How to Fit a Pergola in a Tiny Gaden
Even if your space is limited, there are ways to add an open roof to create the feeling of an outdoor room
Got big dreams but a small yard? If a pergola (an arched structure covered with climbing or trailing plants) is at the top of your wish list, you can still find a way to fit one into your landscape. And if you do, a pergola can increase your growing area, providing extra scramble room for climbers and ramblers. Here are a few ideas to show you how to incorporate a pergola when space is at a premium.
Allow light to filter through
Covering a patio with a solid roof or a thickly planted pergola can create a cozy, shaded spot for relaxing. But if space is tight and you want to maximise every drop of sunshine in your small yard, a pergola like this lends a sense of intimacy without blocking too much precious light.
To get the effect, choose a pale-coloured frame and restrict climbers to the four posts, keeping the top free.
Browse through images of pergolas
Covering a patio with a solid roof or a thickly planted pergola can create a cozy, shaded spot for relaxing. But if space is tight and you want to maximise every drop of sunshine in your small yard, a pergola like this lends a sense of intimacy without blocking too much precious light.
To get the effect, choose a pale-coloured frame and restrict climbers to the four posts, keeping the top free.
Browse through images of pergolas
Add curves
If you’re worried about a pergola feeling too oppressive in a small yard, try a tall arched style to retain as much height as possible while still creating the feeling of an outdoor room.
If you can’t find a ready-made pergola that works, you could ask a local builder to make a custom one. It could be as simple as four uprights with two curved struts overhead.
If you’re worried about a pergola feeling too oppressive in a small yard, try a tall arched style to retain as much height as possible while still creating the feeling of an outdoor room.
If you can’t find a ready-made pergola that works, you could ask a local builder to make a custom one. It could be as simple as four uprights with two curved struts overhead.
Create drama
Alternatively, play up the compact size of your yard with a covered dining area that’s big on drama.
This tiny terrace grabs attention with its teal pergola, painted to tie in with the home’s richly coloured door and window woodwork.
A small round table with five chairs tucked neatly underneath provides a sociable place to sit and chat, while the trailing greenery and small brass lamps suspended from the crossbeams bring a sense of drama and playfulness to this enticing space.
Find a landscape designer to help design your outdoor space
Alternatively, play up the compact size of your yard with a covered dining area that’s big on drama.
This tiny terrace grabs attention with its teal pergola, painted to tie in with the home’s richly coloured door and window woodwork.
A small round table with five chairs tucked neatly underneath provides a sociable place to sit and chat, while the trailing greenery and small brass lamps suspended from the crossbeams bring a sense of drama and playfulness to this enticing space.
Find a landscape designer to help design your outdoor space
Make it the focal point
If you’re dreaming of a covered seating area in your landscape but space is tight, consider making it the centre of your design and working everything else around it.
To make room for it, you may have to sacrifice a lawn, planting beds, outbuildings or all three, but as long as you leave a small area for planting and an access path around the sides, you can design a romantic hideaway that’s perfect for alfresco dining, relaxed dinner parties or a quiet cup of tea.
Here’s how to make an outdoor barbecue kitchen
If you’re dreaming of a covered seating area in your landscape but space is tight, consider making it the centre of your design and working everything else around it.
To make room for it, you may have to sacrifice a lawn, planting beds, outbuildings or all three, but as long as you leave a small area for planting and an access path around the sides, you can design a romantic hideaway that’s perfect for alfresco dining, relaxed dinner parties or a quiet cup of tea.
Here’s how to make an outdoor barbecue kitchen
Reach for the sky
Although not strictly a small yard, this smart roof terrace demonstrates how effective a pergola can be on a roof garden, balcony or terrace where the footprint is limited.
Adding height can help draw the eye upward and provide privacy if you’re in view of other buildings. If covered in plants, a pergola can provide shelter from sun or a light shower.
Read more:
How to Fill Your Garden With Tranquility
Tell us:
Do you have a pergola in your garden? What do you grow on it? Share tips and photos in the Comments below.
Although not strictly a small yard, this smart roof terrace demonstrates how effective a pergola can be on a roof garden, balcony or terrace where the footprint is limited.
Adding height can help draw the eye upward and provide privacy if you’re in view of other buildings. If covered in plants, a pergola can provide shelter from sun or a light shower.
Read more:
How to Fill Your Garden With Tranquility
Tell us:
Do you have a pergola in your garden? What do you grow on it? Share tips and photos in the Comments below.
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Installed against the back wall of the house, this pergola transforms a small paved area into something magical. The yard faces south, so Kate Eyre of Kate Eyre Garden Design built the pergola in this sheltered spot and trained evergreen jasmine over it to provide dappled shade.
Although this is, admittedly, part of a larger landscape design, it shows how you can turn a small seating area into a feature in its own right with a support for climbing plants and decorative lanterns.