Pergola & Patio Design Ideas

Building an outdoor living structure can increase both the aesthetics and commercial value of your home. A comfortable outdoor place, where you can enjoy some quality outdoor time with your friends and family.

Many homeowners have taken to outdoor living structures, and according to recent surveys, a sizeable percentage is thinking about investing in outdoor structures, primarily for the comfort and increase in commercial value they offer.

If you are considering building an outdoor structure that provides you comfort and complements your landscape, building a pergola is a great option. A pergola is an archway used to form a shaded walkway or sitting area in an outdoor space. Depending upon your geographic location and personal preferences, you can design a pergola that's both aesthetic and functional. Let's take a look at a few pergola design ideas that you can consider.

• Classic wooden pergola

Wooden pergola lend a level of class and elegance to an outdoor space, greatly enhancing its overall aesthetic. If you are thinking about building a wooden pergola, there are a number of options to choose from, including teak, redwood, and pine. If you have the know-how, you can undertake a DIY project to build a wooden pergola in a cost-effective way. You can also take the assistance of a deck contractor to build the right wooden pergola that complements your style and space requirements.

• Combining wood with decorative concrete columns

If you have a specific design idea in mind or a wooden pergola doesn't suit your budget, you can think about building a vinyl or aluminum pergola. These pergola are cost-effective and easy to install, but lack the aesthetic appeal of wooden pergola.

However, with some creative design ideas, you can not only save up on money but also get a pergola that looks truly amazing. Building a pergola by combining wood and concrete decorative columns is a great way of creating an appealing outdoor structure. You can take the assistance of a deck designer for some design options and choose something that goes well with your landscape.

Patios have always been our favorite place for spending leisure hours, be it barbecuing in the afternoon, sipping cocktails or just for reading a book or relaxation. Patios are the ideal place for having an exotic meal, reading your favorite book, conversing with friends and family within the premises of your dwelling. You can also spend your evenings and nights in the patios, but make sure to have a proper lighting arrangement to suit your eyes; choose from the best patio design ideas that can match up to your taste and preference.

Patios come in various themes and designs to be chosen from and the size and mood of the patio are two determinant factors that need to be sorted before finalizing a design. You ought to decide upon the size first; whether you want a large or a small patio and that will help you in choosing the ultimate design and creating an awesome ambiance for your home where you can spend some quality time in solitude.

There are certain elementary things to be considered before chalking a plan for your patio; if you have an existing patio and you want some improvisation you must focus on the present view of the patio, the weather and the point where the sun hits during summer and winter. In such cases, it's ideal to be creative in improvising the existing designs to make best use of the view and then make some possible changes to it.

The focal point of a patio is of significant importance and that's the preliminary factor which draws attention. The correct focal point is the highlight of a good patio design. If you find too many odd edges in the patio, you can choose from certain focal points like fountain, statue or a flower bed as a disguise.

If you have a pool in the house, you can create a resort like feel within the house almost effortlessly. Umbrellas of various color schemes can be used as great designs to add that feel to your patio.