Choosing a Backyard Pergola: 10 Stunning Styles + Pergolas for Small (and Large) Spaces

If you're looking to shade and beautify your backyard space, you might consider a pergola. Pergolas have been around for thousands of years, most commonly as an outdoor garden feature forming a shaded walkway, passageway, or sitting area.  A backyard pergola costs less than a gazebo, but can add style and functionality to your space by creating a shaded "room" for lounging, entertaining, or dining.

What is a Pergola?

A pergola is similar to a gazebo except that it does not have a solid, fixed roof.  Instead, it is flat on top and posts support a framework of beams and slats.  With its simpler construction, a pergola can be small enough to cover an outdoor hot tub or large enough to span an entire walkway between buildings.

Pergola: Best for Filtered Shade

What truly sets pergolas apart from gazebos is that they, by design, only provide partial or filtered shade.  They are not intended to provide complete shade. This is ideal if your backyard is already shady.  You can use a pergola to cover a walkway, driveway or patio.  

Louvers or Shades to Control Light

With overhead construction consisting of beams and slats and sometimes lattices, That being said, many pergolas have shades or adjustable louvers so that the amount of light can be adjusted. While pergolas have slats or lattices that run across the top, some come with louvers - slats that can be turned to open or close them.  These adjustable louvers allow you to control the amount of light that comes through.

Different Shapes and Sizes

Pergolas come in a variety of sizes, and they can be square or rectangular.  The Better Backyard sells pergolas from 8x8 on up to 10x22 or 12x20.  

Pergola Materials

Pergolas can be made of metal or wood.  The wood pergolas add a warm, rustic feel to your backyard.  Cedar has many advantages for use in outdoor structures like a pergola. It doesn’t swell, warp or decay, it’s naturally insect-resistant and it’s naturally beautiful. Aluminum pergolas, on the other hand, can imbue a sleek, sophisticated vibe to a more modern home.  Some aluminum pergolas have a wood finish, but without the price or maintenance of wood.

Anchor for Maximum Stability

Each backyard pergola comes with holes in the feet that enable you to anchor it securely to a surface like concrete or wood.  If you wish to install it on the ground or in the grass, you should first pour concrete footings, then anchor it securely to them.  Otherwise, strong winds could damage or dismantle the structure.

Perfect for Vines

If you have a green thumb or enjoy plants and greenery, the backyard pergola can train and support a number of different fast-growing vines that will quickly shade and beautify your space.  Some of the most vigorous vines are ivy, star jasmine, clematis and wisteria.

Or why not decorate it with strings of party lights to create an enchanting effect at night?

10 Stunning Backyard Pergola Options

Sojag, the undisputed leader of gazebos and sun shelters since 1993, has just released the Hana Black Louvered Pergola.  With its dual-section adjustable louvers and built-in gutter system, the rustproof Hana 10x13 Pergola will add sleekness and sophistication to your backyard scene.

4. Paragon Florence Pergola with Chilean Ipe Frame and Silver Canopy

Paragon's Embedded Wood Grain™ technology imbues the Florence aluminum pergola structure with the bold beauty of real exotic wood -- without the costly maintenance of real wood. The unique canopy top can be manually opened and closed with ease. Allow just the right amount of sunshine to come in, or stay out…the choice is yours! Pull back the convertible top to enjoy perfect clear night star gazing!  Available in 11x11 and 11x16 dimensions, with a variety of wood finishes and canopy colors.

5. Yardistry Madison Pergola with Sunshade & Bar Counter

The Madison Cedar Pergola adds character to any area, creating the perfect setting for all your outdoor entertainment needs. The unique design includes a bar and counter feature, 100% natural cedar lumber finished in a rustic timber gray stain, and a removable sunshade. Add on the optional matching bar stools to complete the set.  10x14 size.

6. Paragon Novara Pergola with Louvered Canopy

This popular Novara Pergola from Paragon Outdoors set the standard for pergolas with its sleek styling and adjustable louvers.  Available in dark grey or white, the Novara is perfect for entertaining with friends or family, relaxing on that warm summer day or chilling in the evening after a long day of work.  10x12 or 12x20.

7. Sojag Fontana Aluminum Frame Pergola with Shade

The stylish new Fontana Pergola from Sojag comes with its own shade so you can adjust the sun as needed.  Its contemporary design will complement almost any backyard. The pergola frame is made of aluminum, making it rustproof and highly corrosive resistant. A high-quality PVC-coated polyester canopy is draped overhead which provides ample shade for hot sunny days.  Available in 10x12 size and choice of two finishes: Black or Wood Finish.

8. Yardistry Meridian Cedar Room with Louvered Roof

From Yardistry, the authority on cedar structures, their Meridian Cedar Room.  The stunning aluminum louvered roof design allows you to control the sun or shade you receive with a hand crank. Two panels allow total sun exposure and full shade, or tilt the louvers to add enough sun or shade to keep you comfortable. A gutter system around the roof and downspouts on 2 posts provide rain protection and proper drainage. Its 100% premium exterior grade cedar, covered in an environmentally friendly natural cedar-color stain, will stand up to the elements. 10x12 and 10x20.

9. Paragon Modena Pergola

The Modena Pergola with its beautiful expresso frame color and mocha canopy is the ideal pergola for any backyard. Perfect for use next to a pool or hot tub. Create the new outdoor space you have always dreamed of. The manually operated top canopy allows you to decide how much sunlight you want to enjoy.  Because the Modena Pergola is designed for year-round use, it does not have to be taken down when the weather changes. It can sustain wind gusts up to 80 miles per hour. When it snows, simply slide your convertible top all the way open.  12x12, 12x16, and 12x20.

10. Paragon 11x16 Florence White Aluminum Pergola with Beach White Convertible Canopy

Choose the perfect amount of sun exposure by simply sliding the convertible canopy until it is just right. Open it all the way for maximum sun exposure, or close the canopy to seek refuge. With the sewn in handle and magnetic closure, adjusting the canopy is a breeze.

Backyard Pergola Options for Small Spaces

If you like the look and functionality of a pergola but don't have much space, there are a few options.

Sojag Lima Triangular 10 x 10 Pergola

We LOVE this pergola for small (and especially odd-shaped) spaces!  Available in either Black or Grey, this triangular-shaped pergola s made of aluminum, making it rustproof and highly corrosive resistant. A high-quality PVC-coated polyester canopy is draped overhead which provides ample shade for hot sunny days.

Sojag Dunwich 8 x 8 Pergola

Sojag's Dunwich 8x8 Pergola is constructed of black, premium powder-coated steel and comes with modular shades that can be installed on the top and two sides of your choosing.  The Dunwich's compact size is ideal for a rooftop terrace, small yard or balcony and comes with Teal, Grey or Cream shade panels.

Sojag Yamba Pergola with Adjustable Grey Shade

At 10x10, the durable, fashionable Yamba Pergola from Sojag is still quite compact and can make the most of a small space.  Its grey Textilene roof cover gives your backyard a contemporary look and style while providing anti-aging, anti-fading, and wear resistance.  Also available in 10x13 and 10x16 sizes.

Backyard Pergola Options for Large Spaces

Perhaps you have the opposite problem.  Maybe you have a whole lot of space and need something big that can fit lots of furniture.  There are options for you too.  

Paragon Grand Tuscan Slate Gray Louvered Pergola

At 12x20, the Grand Tuscan covers lots of space while sporting 40% taller beams and a remarkable 74% thicker steel base compared to other similar products on the market. Expertly crafted from high-quality heavy-gauge aluminum, Its unparalleled durability and stability are complemented by a sleek design that conceals louvers during rotation.  Also available in 10x12 and 12x14 sizes.

Yardistry Meridian 100% Cedar Pergola

This large cedar pergola from Yardistry - the leader in cedar backyard structures - provides enough room underneath for entertaining guests with multiple dining tables, a variety of attractive and comfortable seating arrangements or even a cocktail bar. It’s a great way to create a resort-like experience right at home.  Eye-catching and distinctive, this pergola is finished in a natural stain. Available in 10x12 and 10x22 sizes.

Yardistry 10x20 Meridian Cedar Room with Louvered Roof

From Yardistry, the authority on cedar structures, the Meridian Cedar Room.  The stunning aluminum louvered roof design allows you to control the sun or shade you receive with a hand crank. Two panels allow total sun exposure and full shade, or tilt the louvers to add enough sun or shade to keep you comfortable. A gutter system around the roof and downspouts on 2 posts provide rain protection and proper drainage. Its 100% premium exterior grade cedar, covered in an environmentally friendly natural cedar-color stain, will stand up to the elements. 

Paragon 12x20 Modena Pergola

The Modena Pergola with its beautiful expresso frame color and mocha canopy is the ideal pergola for any backyard. Perfect for use next to a pool or hot tub. Create the new outdoor space you have always dreamed of. The manually operated top canopy allows you to decide how much sunlight you want to enjoy.  Because the Modena Pergola is designed for year-round use, it does not have to be taken down when the weather changes. It can sustain wind gusts up to 80 miles per hour. When it snows, simply slide your convertible top all the way open. 

Paragon 12x20 Novara Pergola with Louvered Canopy

This popular Novara 12x20 aluminum pergola from Paragon Outdoors set the standard for pergolas with its sleek styling and adjustable louvers.  Available in dark grey or white, the Novara is perfect for entertaining with friends or family, relaxing on that warm summer day or chilling in the evening after a long day of work. 

Conclusion: A Backyard Pergola May Be What your Yard is Missing

If you're looking to shade and beautify your backyard space, you might consider a pergola.  A backyard pergola costs less than a gazebo, but can add style and functionality to your space by creating a shaded "room" for lounging, entertaining, or dining.  Pergolas are available in a wide variety of sizes, colors and styles, often with shade adjustment features like shades or louvers to control the quantity of light that comes in.  Adding furnishings and dressing the pergola up with vines and greenery or string lights can add charm and ensure years of enjoyment.