Why You Need a Metal Pergola with Sides

When you invest in a pergola, you're not just putting up a garden feature; you're enlarging your lifestyle. With a ready-to-go, protected outdoor living area, you'll be surprised by how much the new addition will extend your life into the garden. Dine with family, relax on an outdoor sofa, create a cosy spot to unwind with a coffee and a good book. Or install an outdoor kitchen or hot tub to entertain friends and live life outside. But what features do you need to think about, to get the very best out of your new purchase? Do you mainly want it for shelter, or are you looking to increase privacy? How do you make it comfortable for different weather conditions? This is probably the most exciting aspect of having a pergola; it is an outdoor area that you can turn into an intimate setting in nature.

For a totally versatile solution to staying outside in rain or hot sun, a metal pergola with louvres is the ticket. You can either shield yourself completely from the elements or slightly alter the angle of the louvres to create partial shade. It also means you don't have to rush to rescue cushions in a downpour and can sit out after rain without having to wait for cushions to dry out. And roof drainage is important. Nobody wants to be drenched by rain left on roof when you next open the louvres. You'll find our Proteus range has a nifty drainage designs that take the water off the roof to drain to the ground inside the legs.

Are you tempted by a pergola with a canvas canopy that draws back? It would certainly be a cheaper option, but it's worth remembering that canopies don't offer the delight of dappled shade (they're either drawn across or drawn back). Also, louvres have the added advantage of providing more privacy. Even fully open, they offer partial protection from prying eyes at upstairs windows.

For even more privacy - and greater weather protection - consider sides. Again, there are choices. With our Proteus aluminium pergolas, pull-down, adjustable Textilene sides may be installed on as many sides as you wish. These adjustable screens can be positioned by hand at the level you wish, to protect from sun, breeze, or to make a more intimate space within. An alternative are permanent fixed-louvre screens. Fitting along any side of the Proteus, these screens allow plenty of air flow while reducing the outside view into the pergola. You might particularly like this idea if your pergola is going to house a hot tub.

Options are divided between hand-cranked louvres, such as those of our Proteus Aluminium Pergolas, or electric louvres, operated through a remote control. While a hand-crank means you don't need to connect your pergola to the power supply, a remote-control means you don't even have to get up to change the angle of shade, turn on the heating or lower the sides.

Undeniably modern, our metal pergolas with sides offer a surprisingly versatile design. Proteus has a simple outline that blends into just about any design, adding an elegant touch to both minimalist and traditional gardens. The character your pergola assumes will depend on how you dress it and the versatility of a pergola with adjustable roof and sides provides you with a changing aesthetic that will keep your garden looking fresh.

The structure of a metal pergola with sides is simple, but you can easily add your own personal touch. Enhance its attractiveness by adding lighting accessories that reflect both your personality and outdoor space - spike lights at the feet of the pergola to light up the base with a spotlight effect, for example. Or wind outdoor LED strings through the fixed louvres option of our Nova Proteus pergolas. Make your pergola the centrepiece of your garden. Create an outdoor pergola with an old-fashioned, romantic feel by encouraging climber plants in the vicinity. Pair these with nearby shrubs and soft furnishings. If your style is more minimalist, then the clean lines of the pergola are ideal. Transform your pergola into the perfect reading and relaxing corner. Lay out a rug, put some cushions on the floor and create a cosy spot to relax and unwind with a coffee and a good book. Alternatively, create a unique garden nook. Position garden swings under the pergola, a small coffee table and swing the day away in the garden. Pergolas help you get creative with your outdoor life. Make the most of yours with a hot-tub, fire-pit or an outdoor kitchen. The possibilities really are endless. During the warmer seasons, it's a perfect space to entertain friends and family. In cooler temperatures, you can enjoy relaxing surroundings in the fresh air with the cosy input of a firepit, or thanks to the pergola's inbuilt heaters. Shop our range of metal pergolas today and transform your garden.