If you’re looking to transform your outdoor space, these stylish and modern pergola ideas will provide you with all the inspiration you need.
Contemporary pergolas are the perfect year-round weather solution, allowing you to enjoy your garden come rain or shine. Not only that, but choosing the right pergola for your outdoor space will effortlessly enhance your home’s curb appeal and add value to your property.
Discover how to create a breathtaking outdoor living space with our beautiful pergola ideas.
9 inspiring garden pergola ideas
1. Maximise your patio space
If you have a large patio area that doesn’t get much use, adding a retractable wall-mounted pergola will allow you to make the most of this space all year round. Open your pergola roof to soak up some sunshine, and close it at just the touch of a button to stay sheltered from the sun or rain.
Not only will you be able to enjoy more time outdoors with friends and family, but the structure will also add architectural interest and enhance the curb appeal of your home.
2. Create a freestanding outdoor dining area
Nothing beats dining al fresco on warm summer evenings. Consider installing a modern pergola to create a versatile outdoor dining area where meals can be enjoyed in the shade or in the sunshine, depending on how you feel.
Although you can create an outdoor dining area close to your home, we like the idea of a freestanding outdoor dining area best. This makes al fresco dining feel more like an event and helps you to be more present with your loved ones, far away from indoor distractions.
3. Use as an extension of your home
If it’s additional living space you’re looking for, adding a pergola is the perfect solution. Pergolas create extra room for everything from hosting guests to spending quality time with your loved ones.
For a truly seamless transition from indoors to outdoors, decorate your outdoor living space to match your home’s interior, choosing similar furnishings or using the same colour palette. At Open Space Concepts, we’ll make sure your bespoke metal pergola blends with your home’s existing facade for a beautiful, seamless appearance.
4. Make your own private outdoor escape
Being at home isn’t always relaxing – especially if you have young children. Use your pergola to create a ‘parents-only’ hideaway where you can relax and unwind after the kids have gone to bed or go for a quick moment of peace and quiet during the day.
To make it feel like your own private space, consider installing the pergola further down the garden, away from the house. Alternatively, you can separate it from the rest of your outdoor space with a wall, creating a cosy corner pergola.
And of course, be sure to decorate the space with calming furnishings and lighting – we can even add built-in infrared heating to keep it comfortable in the winter.
5. Create a sheltered outdoor bar
An outdoor bar is a breathtaking addition to any outdoor space, especially if you enjoy having friends and family over for parties. Use your sturdy aluminium pergola to shelter your outdoor bar and provide the perfect space for hosting, come rain or shine.
Modern pergola-covered outdoor bars are especially great in the summer, as you can shelter yourself and your guests from the sun when the heat becomes too intense. When you do want to bask in the sunshine, your pergola roof can be opened at just the touch of a button, which means you won’t even have to get up from your seat to enjoy the weather to its fullest.
6. Incorporate elements of nature
To make sure your sheltered outdoor space and the rest of your garden flow seamlessly into one another, consider decorating the area around your pergola with plants and other natural elements. This pergola idea will help to make your entire outdoor area feel like a carefully curated oasis, rather than two distinctly separate spaces.
If floor space is limited, it could be a good idea to incorporate vertical elements like hanging planters, trellises, or wall-mounted herb gardens, which will add a beautiful hint of greenery to your pergola without taking up much room.
7. Add walls for privacy
If your outdoor space is quite exposed, adding walls to your pergola will keep you shielded from the prying eyes of nosy neighbours or passers-by, allowing you to fully relax and unwind. These walls will also help to shelter your outdoor living area from strong winds and rain that might otherwise prevent you from enjoying your space to its fullest.
Walls can be added to any of our modern pergolas at any time, turning it into a fully or partially enclosed structure that gives you the privacy you need.
8. Be prepared for any weather
British weather can be unpredictable, especially in the summer when sweltering heat can turn into torrential downpours in the blink of an eye. To make sure your outdoor space can be used in any weather conditions, choose a retractable roof pergola that can be opened or sealed shut at just the touch of a button.
Open Space Concepts’ louvered pergolas are a particularly popular all-weather solution as they give the user complete control over their outdoor space. The louvered roof panels can be tilted to let in just the right amount of sun and shade and form a 100% watertight seal when closed to keep you sheltered from the rain.
9. Set the mood with the right lighting
Create the ultimate cosy ambience on warm summer nights by adding the right lighting to your pergola. Fairy lights are a great choice, as the soft glow they give off is perfect for helping you unwind and relax at the very end of a long day.
LED spotlights are another fantastic option, adding a stylish and modern flair to your pergola without being overly bright. LED spotlights can even be built into your pergola with Open Space Concepts and are operated via remote control for your convenience.
Transform your outdoor space with a sophisticated modern pergola
As one of the UK’s most trusted outdoor living companies, we’ve designed and installed bespoke modern pergolas for thousands of customers all over the country. Outstanding customer service is our top priority, and our hundreds of 5-star reviews speak for themselves.
If our garden pergola ideas have inspired you to get your dream project underway, get in touch with the Open Space Concepts team today.