When you’re trying to figure out how to design a yard that you love, you likely will want to design an area where you can truly relax. A terrific addition that helps you create that oasis is a pergola. These open structures give you a lot of customizability, and having a pergola in your yard can transform the yard into a tranquil place to spend an evening or weekend afternoon.
Add Big-Leaved Vines for Summer Shade
One of the best uses for a pergola (other than sitting under it, of course) is to plant vines that will wind their way around the posts and roof of the pergola. Choose varieties with big leaves so that you get a lot of shade during the summer. People often plant grape vines on pergolas so that bunches of grapes hang down at the end of the summer, or whenever the grape-growing season is in your area.
If grapes aren’t a possibility because of the weather or your preference, consider vines with flowers so you can have blossoms hanging down. Imagine sitting under a leafy vine with beautiful blossoms on a warm day with nothing else to do!
Use Next to a Full-Shaded Patio for More Variety
When you have a large yard with a fully covered patio, you can choose between full sun exposure or full shade. But what if it’s a nice day, and you don’t want direct sunlight but also don’t want to sit in dark shade? With a pergola, you can create dappled sunlight that’s calming and that feels wonderful. If you don’t have room for both a shaded patio and a pergola, add a pergola-style roof to the patio and have a removable cover, like a sun shade.
Dappled sunlight can still be hot, and you’ll still need to protect yourself from UV rays. But the dappled nature with its partial shade still might seem a bit cooler as much of the light is still blocked.
Place the Pergola Where It Will Create a Separate Space
If you’ve decided to add a stand-alone pergola that isn’t connected to your house, place it where it can serve as sort of a border. For example, if you have a yard that’s just an open space, a pergola can serve as a visual border between the open “play” space and the calmer “lounge” space.
These borders are important because they serve to hint to people what behavior is expected in each area. An open space next to a pergola may be great for kids to run around and yell in, but that pergola becomes a quieter zone where yelling wouldn’t be appropriate. The concrete around a pool could be a sunny lounging spot where friends can chat, while the pergola off to one side is the spot where you’d go to relax and possibly nap without being exposed to too much sun.
Want To Learn More? Get In Touch With Us
If you’re interested in learning more about pergolas and other patio covers in Sachse, TX, Decathlon Construction can show you what options you have. From small pergola-style patio roofs to stand-alone structures, you’ll see so many different models that you’ll want to spend a lot of time looking at every detail. When you’re ready to have the pergola installed, contact Decathlon Construction to arrange an appointment with an outdoor living contractor in Dallas!