The Best Patio Pergola Ideas For Remarkable Outdoor Spaces

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Collage of backyard pergola patio designs. Top image shows a wooden pergola with hanging lights and a chiminea. Bottom image features a larger pergola with outdoor seating and a neatly landscaped garden. Text overlay reads "Backyard Pergola Patio Ideas.

Looking to relax in a beautiful outdoor space? These stunning patio pergola ideas will help you create a gorgeous area in your backyard for lounging, cooking and hanging out!

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Pergola Patio Ideas

Stone Paver Patio With Pergola
Small Pergola On A Patio
Concrete Patio With Pergola
Detached Pergola Patio
Pergola Patio Furniture
Hanging Plants Pergola Patio
Outdoor Dining Area Pergola Patio
Pergola Patio Lights
Corner Pergola Patio
Pergola With Hot Tub On A Patio
Black Patio Pergola
Patio Pergola Kitchen

More Outdoor Patio Decor Ideas
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Pergola Patio Ideas

Are you thinking about adding a pergola to your backyard space? I know this is something I have considered over the years as we have continued to upgrade our back patio area.

I used to think that you needed a large amount of space for a pergola. But as I started researching, I realized that pergolas can fit just about anywhere in a yard or on a patio.

A cozy outdoor patio with wicker furniture, including a sofa and chairs with gray cushions, surrounds a matching coffee table. The area is shaded by a pergola, with lush greenery and potted plants adding natural beauty to the setting.

They come in all shapes and sizes (and can be custom built!), so there is a pergola that will work for everyone.

Use these patio pergola ideas to find a pergola solution that will create a relaxing vibe in your space, no matter the size!

Stone Paver Patio With Pergola

A backyard features a pergola with seating, including a sofa and two chairs, on a stone patio. The foreground shows a path with stone slabs and pebbles. In the background, suburban houses and a clear blue sky are visible.

Do you have a stone paver patio in your backyard? If so, consider building a pergola on it to help frame the space and make it feel like an outdoor room.

The DIY patio area shown in the photo above features beautiful paver stones with a wooden pergola. The rafters on this pergola are fairly close together which helps provide more shade in this sun exposed spot.

A fun seating arrangement creates an outdoor living room – what a lovely place to relax! If you’re handy, this might make for a good DIY project in your backyard.

Small Pergola On A Patio

A wooden swing bed with colorful cushions sits under a pergola in a lush garden setting. The background is filled with green foliage, creating a relaxing outdoor space.

I mentioned earlier that pergolas can be used for all sized patios. Here’s an example of a tiny patio area that has been turned into a relaxing hangout spot using one of my favorite small patio pergola ideas – a daybed!

A small pergola frames the space, while a DIY wooden daybed hangs from the rafters. This is a great spot in the yard for reading a book or taking a nap.

If your patio is small, it might make sense to have the pergola cover the entire space to create an “outdoor room” kind of feel.

Concrete Patio With Pergola

A modern outdoor patio featuring a wooden pergola casting striped shadows. Underneath, there are two blue-cushioned sofas facing a matching coffee table with a potted plant. The area is surrounded by a landscaped garden with trees and flowers.

Similar to stone paver patios, concrete patios are a good choice for backyards. You can have a concrete patio slab poured, or consider using concrete paver stones such as what’s shown in the photo above.

Either of these options provide a nice foundation for a patio pergola. Add a conversation set, dining table and grill to the space for the perfect backyard retreat.

Detached Pergola Patio

A wooden pergola with a flat roof stands in a backyard, featuring seating and a stone fireplace. The surrounding area includes neatly trimmed grass, small bushes, and a modern house exterior under a clear blue sky.

All of the pergolas mentioned so far have been considered “detached pergolas”, meaning that they were not attached to the side of the house or a porch awning.

Depending on your space, it might make the most sense to incorporate your pergola into the design of your existing patio cover. This provides a consistent look and feel to the space.

On the other hand, detached pergolas can be great to use as well, especially if you have a big backyard. They help create a separate “room” in the outdoor space. In the photo above, the color of the pergola blends nicely with the colors used on the exterior of the house.

Pergola Patio Furniture

Covered patio with wicker furniture and gray cushions, featuring a glass table with a vase of pink tulips. Overhead pergola with hanging plants. Lush green lawn and trees in the background, adjacent to a house.

Most people consider a pergola as a place to hang out beneath, rather than just a decorative accent. Because of this, the furniture that you use under your pergola is important. If it isn’t comfortable, you probably won’t use the space very often.

Here are some furniture ideas for beneath a pergola:

Outdoor conversations sets (sofa, loveseat, chairs, coffee table)
Outdoor dining table & chairs
Hammocks & swings
Daybeds
Chaise lounge chairs
Cafe bistro chairs and tables

For more ideas on patio furniture to use under your pergola, check out this article: Simple, Small Patio Furniture Ideas For Cozy Backyard Spaces

Hanging Plants Pergola Patio

Wooden gazebo with lattice walls and hanging flower baskets. Blue ceramic pots with plants adorn the front, and a black metal chair and table set is inside. The structure stands on a wooden deck, surrounded by green grass and colorful flowers.

Do you love to garden? Me too! One thing I love about the summer months is creating beautiful hanging baskets to display on my porch awning. It’s fun to watch the flowers grow as the summer progresses.

Apart from porch awnings or shepherds hooks, pergolas make for a great spot for displaying hanging baskets.

In the photos above, colorful baskets hang from the rafters of this cute garden patio pergola. Additional potted plants are displayed nearby for a pop of color in this simple patio pergola idea.

Outdoor Dining Area Pergola Patio

Spacious outdoor patio with multi-level stone flooring, featuring a circular fire pit in the foreground. A pergola covers outdoor dining furniture, and cushioned seating is set near large windows. Tall trees and clear sky create a serene backdrop.

If you love to cook and eat outside, consider using a pergola as a way to create an outdoor dining room area. Many of us just use an outdoor dining table with an umbrella when eating in the backyard.

But framing your dining table with a pergola can be a bit more stylish. If you’re worried about shade, consider adding a pergola cover that can be retracted when not in use.

I love the different areas on the patio shown in the photo above – a seating area under the covered porch, a dining area under the pergola and a sunken fire pit. What a great spot for relaxing and entertaining!

Pergola Patio Lights

Outdoor seating area under a wooden pergola with string lights. The space has cushioned sofas, a small table with candles, and is surrounded by lush greenery and bushes. Gravel floor adds a rustic charm to the setting.

A great advantage of pergolas is that they can be used to hang lights from. If you’re having trouble getting enough lighting in your backyard in the evening hours, a pergola with string lights might be a good solution.

Another one of my favorite simple patio pergola ideas for lighting is to use outdoor chandeliers hung from pergola rafters for a creative look.

Pergolas make hardwired lighting solutions more feasible in a backyard, as they provide a place to mount lighting fixtures. Always make sure to use outdoor rated lighting though!

For more ideas on how to add lighting to your backyard patio, check out this article: Magic Patio Lighting Ideas to Create Your Dream Outdoor Oasis

Corner Pergola Patio

Wooden patio with a pergola features a chiminea, a wooden bench, and a small table. It's surrounded by lush greenery and a neatly trimmed grass lawn, creating a cozy outdoor space.

If you don’t have much room on your patio for a full sized pergola, consider adding one to a corner of the space instead. This is one of my favorite small patio pergola ideas for little backyard patios.

These pergolas may not be as functional as a full size pergola in terms of framing a space or providing shade covered. But they add a nice decorative element to the space and are great for hanging baskets or growing vines.

Pergola With Hot Tub On A Patio

A wooden deck with a small, square hot tub surrounded by white railing. Above, there's a black pergola with a white fabric canopy. Potted plants and trees provide greenery, and the sky is partly cloudy.

Do you have a hot tub on your patio or deck? If so, consider framing it with a pergola for a relaxing outdoor space and a touch of privacy.

In the photo above, an elevated deck was built around a nice Jacuzzi. The pergola above helps frame the area, but also provides a good amount of shade when the cover is used. I also love the potted vine plants at the base of the pergola frame.

Black Patio Pergola

A lush outdoor patio with a pergola covered in greenery, featuring wicker sofas and a central coffee table. In the background, a stone pizza oven is surrounded by lush plants and vibrant green foliage, creating a serene garden retreat.

If you’re going for a more modern vibe with your outdoor space, consider using a black pergola instead of other shades. I love how in the photo above, the black pergola blends in with the greenery in this lush outdoor space.

Black metal or wood pergolas make for the perfect touch for shady spots in your yard. A black pergola also looks great paired with bright colored outdoor furniture cushions and pillows.

For some more ideas on patio furniture color schemes, check out this article: The Best Patio Furniture Color Schemes For Your Backyard Oasis

Patio Pergola Kitchen

Patio with colorful chairs around a round table, a barbecue grill beneath a wooden pergola, and an umbrella-covered dining set. Wooden fence and a large star decoration in the background, with a small grassy area.

Do you have an outdoor kitchen on your patio? Or maybe you are considering installing one? If so, consider adding a pergola to the area to help frame the space and provide some decoration.

In the photo above, a small pergola covers an outdoor grill area on a concrete patio. A shade cover on this pergola would help with sunny days, while string lights would improve visibility at night.

What are some patio pergola ideas you’re thinking of doing in your backyard? Share them with us in the comments below!

More Outdoor Patio Decor Ideas

For more outdoor patio decor inspiration, tips and styles, check out these posts:

The Best Patio Pergola Ideas For Remarkable Outdoor Spaces