What is a Pergola and What’s the Point of Having It in Your Backyard?
The popularity of pergolas is blooming like a Great British garden in the spring sunshine. And it’s easy to see why. As well as being delightful to look at and affordable to buy, pergolas are incredibly versatile.
Here we take a closer look at what is a pergola and give you good reasons why you should get one in your back garden before your neighbours!
What is a pergola really?
A pergola is a structure with either two or four vertical posts supporting a roof that’s either solid or made from beams or rafters. Its purpose is to provide a sheltered area outdoors, under which people can sit and relax, protected from the sun, wind and rain.
A bit of history behind the design
The word pergola is based on the Latin words ‘pergula’ and ‘pergere’ which mean something that projects outwards. So what is pergola meaning for modern buyers? It’s somewhere inspired by classic Roman garden architecture featuring pillars supporting a roof of wooden beams through which the sun can shine and over which plants can grow.
How pergolas transform backyard outdoor spaces
If you’re wondering what is the purpose of a pergola, take a look at your garden right now. Does it lack sheltered places to sit? Are you having to stay indoors when it gets dark or the weather turns? The point of a pergola is that it helps you spend more time outside in comfort. Think of it as a permanent alternative to umbrellas and parasols. A stronger, more versatile shade and shelter provider that can handle heavy winds, sudden downpours and searing sun, and give you a cosy area in which to relax and play.
5 Reasons every backyard deserves a pergola
Instant ambience for any backyard
A pergola gives you an extra room outdoors that you can use however you like – a place to relax or dine under, for instance, or somewhere sheltered where children can play. Or a frame around which you can grow climbing and hanging plants.
Shelter from the sun, and Serenity
Sit back and relax. Your pergola has you covered. Literally. Its roof will protect you from the sun’s harmful UV rays, and from wind and rain too. And if you choose a louvered roof, you’ll always be in charge of how much sunlight gets in.
Boost your backyard’s aesthetic
Pergolas instantly add an attractive and elegant focal point to outside spaces, giving your garden the wow factor that’ll be the envy of your neighbours.
Adds value to your property
The additional sheltered recreational space a pergola creates in your home is something that many house buyers will pay extra for. Often, the boost a pergola will give to the market value of your house will far exceed the amount you pay to buy it.
Functional beauty pergola in the backyard
Pergolas certainly look smart, adding beauty to any outdoor space, and giving you good reason to get out into your garden more.
What types of pergolas will perfectly fit into your backyard design
Whatever you’ve got planned for your garden, you can improve your backyard landscape with pergola perfection:
- Freestanding: Ideal for larger gardens with a flat area where you want shelter from the sun and rain
- Wall mounted: Choose this if you want to step out from your house straight under a pergola. It’s like getting an extension without all the messy building work
- Louvred: These louvres are slats on the roof and optional side panels of your pergola that you can open and close, giving you control over how much sunlight gets in
- Electric: Those slats can be controlled electronically via a remote unit
- Manual: Or you can open and close the louvres by hand
- Aluminium: The most modern and durable pergolas are made from powder-coated aluminium. They’ll last for many years in the UK, and require minimal maintenance
A pergola is more than just shade in your backyard – it’s a lifestyle upgrade
There’s a simple answer to the question what is a pergola used for, and it’s whatever you like. Here are some examples of ways people use pergolas to upgrade their outdoor living:
- A weather resistant outdoor oasis
Unlike an umbrella or parasol, you won’t have to take a pergola down and rush inside when it gets windy or starts raining. These are sturdy structures, built to last and can handle all kinds of weather.
- All year round comfort
Add a patio heater and some ambient lighting to your outdoor furnishings, and a pergola for small backyards or even large areas will let you sit outside in comfort all year round, enjoying your garden close-up for more than just the summer months.
- A gardener’s dream
You’ve likely seen pergolas that are open on all sides as well as up top. So what is the point of a pergola without a roof? You might want to train plants to climb over the frame of your pergola, giving you the ultimate green roof full of natural wildlife that’s attractive to insects. An open roof will also increase the ventilation in the area below, keeping things cooler on hot days.
- A blank canvas
Pergolas also provide you with a framework on which you can get creative. Add features such as side panels, lanterns or string lights. Decorate the pillars in a style that suits the rest of your garden. And choose what to put under the pergola – a dining table perhaps, or sun loungers. You could even build a backyard pool pergola if you have the space.
