Pergola awnings have become much more popular in the last few years as more of us are loving eating al fresco! There's nothing quite like good food and great company to help unwind.
A canopy provides welcome shade from the sun as well as protection against more inclement weather. Not only that, it will look great too.
These shades have been interwoven through the pergola rafters to give a particularly soft feel to the roof. It looks stunning!
It is possible to achieve this effect by using waterproof material like this:
Then add interesting accessories, and perhaps more material, to give a really full and beautiful effect.
There are several different pergola styles to choose from. Here are some to take a look at in both wood and metal. And this one is fully waterproof and can be used when the weather is not so good. The roof panels tilt to make a solid panel to keep out the rain. A brilliant idea!
Modern pergolas often have retractable canopies, which make them a very useful outdoor space. There is an excellent selection here.
All pergola canopies are fully retractable if you prefer to let the sun shine down through the rafters. Alternatively, remain undisturbed from passing weather under the showerproof fabric of the canopy.
Best of both worlds!
They come in various sizes to fit a variety of situations:
Some awnings and shade sails have UV filters and are showerproof too.
If you like to use your pergola for outdoor dining, it's a good idea to have pergola canopies fairly near to the house for obvious reasons, even having them attached as a lean-to pergola kit.
If you like to eat in the evening sun, it might be better to have the pergola away from the house where it can catch the late evening rays.
There are some good pergola kits, awnings and shade sails to choose from. It's just a matter of choosing which suits your garden design best.
Take into account how you are going to use the structure and what sort of look you would like: traditional or modern. The aluminium pergola kits can look more modern than the wooden ones, for example.
The shade sails can create a wonderful effect, especially when they are used together at different levels. Here is a picture of them used on a mediterranean courtyard. Just lovely!
These fabulous pergola kits don't have to be used for dining alone. Add sunloungers, throws, cushions and even a hot tub to create a wonderful place to relax. It's often the accessories that make all the difference!
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