Pergola designs have come a long way over the years and they are now seen as more of an extension to the home rather than a feature of the garden. Whether you are planning to use the space as an alfresco dining area or an outdoor living room, it is important that you have considered a number of factors to ensure that the design is perfect for your needs.
1. Decide where you will position the pergola
Most homeowners choose to position the structure next to an indoor living area, such as a lounge room or kitchen. This will allow direct access via the main thoroughfare. You are free, however, to position it wherever you feel it would best fit or be used.
2. Consider how you will use the new pergola
Are you looking for a sophisticated dining or entertaining area? Or are you interested in a casual space for family BBQs? Think about who will use the space and the mood or atmosphere you want to create.
3. Decide how big the space needs to be
When determining the size of your pergola design, you need to consider your furniture, traffic flow, open areas and even the roof (for weather protection). No matter the size, a well-designed outdoor entertaining area will increase your enjoyment of your home.
4. Consider the existing aesthetics of your home
The benefit of building a structure in this day and age is that you have an array of choices in colour, material and style. When designing yours, it is important to consider the existing look and feel of your home.
5. Lift the overall design of the pergola
The materials, colour and roof design are not the only design elements you will need to consider for your pergola – flooring and lighting are important, too. Timber decking and tiles are popular flooring choices, and bright outdoor lights can make the space usable at night.
6. Consider your proximity to your neighbours
It is important to determine how close your pergola is located to your neighbour’s home. If your gatherings are regularly noisy or you want to improve your privacy, you will need to consider screens or tall plants.
7. Decide on a viable budget
Before you even start looking at materials and builders, it is important that you determine how much you can afford to spend on the construction of a pergola. These structures can work out to be quite expensive, so it’s important that you stay within your means.
8. Consider how much maintenance you want to do
Remember that your pergola design will require maintenance every now and then – the amount of maintenance required and the frequency, however, will depend on the materials you have chosen.
9. Plan construction in stages (if necessary)
Sometimes, a fully equipped pergola with all the bells and whistles can stretch your budget beyond what you can afford. To counter this, you can always complete the construction in stages. Determine what needs to be done immediately and what can be added at a later date.
10. Contact a local builder or installer
If you have very little construction experience, we recommend hiring a local builder or installer to handle the project for you. This will ensure that the finished product is of exceptionally high quality.
If you have taken each of the above factors into account, you can rest assured that your
pergola design will meet your needs perfectly. It does not matter what you intend to use the space for, each of the above considerations will ensure that you have crafted a design that suits the available space and your budget. Failing to factor in even one point could end in disaster.