20 Beautiful Pergola Ideas That Will Create Shade in Your Yard, Patio, or Garden

Table set in garden under pergola — Credit: Johner Images / GETTY IMAGES

Whether you're adding shade to an open back porch, trying to filter sunlight that hits your most delicate flower beds, or creating a partly covered dining area for summer parties, a pergola is a simple, versatile structure that can enhance the atmosphere of any outdoor space.

The open beams of a pergola create shade as the sun moves overhead without cutting sunlight and airflow. This structure allows pergolas to work in nearly any yard: They can be customized to fit small patios and spacious decks, to cover dining areas or comfortable lounges, to provide shaded space by the pool, or to serve as the centerpiece of your landscape.

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Mix Rustic Woods

A traditional wooden pergola over an outdoor kitchen and dining area provides welcome shade during midday lunches. The natural wood complements the concrete patio, wooden furniture, and surrounding fences.

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Embrace the Landscape

wooden pergola with black shade — a Blade of Grass

The oversized wooden beams and roof of this pergola fit right into the woodsy natural surroundings. A paved patio, adjoining garden, and climbing vines keep the backyard space cohesive.

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Add a Retractable Shade

On a pergola in the sunniest part of your yard, a retractable shade allows you to keep your seating area protected from glaring sunlight and sweltering heat.

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Put a Pergola by the Pool

pergola over pool deck — Michael J. Lee/Adam & Beasley/a Blade of Grass

A wide pergola shades the lounge chairs and wooden-framed hammock on this pool deck, while lightweight curtains offer extra shade when necessary.

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Soften the Space with Greenery

A pergola on one side of this house mirrors the full porch on the other, while lush plantings soften the geometric angles of the walkway, container garden, stairs, and roof lines.

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Plant Bright Blooms

Bougainvillea on pergola — AnnaNahabed / GETTY IMAGES

Pergolas, arbors, and trellises are prime spots for showing off your gardening efforts. The best climbing vines, like vibrant pink bougainvillea, purple clematis, and fragrant honeysuckle, add color and scent to sturdy outdoor structures.

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Install Side Draping

In hot, arid climates, your outdoor spaces need all the sun protection they can get. Elegant draping on the sides of a pergola adds extra shade without dimming your deck.

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Add Permanent Sun Protection

outdoor shelter seating backyard — Courtesy of Amber Freda

A corrugated metal roof installed atop a wooden pergola allows for more permanent protection from sun and rain, turning an open dining area into an all-weather spot for casual lunches and special-occasion meals.

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Choose a Modern Design

outdoor rooftop seating — Courtesy of Amber Freda

A black metal frame and dark wooden slats create a sleek silhouette on this upgraded pergola, while built-in planters and custom bench seating make the most of the rooftop's square footage.

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Hang Paper Lanterns

In a small backyard, a pergola becomes a charming dusk or after-dark social spot with hanging battery-operated paper lanterns that cast a soft glow during evening cocktail hours.

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Protect Your Plants

Pergola at decorvow Border Garden in Bedford, New York — Johnny Miller

Build a freestanding pergola to create a partly-shaded garden bed where plants that burn in full sun can thrive. The filtered sunlight protects more delicate blooms, while the structure allows climbing vines to reach their full height.

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Surround Your Space with Greenery

A brick patio surrounded by potted plants and hedges feels even more enclosed and intimate with pretty ivy draped across the roof and down the sides of a wooden pergola.

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Shade the Sides

outdoor kitchen with storage space — Courtesy of Andrew Mann Architecture / David Wakely

A traditional overhead pergola is accented with slatted sides that create additional shade over this fully outfitted outdoor kitchen.

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Install a Privacy Wall

Outdoor seating area with fire pit — Haris Kenjar

The open frame of this black metal pergola offers sparser shade than other versions, but the coordinating privacy wall cuts the sunlight on the plush seating. Overhead bulbs and a wide fire pit give guests a reason to stay long after sunset.

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Opt for a Decorative Pergola

white trellis with flowers surrounding — HannamariaH / GETTY IMAGES

In a yard without space for a seating area, a traditional pergola helps mark a garden entrance. Pretty pink flowers and climbing vines add to the English countryside atmosphere.

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Choose Unexpected Materials

table and bench on an outdoor patio — DANA GALLAGHER

A wooden table, metal-frame chairs, and a stone cooking area complement this patio's iron pergola frame, while the climbing vines and natural roofing material are organic, unfussy accents.

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Go From Day to Night

An oversized pergola built to shade a gravel dining area is connected to the rest of the yard's social space with a grass-lined paver path, while overhead lights and in-ground lanterns allow for late-night dinner parties.

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Define Your Space

outdoor hanging light fixture — Design by Yardzen and @Eyeforpretty

The crisp lines of this bi-level pergola roof are both a visually interesting accent to the home's sloping roofline and a simple way to define the patio's different cooking, dining, and socializing areas.

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Create a Cozy Spot

white porch swing — krblokhin / GETTY IMAGES

Hanging swings aren't just for porches: This Adirondack chair-inspired loveseat is suspended from a classic, white wooden pergola next to a verdant privacy hedge.

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Use a Two-Tone Color Scheme

two-tone wooden pergola — a Blade of Grass

The copper-colored bases on these two-tone pergola posts create a visual anchor to the pool deck, while the natural wood doesn't distract from the bold, multi-hued landscaping.