20 Modern Pergola Ideas to Shade Your Outdoor Space (2024)

Room Design

Outdoor Spaces

• 01 of 20

  Go All Black

  

  This modern courtyard patio from Architects Magnus has a contemporary black pergola that is located just outside of the primary bedroom that creates a transition between indoor and outdoor spaces. The black-and-white color palette accented with pops of vivid color creates a cohesive indoor-outdoor feel.
  

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• 02 of 20

  Try All White

  

  This all-white poolside pergola on a Dubai property from Fantastic Frank has a light and airy feel that matches the fencing and gate at the periphery of the outdoor space. The pergola offers partial shade around a seating area by day and is strung with LED string lights to define the space after dark.

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• 03 of 20

  Use Natural Weathered Wood

  

  This NYC rooftop pergola seating area from New Eco Landscapes has weathered wood for a natural look. Planters anchor the structure and the lounge space to give it an organic and built-in feel.

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  See Also

  Pergola ideas: advice on building a pergola in your gardenBuild a Pergola in Your Backyard with One of These 16 Free Plans51 Free DIY Pergola Plans & Ideas That You Can Build in Your Garden6 Free Pergola Plans (Plus: Pavilions, Patios and Arbors) - Building Strong

• 04 of 20

  Lighten It With Slat Wood

  

  This suburban DIY dining patio pergola from A Beautiful Mess includes a slat wood roof and sides to shade the open space while maintaining a light and airy feel. The slatted wood is carried from the roof to the sides, creating a privacy screen to protect the dining area from neighboring views without feeling closed in.

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• 05 of 20

  Try a Pergola Cabana Hybrid

  

  This Northern California backyard from Cathie Hong Interiors includes a modern poolside cabana that swaps a closed roof and sides for wide pergola-style teak wood slats that are mixed with a black metal frame to give it a modern feel.

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• 06 of 20

  Shade the Outdoor Kitchen

  

  This Southern California outdoor kitchen is protected from harsh rays by a modern pergola that is painted taupe to complement the tile backsplash and built into the kitchen structure to make it a permanent fixture on the large outdoor pool patio. The pergola includes integrated lighting and a cover for the outdoor TV.

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• 07 of 20

  Use Galvanized Metal

  

  KG Designs used galvanized metal to build a custom pergola for this Seattle backyard that doubles as an arbor. The garden landscaping softens the contemporary backyard space that includes anoutdoor fireplace, water feature, and a modern seating area.

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• 08 of 20

  Use a Reed Mat Roof

  

  This outdoor dining space from Fantastic Frank has a reed mat roof that is more opaque than a typical wood pergola, but still allows some light to stream through. Billowy curtains, a live edge dining table with mixed seating, polished concrete floors, and a wall of plants give the space a breezy modern feel.

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• 09 of 20

  Mix Materials

  

  Mixed materials add dimension to this minimalist pergola and outdoor kitchen patio from Cathie Hong Interiors. Pale wood beams echo the wood slat cabinetry on the outdoor grill station and cast shadows on pale concrete flooring as the sun moves throughout the day.

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• 10 of 20

  See Also

  Transform Your Backyard into an Idyllic Oasis with These 25 Enchanting Pergola Ideas

  Go Dark

  

  This modern pergola from Calimia Home has a classic lattice roof that filters light but is painted in a dark color that mimics the backyard fencing to create a cohesive modern feel. LED string lights hide in plain sight during daylight hours but add atmosphere for nighttime use.

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• 11 of 20

  Channel Midcentury Modern

  

  A Beautiful Mess channeled midcentury modern style with this DIY backyard pergola that shades the painted detached patio and works in tandem with a privacy screen that shields the view of the carport and the neighbors.

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• 12 of 20

  Shade the Play Space

  

  A modern pergola adds a partially shaded respite next to the kids' play area in this open backyard from Cathie Hong Interiors.

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• 13 of 20

  Add Boho Style

  

  Emily Henderson Design gave this outdoor patio a modern boho style feel by outfitting the space with woven furniture and accents like a kilim pouf, and lacing the chocolate brown wood pergola with string lights that complement the adobe-style fireplace.
  

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• 14 of 20

  Use Contrasting Wood

  

  Home Consultant installed a dark wood pergola on the light wood deck of this Spanish-style home in Los Angeles. Hand-carved pergola beams make the structure feel like it's been there forever. A woven swing hanging from a beam outside of the bedroom creates a breezy spot for morning coffee.

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• 15 of 20

  Hang Pendant Lighting

  

  Laquita Tate Interior Styling and Design hung airy natural woven pendant lights from this dark wood backyard patio pergola that help define the lounging and dining spaces.

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• 16 of 20

  Hang DIY Outdoor Curtains

  

  DIY curtains frame the corners of this patio pergola from A Beautiful Mess, making the simple structure feel more custom and the outdoor living room seating arrangement within feel cozier.

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• 17 of 20

  Float the Pergola

  

  Interior designer Anita Yokota floated this freestanding pergola in the middle of the backyard patio to create a modern outdoor living room conversation area that is anchored with an area rug and includes modern seating. The dark wood beams are contrasted with natural wood, echoing the nearby fence and vertical planters.

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• 18 of 20

  Angle the Roof

  

  A modern metal-and-wood pergola mimics the architecture of the home, from its slanted roofline to its mix of materials, creating a harmonious feel in this Northern California backyard from Cathie Hong Interiors.

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• 19 of 20

  Whitewash It

  

  This painted white pergola from Cortney McClure Design complements the whitewashed brick of the home exterior. An electrical panel in the center of the roof creates a spot for a contrasting black woven pendant light that complements string lights hung around the periphery of the pergola and the rest of the existing patio.

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• 20 of 20

  Cover It With Vines

  

  Leanne Ford Interiors restored the pergola on this home built in 1900, refreshing the timeless design and monumental columns with new paint. The adjoining patio was outfitted with an eclectic modern seating area in a neutral color palette that is anchored by a dramatic oversized pendant light. The newly refurbished space has a smattering of vines trained along the top but will eventually serve as an arbor for a vine-covered roof that will provide additional shade in years to come.