In countries like Australia, where long, warm evenings are common, converting your backyard into a comfortable secondary living space is an ideal way to enjoy them. There are many ways to do this, from installing a deck and furniture to adding a small water feature. In many suburban homes with ample backyard space today, you’ll find features like these combined with pergolas, which serve a number of architectural and practical purposes that enhance the space.
This article looks at how people are using pergolas in Narre Warren and other Australian suburbs to help you understand whether one would be a good fit for your space. We’ll explore the practical benefits they offer and a handful of common use cases, from supporting greenery to serving as your own outdoor sanctuary. Here are all the essentials you need to know about these practical and popular outdoor structures.
Creating Outdoor “Rooms”
Despite being open at the sides, many people use outdoor pergolas to create rooms in outdoor spaces. That is to say, they use them to define the boundaries of areas and make them feel enclosed, even when they really aren’t. These “rooms” are then often given a designated purpose, like relaxation or dining, similar to how we use different rooms for different things inside the house. This probably enhances outdoor spaces more than you realise.
Like how we feel better when we’ve put a plan in place for the day, detailing what activities we’ll be doing at what time, we also feel calmer when we organise our activities using space. It’s why we work in an office or study, relax in a living room, cook in a kitchen, and so on. Creating a room in your backyard extends this calming sense of structure and purpose to your outdoor space.
Providing Shade and Comfort
Another of the main practical functions of a pergola is to offer protection from the sun. Although they are not fully enclosed and the roof is usually slatted, they are still able to filter enough sunlight to allow you to sit outdoors comfortably on summer days. In climates prone to especially hot summers, like Australia, many homeowners add accessories to their pergolas, enhancing their sun protection and ensuring the space remains usable throughout the season.
For example, it is not uncommon to see pergolas in Narre Warren and other suburbs adorned with climbing plants and fabric covers. Pergolas with canopies also provide additional shade, allowing the space to remain in use even during intense heat. Practical accessories like these can also help if there is a lot of wind, too, while still allowing the space to feel like an outdoor one rather than an indoor one.
Supporting Greenery
Some homeowners use their pergolas specifically to grow and display their plants, not just to provide some additional sun and wind protection. While their structure does make them ideal for climbing plant varieties like wisteria, ivy, and jasmine, pergolas are also well-suited for hanging baskets. Some people even have vertical gardens installed on one or several of the sides, switching plant varieties as the seasons change.
Using pergolas this way is not only a great way to transform your backyard space by blending human and natural design, but it also supports biodiversity. The plants can be used to create microhabitats that help pollinators and other beneficial insects, such as butterflies, to thrive. It can even attract birds. Using a pergola this way means there’s something fresh and new to see each time you visit it. It’s not just a static structure.
Creating Ambience
The upkeep of plants and the idea of insects constantly buzzing around aren’t for everyone, but there are plenty of other ways to use your pergola. One of the most popular ways is to adorn it with string lights or suspended lanterns to create a warm, inviting ambience at night. This kind of atmosphere is ideal for everything from quiet romantic dinners to celebrations. Dimmable bulbs allow you to tailor the mood to the occasion.
Strip lights or even built-in LEDs can also work well. For larger structures, there are even specially designed chandeliers available. With the right lighting, the area under your pergola can become anything from a beautiful dining area to a cocktail lounge. It’s the kind of environment that’s ideal for hosting guests and entertaining. The clearly defined space, combined with open sides, creates a balance between intimacy and openness that is very comforting for guests.
Serving as a Personal Retreat
For those who don’t entertain often or would rather use a different space for that purpose, pergolas also make great private retreats and sanctuaries. If you are able to position them somewhere quiet, or add some of the plants or accessories mentioned earlier to help dampen any noise, then you have a space that’s perfect for reading, yoga, meditation, or just taking a break from it all.
The furniture needed to adapt your pergola for this purpose is fairly minimal. Beanbags, cushioned benches, hammocks, daybeds, and yoga mats are all good and relatively inexpensive options, depending on your needs. If you are having trouble dampening ambient noise, like the sound of traffic passing by, adding a water feature nearby can be an effective way to disguise it with something more conducive to a calming atmosphere.
Conclusion
It’s easy to see why pergolas in Narre Warren and other leafy Australian suburbs are so popular. For such simple structures, they’re incredibly versatile and are able to completely transform an outdoor space. We’ve only discussed a handful of the possible ways to use them, but these should be enough to give you a good understanding of what pergolas actually do and how they can be used effectively.
Now, you can do further research to find inspiration or apply your creativity to elevate your own outdoor space with a pergola. Remember, however, that some areas require approval for decks and pergolas; otherwise, you may be fined or ordered to have them removed. Check the local rules in advance before going ahead and installing one to avoid these.
