Bringing a party outdoors is a great solution when the host has indoor space limitations or doesn’t particularly want messy party remnants left all over their clean home. Plus, outdoor parties can be a lot of fun to setup and plan. A party pergola is an excellent feature when it comes to outdoor parties, and they add an attractive asset for everyday use of your outdoor space.
What Is A Pergola?
Early pergolas were usually wispy plant shoots that were bound or woven together with slats to form a series of shaded arches. By the 19th century, the foundation of the pergolas transitioned to a more permanent structure, mainly heavy brick or stone. Today, pergola frames come in a variety of material options, including:
• Vinyl
• Solid wood
• Steel
• Fiberglass
• Aluminum
The pergola structure itself can also take many shapes and sizes. Larger pergolas are usually classified as freestanding or attached:
• Freestanding – the pergola stands alone with its own columns as the support.
• Attached – the pergola is mounted to an existing outdoor structure, usually a wall of the home.
The top of a pergola frame can be designed a number of ways, including:
• Open-air – this style doesn’t impede the view of the sky, but it provides very little, if any, protection from weather elements.
• Overhead lattice – this style can include intertwined or planted greenery and provides more shade and privacy than an open-air structure.
• Roofed – this style provides the greatest protection from weather elements and can be a pitched roof design or flat roof design.
Choosing The Right Pergola
The details of the design can be standard prefab features to handcrafted pieces of unique art. Consider all your options and decide which pergola is best congruent with your taste, budget, and needs. Keep these four elements in mind:
1. Budget
A pergola can be an excellent asset to your property and provide innumerable uses, but it still has to fit into your budget. Customized pergolas, with extensive, detailed woodwork or latticework will naturally be more costly. That said, there are plenty of chic design options that are more cost-friendly. Wood is generally more expensive than vinyl and metal options, and attached pergolas cost less since there’s less materials involved.
2. Purpose
Think about the purpose(s) your pergola will serve. Is it going to provide protection from weather elements or just be an aesthetic feature? How large will it need to be? If you usually host larger parties, then you’ll need to ensure your party pergola provides enough space to accommodate your guests. Don’t forget to figure enough space for any grill, outdoor kitchen equipment, dining tables, chairs, entertainment system, bar, etc…that a covered pergola can help protect from the elements.
3. Schedule
Think about how soon you need your pergola. A pergola kit and prefab pergolas can usually be installed relatively quickly. Designs with intricate details, larger structures, and heavy materials and fixtures will need to be planned further in advance. Depending on your area and design choice, you may also need to take into account the time it takes to get local building/construction approvals.
4. Aesthetics
Think about what materials you prefer, the size of the space where the pergola will be placed, whether your prefer a modern design element or want a more traditional look, preferred colors, and how any greenery will be incorporated into the design. Do some research to see what styles and designs best fit both your budget and taste. You’ll find that look of a roofed pergola, for example, is significantly different than that of a more dainty traditional frame pergola.
Time To Party
With a little planning, you can buy the pergola that’s right for you and have it installed before your next party. Just don’t cut the installation too close; you do want to have time to add the finishing touches and setup any outdoor supplies before your guests arrive!