How to Create Extra Living Space with Pergolas

Australians love spending time outdoors, whether they are trekking through wild bushland or enjoying a pleasant domestic setting framed by their very own pergola. Our long summers are often too stifling to be spent inside; so many Australians have turned to using pergolas to create comfortable, sheltered living spaces in their own backyards.

Installing a pergola in your garden can be one of the easiest ways to extend the usable space of your home, as you can effectively add an additional lounge room, dining room, or even kitchen, with minimal construction work needed, you could even do it yourself! Pergolas provide the perfect fit to the informal and carefree Australian lifestyle, while still adding a stylish touch to your home.

We often find ourselves in need of a quick space expansion in our homes, whether it be with the arrival of unexpected guests, new additions to the family or the summer holiday party season sneaking up on us. Pergolas are the multi-purpose solution to restricted space within the house.

• Lounge: Cool summer nights are made for sitting outside and enjoying the respite from the heat. Furnishing a pergola with soft couches, chairs and lots of cushions can create the perfect cosy atmosphere for relaxing with friends or holding a chilled out party. Poolside pergolas can be fitted with less water absorbent furniture to make a comfortable spot for lounging while protected from the sun's harmful UV rays. Pergolas can also make extra space for busy families, giving parents or older children a peaceful place to relax, away from the action of the rest of the house.
• Dine: We generally anticipate summer as the season to entertain and invite guests into our homes, but how do we entertain others while enjoying ourselves? Many homes don't have dedicated dining rooms, and it can be hard to enjoy a meal with friends with a big pile of dirty dishes looming nearby in the kitchen. Pergolas provide a simple solution by taking the dining space out of the house altogether, allowing the host and the guests to equally enjoy the dinner party.
• Cook: If, however, you like to get your guests involved in the cooking process, like to cook while enjoying the view or are simply a fan of the classic Australian barbecue, pergolas can be transformed with surprising ease into functional kitchens. The barbecue is obviously an essential component of the pergola kitchen, while more modifications can be made in the form of bar fridges or eskies, worktables and outdoor kitchen cabinets.