Fall is always a magical time in Calgary. You get the best of the city’s weather in the seemingly endless sunshine and warm daytime temperatures without the cold and storms of the upcoming winter. The leaves start to turn, and your thoughts always turn to making the most of the outdoors while the weather allows. Your backyard pergola is the perfect place to spend these fall days, helping you get the best of the views and the weather.
Fall Pergola Preparations
Your backyard pergola can feel like it’s designed for the heat and growth normally associated with spring and summer. Even as the days start to shorten in fall, you’ll still be able to use your pergola during the midday sun. However, the mornings and evenings can get chilly in Calgary, so here are some seasonal adjustments to keep the pergola party going until the snow starts to fly.
Get Cozy
Fall is the best time of year to spend outside on your pergola in the afternoons and evenings as you’ll get the residual warmth reflected from the wood or stone flooring, and you can add some simple soft furnishings to make things cosy. You’ll be amazed at how far a fleece lined blanket and a few throw pillows can go to get people to snuggle up, and you can add to this with a soft outdoor rug to create the ultimate indoor outdoor cosy set up. Add the finishing touch of a hot drinks bar complete with a kettle, packets of tea, hot cocoa and whipped cream and maybe some fall themed snacks (pumpkin spiced cookies, anyone?!) and you’re ready for a cosy evening under your pergola.
Light It Up
One of the key features of fall in Calgary is the shortening days. While this does make for some fantastic sunsets across the city, it can also feel like it’s cutting into your play time outside. However, your pergola feels almost purpose built for string lights or even lanterns hanging from the overhead lattice. Whether you choose candlelight or electric power, make sure you strike the right balance between lighting that is soft enough to create that fall vibe and that is also bright enough so that you can see each other.
Add Some Heat
One reason that Calgary residents don’t use their pergola after the end of summer is that the evenings can get pretty cold pretty quickly, especially when daylight savings rolls around. You can combat the chills and extend your pergola season with an additional heat source. A classic look is a self-contained fire pit or chiminea, and the lattice roof of the pergola allows the smoke to escape easily, leaving you with the residual heat. You can also go for an electric heater, which is a great option if you’re worried about fire and your wooden pergola, and if your pergola is next to your home.
