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Article No: 1 — Pergolas & Patios

The Importance of Shade and Cover
in Backyard Home Designs

Not only do Pergolas and Shades look fantastic, they add style, character and the ability to use your backyard space all year round — Summer, Winter and everything in between.

Photo feature

Eight ways shade transforms a backyard

Large format concept photography showing shade and cover working across every part of a yard.

A generous backyard pergola shelters a complete outdoor kitchen with a BBQ grill, wood-fired pizza oven, a long wooden dining. Images and Photos created by www.house-and-garden-designs.com — 02A generous backyard pergola shelters a complete outdoor kitchen with a BBQ grill, wood-fired pizza oven, a long wooden dining set and deep lounge seating.

Shade is the single change that most often turns a backyard from a space you look at into a space you actually live in. A pergola or patio cover can transform an otherwise unusable backyard into something that enables the space to be used all year round.

A poolside pergola wraps the outdoor kitchen and dining area in shade, with a generous infinity edge pool, built-in BBQ. Images and Photos created by www.house-and-garden-designs.com — 03A poolside pergola wraps the outdoor kitchen and dining area in shade, with a generous infinity edge pool, built-in BBQ island, long timber table and deep lounge seating.

Why shade decides whether a backyard gets used

Most backyards fail for one simple reason: for large parts of the day, and large parts of the year, they are uncomfortable. Too much sun in summer, too much rain and wind in winter. Adding cover removes both problems at once and instantly extends the living area of the house out into the garden.

A curved steel pergola covered in climbing vines frames a resort-style deck with daybeds, a central stone fire pit, and. Images and Photos created by www.house-and-garden-designs.com — 04A curved steel pergola covered in climbing vines frames a resort-style deck with daybeds, a central stone fire pit, and a sparkling pool with a bubbling fountain feature.

Style, character and structure

Beyond comfort, pergolas and patios give a yard vertical structure and architectural character. Post size, rafter spacing, material and roof type all set the mood — slim steel and timber reads modern and sleek, heavier posts and gables read substantial and traditional.

Poolside shade gives swimmers somewhere to retreat to, and turns a hot paved surround into a genuine resort style lounge. Images and Photos created by www.house-and-garden-designs.com — 05Poolside shade gives swimmers somewhere to retreat to, and turns a hot paved surround into a genuine resort style lounge area.

The best place for lounges, dining, chairs and BBQ

Lounge zone: sofas and armchairs need cover most — soft furnishings are the first thing damaged by sun and rain.
Dining zone: allow the table plus 600mm clearance on every side, so a ten seat table wants roughly 5m x 4m of cover.
BBQ and cooking: cover the cook, not just the grill — and keep at least 900mm of clear bench either side of the BBQ.
Entertaining flow: keep the covered area adjacent to the kitchen door so food and drinks move easily between inside and out.

A planted pergola adds character. Deciduous climbers such as wisteria give dense summer shade and let winter sun back through. Images and Photos created by www.house-and-garden-designs.com — 06A planted pergola adds character. Deciduous climbers such as wisteria give dense summer shade and let winter sun back through.

Cover protects your investment

Shelter also protects your outdoor furniture and cooking equipment. Cushions stay dry, timber does not grey off and crack, and stainless steel BBQs and smokers last years longer under a roof than they do in the open.

From above you can see how the covered zone links the house to the garden the shade structure is what. Images and Photos created by www.house-and-garden-designs.com — 07From above you can see how the covered zone links the house to the garden — the shade structure is what stops a yard reading as a flat slab.

Recommendations before you build

Allow 2.4m clear height minimum; 2.7–3m feels generous and lets heat escape.
Run rafters north–south to block high midday sun, and screen the western side for afternoon glare.
Decide early whether you need rain protection — retrofitting a roof to an open pergola is far more expensive than building it once.
Plan power and lighting into the structure from the start for fans, heaters and downlights.
Check approval rules for anything attached to the house or over a set area.

A freestanding gazebo garden room creates a destination in the lawn: shelter, lighting and a lounge setting well away from. Images and Photos created by www.house-and-garden-designs.com — 08A freestanding gazebo garden room creates a destination in the lawn: shelter, lighting and a lounge setting well away from the house.

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The Importance of Shade and Coverin Backyard Home Designs