Pergola Design Ideas: Attached Pergolas

An attached pergola functions as an extension of the house. It extends the living space into the yard and serves as a graceful transition between outdoors and indoors.

As this pergola illustrates, the suggestion of shelter is sometimes an effective substitute for actual walls and a roof. By defining this patio area, the pergola and planters create the effect of an outdoor room. The overhead framing also provides welcome shade for the large windows.

Consider adding a second tier, such as the one shown here, for interest rather than strength. It also creates another layer of shade and produces interesting shadows.

There's no law that says the route from house to pergola has to be a straight line. The small porch overhang at the entry door branches sideways to an arbor, which in turn has an offset connection to the pergola. The result is unexpected and interesting.

An attached pergola connects distinct outdoor and indoor spaces. This pergola unites what could otherwise be a patchwork arrangement of a dining area, entries, and an outdoor cooking area. The roof above the dining area provides rainproofing in the most important areas.

Consider an over-the-door pergola to add architectural interest to a traditional, formal home exterior. This one features elaborate curved braces, scrollwork on the beams and joists, and a subtle two-tone color scheme. The heft of the end brackets and crossbeam ensures plenty of strength to support the upper assembly and makes a bold architectural statement appropriate for the scale of the home.

Compact and simple, this garage door pergola is an affordable weekend project and an easy way to dress up a garage.

Two matching assemblies of horizontal girders (basically short projecting beams) and knee braces support a pair of long crossbeams, which are topped by a series of short 2x2 rungs, creating the appearance of a horizontal ladder.

Proper mounting and support are critical. The two end assemblies feature stout timber screws that lock the components together and also secure them firmly to the wall by means of a vertical 2x2 cleat. It's essential that the mounting screws attach to the wall framing itself and not to the surface trim of the siding.

Because of its light weight and strong weather resistance, Western red cedar makes a good choice for this type of pergola. A pair of 2x4 crossbeams can safely span 8 feet, but check your local building codes. Wider spans will require increasing the crossbeam size to 2x6 or 2x8 lumber.

When stretched across the length of a house, an attached pergola can contain separate zones. Functioning as an outdoor room, this cedar pergola has a massive brick fireplace at one end, a central dining area, and a small seating nook flanked by a patchwork frame of glass block inserts.

To make a new attached pergola blend with an existing home, choose a complementary style and color scheme. With stately columns and crisp, white paint to match the house trim, this pergola caps a masonry patio wall that makes the entire structure more substantial and permanent. Along with the surrounding trees, the pergola filters the sun streaming into the large window.

An attached pergola can add warmth to an otherwise sparse exterior. Without this shallow pergola, the French doors and back expanse of this house would seem stark. With it, the space gains architectural detail and becomes an inviting nook.

If you want roses to spill over an attached pergola, make sure the structure is accessible for pruning and can support the full-grown vine. Rambling roses in full bloom add romance to the entrance to this shady pergola.

A pergola attached to a cozy pool house defines an intimate outdoor eating area. Classic columns support this structure and create a dining space in front of the pool house.

Attaching a pergola above a home's entryway adds practical protection from the elements for homeowners and visitors. This pergola shades the back door of a house and provides a cool place to relax on hot, sunny days.

As with almost any other type of garden structure, attached pergola designs vary according to the basic theme of an outdoor space. This deck has a pair of narrow bookend pergolas (one covered in foliage, at left) rather than a single structure that covers the entire area. Despite the open ceiling, the added height gives the deck a greater sense of enclosure.

Attaching a pergola frame directly to the house at two points, as shown here, means the outboard post connections can be simpler because they don't have to withstand heavy lateral (sideways) loads. They do, however, transfer the weight of the overhead frame onto the deck, so they should be positioned directly above footings or beams.