There’s always something magical about spending time in your own backyard, enjoying the endless Calgary summer days without having to travel anywhere. However, after a while, we all crave something new, and Calgary homeowners should be looking for ways to elevate your backyard to take your property to the next level. This is when you need to consider a pergola as your new backyard centrepiece.
Why Choose A Pergola?
You have a variety of options when you’re looking at upgrading your backyard experience and each has their own benefits and drawbacks.
Other Outdoor Structures
If you’re looking for some simple shade, an awning that stretches out over your patio can work, but is susceptible to sun and environmental damage. A privacy screen keeps prying eyes away from your backyard, but they take up a lot of space and can detract from the overall aesthetics of your property. You might choose a gazebo, but these require a lot of foundation work and tend to be larger and come with a large budget.
The Benefits of a Pergola
A pergola brings all these benefits of these outdoor structures without the drawbacks. You can install a pergola on top of your deck or patio to have an extra defined space outside your home, or have it as a freestanding structure as a stunning focal point for your garden. Pergolas offer a natural layer of privacy, and you can add to this with drapes or curtains to allow the breezes in. Pergolas can be custom made to whatever size and shape you desire and the simple construction means that they are budget friendly so you can start elevating your backyard sooner than you think.
Pergola Design Choices
As you’re thinking about how a pergola could revolutionize your backyard, here are some design choices to consider to help you create your dream outdoor oasis
Location, Location, Location
Just like with any property project, the location of your pergola will have the biggest impact on the rest of the design process, as well as the aesthetic appeal of your new outdoor structure. Putting it next to your home will create a visual transition from inside to outside and give you a unique eating or dining area. To turn it into a focal centre of your garden, construct it in the middle of your yard as a quiet space, or a command centre to supervise the chaos from.
Construction Materials
You’ll also need to consider the construction materials that you use for your pergola. The classic look (think Italian trattoria!) is thick wooden posts and beams. This does require ongoing maintenance, but will look elegant no matter where you put it. For a more modern look, consider aluminum and vinyl. This gives you a variety of colours to play with, and works best next to your home to match and mingle with the manmade materials found on the outside of your home.
