decks are often exposed to the sun, but when selecting outdoor furniture for decks with pergolas, you can create spaces meant for extended use. Here are some furniture themes that complement pergola decks well.
- With shelter from the elements and optional lighting, a pergola deck is the perfect spot for your outdoor dining area. Make it the main gathering spot by placing a large dining set for eight or more people directly under the center of the pergola. Measure your space carefully and double-check that there is enough room to walk comfortably between the posts and the dining set while carrying platters and plates of food.
- An effective design is to build an open-air pergola with lighting and a sound system for parties. For this, place a few bar tables inside the pergola for guests to set their drinks or snacks, and add some benches or sofas along the edges for those who want a break.
- A connected pergola makes it easy to create an outdoor living area for movie nights or game sessions with the kids. Deep seating furniture with various options and an extra coffee table for activities should all fit comfortably under the pergola.
- A poolside pergola offers a welcome break from the sun for swimmers and loungers. Just add a small dining set with a few chairs for snacks or hanging towels, and place a couple of chaise lounges with a side table for those who prefer to relax and soak up the sun.
Functional Pergola Ideas
A pergola is the ideal structure for outdoor relaxation and for entertaining. Want to make the most of your brand new pergola? Here are our favorite fashionable and practical pergola deck ideas:
- Add suspended or hanging lighting to enhance illumination and create ambiance for any outdoor gathering. Great options include candle chandeliers, Edison bulbs, paper lanterns, and simple string lights. You can choose electric lighting or go for natural options like candles or solar lights for a minimalist look.
- Make the space beneath your pergola suitable for hot, dry climates with a few simple additions. An increasingly popular feature in the Southwest is a ceiling fan suspended from the pergola's sturdy grid. The breeze makes outdoor lounging more enjoyable during hot summer days.
- Attach hanging curtains to the sides of your pergola, or add a fabric shade canopy on top, offering the option to block out the sun completely when needed. When temperatures and sun exposure vary throughout the day, you’ll appreciate this convenience and added privacy.
- The overhead grid of a pergola and optional lattice walls are ideal for vertical planters, hanging plants, and vines to grow freely. A lush, green pergola effortlessly brings life and character to any open deck area.
