Three Things To Consider When Designing Your Dream Pergola
An ample outdoor space is the cornerstone of any South Florida home. Whether it’s a large backyard or patio, having a space to relax during your leisure time and bask in the warm weather the sunshine state is known for is crucial to taking advantage of everything Florida has to offer. But what about those times you want to enjoy the natural sunlight without necessarily taking it all in — those times you want to take cover from the occasionally overbearing sunshine and solar glare? With a pergola, you can take full advantage of your home’s outdoor space while staying sheltered from the sun when you’re not quite in the mood for a tan. If you’ve been wondering about the best way to maximize use of your new pergola, we have some suggestions.
Motorized Retractable Pergola Screens
Pergolas are designed to help mitigate the sunlight by providing some amount of cover over your garden or backyard. However, strong sunlight is only one of the many potential issues that can come with an outdoor space; anyone who opts to spend their free time lounging in their patio or outdoor space can tell you that the outdoors, while lovely, are oftentimes plagued with pesky bugs and insects, ruining your relaxation. With Phantom Screens, you can enjoy your space; bug-free.
Your pergola can be fitted with motorized retractable screens that are designed to protect your outdoor space from all sorts of creepy-crawlies while at the same time leaving room for air to circulate so that you can enjoy your pergola to the fullest extent without worrying about any insects that may interrupt your alone time. Furthermore, if you opt for a privacy mesh for your pergola’s motorized retractable screen, you can shield your outdoor space from any prying eyes that may be interested in sneaking a look at your private space. This means that with the right pergola screen, you can relax under your pergola without worrying about bugs or nosy neighbors, with the added bonus that the screen also reduces solar glare, if you find that the pergola itself isn’t quite blocking enough sunlight.
Putting Down Roots: The Value of Landscaping
An aspect of pergola design that one might not immediately consider is the landscaping; technically, it’s not part of the pergola at all, but we can’t emphasize enough how crucial a well-designed landscape is in ensuring your pergola and its surrounding outdoor space not only look great, but stay cool as well. The design of the landscape and plants around your pergola can assist immensely in protecting your pergola from intense direct sunlight. Adding larger Florida-native flora such as plumeria shrubs or bougainvillea plants can help obscure the sunlight coming in at an angle while adding significant natural beauty to your outdoor space.
We recommend selecting plants that thrive naturally in the humid Florida climate so as to ensure they grow nicely with minimal maintenance. For example, Hamelia patens — also known as fire bushes — are native to South Florida and grow beautifully despite the unpredictable, oftentimes harsh weather. If you struggle to choose the right plant for your pergola’s landscape, you can never go wrong with Florida’s classic palm trees! Regardless of the plants you choose, we’re positive that any ecological diversity you add to your pergola setup will improve both its form and its function.
Don’t Take This Lightly: Invest in Lighting
Another commonly-overlooked factor when it comes to designing your dream pergola is the lighting. Of course, if you’re using your pergola during the day, the necessity of proper lighting will likely be covered by the natural sunlight coming from the sun. However, if you ever plan on using your pergola after the sun sets, it is crucial to implement lighting that is not only effective at effectively lighting your pergola’s space, but matches your personal sense of style and aesthetic as well. The type of lighting you choose to incorporate into your pergola can have a tremendous effect on your pergola’s mood and atmosphere, so it is prudent to ensure you choose lighting that is right for you.
Add a touch of elegance and luxury to your pergola with a new Phantom Screen
For instance, if you want to give your pergola a calmer, cozier vibe, you could install small sconce lights into the pillars of your pergola — turning your pergola into the perfect reading den. If you fancy yourself the creative type, you could try implementing paper lanterns or string lights wrapped around the structure of your pergola, giving it a sort of jovial feel year-round. Or, if you want to give your pergola a grandiose feel, go all the way and give your pergola a chandelier! There is no shortage of ways one could choose to stylize their pergola to their personal tastes.
Pergolas are a great way to make your home’s patio or outdoor space stand out and truly feel like your own. By implementing improvements such as a retractable motorized screen, Florida-native plants, and personalized lighting, you can turn your pergola from just another outdoor shelter into your home just outside of your actual home.
If you’re interested in a motorized retractable screen for your pergola, contact us today for a free estimate! Our Phantom motorized retractable screens come in a wide range of colors and style, meaning that no matter what your dream pergola looks like, your new motorized screen can be custom-made to match.
