Pergola Decorating Ideas: 17 Ways to Style a Pergola

A pergola is the closest thing a garden has to a ceiling. On its own it's a simple frame of posts and beams, but dressed with climbing plants, lights, fabric and furniture, it becomes an outdoor room where you'll eat, read, entertain and linger long after the sun goes down.

In this guide I'll share 17 pergola decorating ideas, from climbing roses and grapevines to curtains, shade canopies, lanterns and outdoor kitchens, plus the best plants to grow over a pergola, how to plan the space and the mistakes to avoid.

The quick answer: the best ways to decorate a pergola are to grow climbing plants such as roses, clematis, wisteria and grapevines over it, drape it with festoon lights or lanterns, add outdoor curtains or a fabric canopy for shade and privacy, and furnish it like a room with a dining table or a sofa, cushions and an outdoor rug. Hanging plants, a swing seat and potted trees add the finishing touches.

Planning Your Pergola Space

The Royal Horticultural Society describes pergolas as structures "made from timber uprights with crossbeams and laterals at the top," and that open roof is what makes them so easy to decorate. Before you start, decide how you want to use the space.

17 Pergola Decorating Ideas

Plants and greenery

1. Climbing roses. Nothing is more romantic than roses tumbling over a pergola. Choose a scented climber or rambler, such as one of the most fragrant roses, so you can enjoy the perfume as you walk or sit beneath it.

2. Wisteria. Hanging chains of wisteria flowers turn a pergola into something magical in late spring. It's heavy and vigorous, so it needs a strong timber or metal frame and regular pruning.

3. Clematis. Lighter than wisteria and easy to grow, clematis comes in so many varieties that you can have flowers from spring to autumn. The RHS advises that you "plant clematis a little deeper than in the pot" and that "when planting, angle the climber towards the support."

4. A grapevine. A grapevine gives dappled shade all summer, beautiful autumn colour and, in a warm spot, bunches of grapes. It's the classic Mediterranean pergola.

5. Hanging plants. Hang pots of trailing plants, ferns or herbs from the beams to add greenery while climbers establish.

6. Potted trees and planters. Olive trees, bay trees or lavender in pots around the posts soften the structure and frame the space. There are lots of types of lavender that thrive in pots.

7. Scented evening plants. Star jasmine, honeysuckle and night-scented stock make a pergola smell wonderful on summer evenings, alongside other flowers that bloom at night.

Lighting

8. Festoon lights. Strings of warm festoon lights zigzagged across the beams are the easiest way to make a pergola glow. Choose lights made for outdoor use and keep connections off the ground and out of the rain.

9. Lanterns and candles. Hanging lanterns, candles in jars and a few battery candles on the table create soft, flickering light. Use battery candles near fabric and foliage.

10. A statement pendant. A large rattan or woven outdoor pendant over the dining table gives the pergola the feel of a real room.

Fabric and shade

11. Outdoor curtains. Flowing curtains in outdoor fabric between the posts add privacy, shade and softness. Tie them back during the day and draw them on breezy evenings.

12. A fabric canopy or shade sail. A canvas canopy, shade sail or slatted roof over part of the pergola keeps the midday sun off the table and lets you sit out during light showers.

13. Bamboo or reed screening. Roll-up bamboo blinds or reed screening on one side block the wind and give privacy from neighbours.

Furniture and finishing touches

14. An outdoor dining room. A big table with comfortable chairs under a pergola is perfect for long summer lunches. A tiled outdoor dining table adds colour and a Mediterranean feel.

15. An outdoor living room. A sofa, armchairs, a coffee table, an outdoor rug and plenty of cushions make a pergola as comfortable as your living room. A relaxed, tropical decor palette of rattan, linen and greenery works beautifully outdoors.

16. A hanging swing seat. A swing seat or hanging daybed hung from a strong beam is a playful, relaxing touch. Make sure the pergola is strong enough and fixed securely before hanging anything heavy.

17. An outdoor kitchen. A modern metal pergola over an outdoor kitchen with a grill, a worktop and bar stools makes cooking outside a pleasure. Add a solid roof section over the cooking area to keep it dry.

Best Plants for a Pergola

Pergola Garden Ideas for Different Spaces

• Small gardens. A pergola against the house or along one wall creates a sheltered corner without taking over the garden.
• Long, narrow gardens. A pergola halfway down breaks up the length and creates a destination.
• Decking. A pergola over decking turns it into an outdoor room, and the right deck railing ideas complete the look.
• Poolside. A pergola gives shade beside a pool and pairs well with the ideas for a pool house.
• Walkways. A long pergola over a path, covered in roses or clematis, is a classic feature of English gardens.

If you'd like a more freestanding, ornamental structure, a garden pagoda uses the same climbers and lights with a curved, tiered roof.

How I Decorate a Pergola

After more than 15 years of designing homes, pubs and restaurants, and many years as a florist, I decorate a pergola the same way I'd style an indoor room, with plenty of flowers.

• Start with the plants. Climbers take a couple of seasons to fill out, so I plant them first and use hanging pots in the meantime.
• Layer the light. Festoons overhead, lanterns on the table and candles at different heights make the space feel warm and inviting.
• Repeat the colours of the house. Cushions and fabrics that pick up the colours of the garden and the house tie everything together.
• Make it comfortable. Good seat cushions and a throw on every chair mean people will want to stay.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I decorate my pergola?

Grow climbing plants over it, add festoon lights or lanterns, hang outdoor curtains or a fabric canopy, and furnish it with a dining table or a sofa, cushions and a rug.

What is the best climbing plant for a pergola?

Climbing and rambling roses, wisteria, clematis, grapevines, star jasmine and honeysuckle are all excellent choices, depending on the look and scent you want.

How do you add shade to a pergola?

Add a fabric canopy, a shade sail, a slatted or louvred roof, outdoor curtains or a leafy climber such as a grapevine.

How do you hang lights on a pergola?

Fix hooks or cup hooks along the beams and drape festoon lights between them in straight lines or zigzags, using lights designed for outdoor use.

Can you put curtains on a pergola?

Yes. Hang outdoor curtains from a rail or wire fixed to the beams, and choose fade-resistant, water-resistant fabric.

How can I make my pergola more private?

Use outdoor curtains, bamboo or reed screening, trellis panels with climbers or tall plants in pots.

What do you put under a pergola?

A dining table and chairs, an outdoor sofa and coffee table, a swing seat, an outdoor kitchen or a simple bench all work well under a pergola.

An Outdoor Room to Remember

A beautifully decorated pergola turns the garden into a room you'll use from spring to autumn. Plant it with climbers, light it softly, add fabric for shade and comfort, and furnish it as lovingly as you would an indoor room.

And if you'd like help designing an outdoor room or choosing colours and fabrics for your garden, you can book a one-hour online interior design consultation with me.