Looking to carve out a spot in an outdoor space to spend with friends, family, and loved ones? Pergolas are the answer! With the proper outdoor lighting, pergolas transform into a magical oasis, perfect for any nighttime outdoor gathering.
This week’s blog post explores outdoor pergolas, their benefits to an outdoor space, and some ideas on how to light them with outdoor landscape lighting to make them the perfect outdoor spot.
What is a Pergola?
Pergolas are a great addition to any backyard. They are open-roofed structures with vertical posts supporting a grid of criss-crossing beams. They allow for customizable shade while also enjoyment of the outdoors.
Pergolas can be free-standing, where posts are anchored into the ground, or attached to a property, such as the side of a building. Attaching pergolas to the side of a building can provide additional structural support and offer a seamless indoor-outdoor look.
Outdoor pergolas can be constructed from a variety of materials. Wood, vinyl, metal, and aluminum are the popular options. Each option has its pros and cons and the best one depends on personal preferences.
With proper construction and maintenance, pergolas can last for decades, ensuring that there’s always a perfect spot for outdoor hangouts.
Benefits of a Pergola
A pergola is a customizable, functional, yet aesthetically pleasing structure that will enhance any outdoor space.
Each outdoor space will have different configurations and pergolas can be customizable to suit them. Pergolas can be fitted with lighting, fans, retractable shades, drapes, screens, and other decorative elements to enhance their functionality and appearance. With this much customization, a pergola is a one-of-a-kind outdoor feature that truly enhances an outdoor space.
Pergolas can be dressed up or down with the addition of furniture, lighting, and other decorative elements. Although they are open structures, they also provide some shade and protection from the elements. Whether it be a dinner party, enjoying the sunset, or an outdoor workspace, pergolas offer a comfortable outdoor living space.
Having a pergola increases a property’s market value because it adds function and visual appeal. Not only can pergolas give a comfortable seating area, but they can be a nice place to add some greenery to an outdoor space. For example, climbing plants can look especially interesting, as it weaves up the pergola’s posts or roof.
With all this in mind, it is clear that pergolas are a popular choice when it comes to enhancing gardens, backyards, and any outdoor space.
Outdoor Lighting Ideas for a Pergola
Extend the usability of pergolas and enhance their beauty at night by installing outdoor landscape lighting.
String lights are easy lighting to install. Wrap them around the posts or weave them in between the beams of the roof for a whimsical feel.
If there is a pathway, install path lights. These lights will gently guide people with a gentle glow as they make their way to and from the pergola.
Flood lights are great outdoor light fixtures. They can be used to light vast spaces or the spaces in between other outdoor light fixtures such as up lights. They can be used to blend lighting, which would lead to a more cohesive look.
Up lights are used to highlight unique focal points in an outdoor space. Light up a nearby tree, the posts of the pergola, or any other unique elements.
Want to give an enchanted moonlight feel to a pergola? Downlights are the perfect outdoor light fixture to achieve this effect. Mount them about 20-25 feet up in the air and their beam of light will perfectly mimic that silvery light for an evening of moonlit fun.
Smart Lighting is an ingenious way to control outdoor lighting. With a touch of a button on an app or tablet, set schedules for the lights to turn on and off, change the lights’ color, or sync them to music and get them to dance. Smart lighting makes outdoor lighting easy to customize, while also being energy efficient and cost saving.
With endless options of outdoor landscape lighting available, pergolas become the go-to spot to hang out any time of day or night!
Shop for Outdoor Lighting for Pergolas at LightCh8in
To add a customizable, comfortable, shady seating area and aesthetic appeal to any outdoor space, consider adding a pergola! It's the perfect spot for any outdoor gathering. Adding some outdoor landscape lighting to and around the pergola will further enhance its usability and visual appeal.
Log in or register for a new, free LightCh8in account now! Explore our wide inventory of everything outdoor landscape lighting, including brass light fixtures, LEDs, direct burial cable, and more lighting accessories. Make pergolas shine with LightCh8in!