Pergola makeover: The plan

It’s happening—number 3 of 4 planned 2025 projects is officially underway. After a lot of thinking, dreaming, sketching and quietly grumbling about the current setup, we’re giving our pergola and the area around it a long-overdue refresh. This isn’t a full rebuild (sadly), but it’s a solid makeover that’ll make the space feel more us—softer, more usable and less like an off-the-shelf kit plonked onto the deck.

I shared some of the initial ideas in Pergola ma keover: Design inspiration and now the plan is coming together properly.

The pergola itself

In an ideal world, I’d knock the whole thing down and build something more architectural, something that connects directly to the house. But budget says no, so we’re working with what we’ve got and it’s going to be a good glow-up.

The current structure is a bit too “country cottage” for our taste. The angled ends and overly busy slats are getting the chop—literally. We’ll remove all of the skinny top slats to streamline the shape and cut back the decorative ends to make it feel cleaner and more modern.

We’re also sanding off the existing stain (a very generic brown that doesn’t do the space any favours) and re-staining it in a tone that suits the house and garden.

A proper roof

We’re getting quotes now to add a perspex roof—a much-needed improvement. At the moment, a single night of wind or rain means the outdoor table is full of water, leaves, pollen and whatever else the trees feel like throwing down. A roof will protect the space, let us use it when it’s drizzling (which, let’s be honest, can be often) and help trap a bit of warmth in the evenings. All wins.

Textiles and touches of softness

One of the big issues with the whole outdoor area is how many edges it has—right angles, straight lines, timber boards, boxy everything. The planting helps, but it still feels hard. So, I’m introducing softness in a few simple ways:

Floaty curtains (which I’ll make myself from sheer curtain fabric—budget-friendly and easy)
Seat cushions for the dining chairs (because outdoor chairs are rarely comfy enough)
A stylish tablecloth—nothing too garden-y or twee. I’ll likely just buy fabric and sew one myself
Possibly an outdoor rug, though I’m not entirely convinced yet

The idea is to layer in texture and make the space feel less like a deck with furniture and more like an outdoor room.

Lighting

Up to now, we’ve only had solar lanterns dotted around—which are lovely, but not especially reliable or bright. With the pergola being covered, we can finally bring in proper ambient lighting. I’ll still use lanterns and candles, but having fixed lighting options means the space can actually be used comfortably once the sun dips. Soft, warm glows—not anything too clinical.

Bringing in the rest of the garden

We’re not stopping at the pergola. I’m also carving out a separate seating area on the grass, in the middle of the garden. It won’t be covered—it’s meant for evenings around a fire bowl (which is the only thing we still need to buy).

We already have more than enough chairs—I have a bit of a chair addiction—so this little corner will come together quickly. The goal is to create a second spot for evening chats, toasted marshmallows or wintery mulled wine under the stars.

It’s part of the same idea: softening the garden and actually using it. Making it less about perfect planting and more about places you want to sit.

So no, this isn’t a massive construction project. It’s a series of thoughtful changes that should come together quickly and without blowing the budget. Just a good shush-up that’ll make the outdoors feel more layered, more inviting and a whole lot more us.

And yes—project 3 of 4 will be ticked off before the end of the year. Let’s go!