A few weeks ago, I shared the process of installing a louvered outdoor pergola in our small backyard. It was a fairly simple DIY, although it was a tad time-consuming, tackling it solo.

Once it was standing, I knew that this classic pergola was the perfect addition to our outdoor space.

This Space – Before

Here’s a peek at our backyard patio last summer. We like this open space and use it frequently, but during the day, it doesn’t get much shade. A pergola project was always in the back of our minds to gain some extra shade and I’m thrilled that we brought this DIY project to life.

Let’s Decorate The Pergola

During the pergola installation, I was getting snowed on! So I decided to wait a few more weeks until things warmed up to set up our outdoor furniture. Once I set up our outdoor sofa and rug, I realized that the area needed a little something extra.

We have string lights hanging from our house to our garage and they add the dreamiest glow over our outdoor dining table. I considered adding more string lights to our pergola. But, then I found the most gorgeous lanterns, online, and I had to try them out before I went with the traditional string light look…

Finding Gorgeous Lanterns

While perusing Wayfair, I stumbled upon these three outdoor lanterns. They come with a rechargeable bulb and are offered in a variety of sizes and styles. I selected three different ones (here, here, and here), not knowing if I would keep them. The price seemed a tad high and I didn’t know if the light would be strong enough to make a difference in the space.

They arrived and I was immediately impressed with the quality. They’re lightweight, yet durable, and the style is on point. I charged the bulbs for a few hours while hanging the lanterns.

In design, I always recommend grouping things in odd numbers, so I clustered three of these together in one corner.

Even without the bulbs, I thought they looked pretty cool hanging from the pergola. They come with a long rope and I simply tied them around the top of the pergola, so they wouldn’t interfere with the louvers.

Our Outdoor Living Space & Seating Area

Here’s what the lounge area looks like during the daytime with all of our furniture and the new lanterns. It’s the coziest outdoor place to hang and it offers us complete shade, even on sunny days.

I ended up moving the two chairs and side table that we had up on our deck down to this area. It makes it more of a conversation spot and cozies it up quite a bit. I’ll have to rework the deck in the coming weeks to come up with a pretty design up there too.

We still adore our couch and it’s held up great over the past two summers. I’m thrilled with the pergola because now we can close the louvered top and the cushions stay dry, even on rainy days! I loathed covering the furniture all of the time and dealing with soggy furniture covers, so this makes me happy!

Finding An Outdoor Coffee Table

Unlike our sofa, our outdoor coffee table didn’t fare so well after two summers in the elements. The top was peeling and I tried to salvage it last summer with a good sanding and new stain, but, alas, it still looked pretty crummy. I decided to go with a new outdoor coffee table – this round black one works perfectly.

I needed something petite so it wouldn’t take up the entire area and the round shape works well with the other furniture pieces. So far, I’m really loving this addition.

The Pergola Living Room At Night

After hanging the lanterns and charging the three lightbulbs, I anxiously waited for nightfall to turn them on.

Whoa, I was shocked by how much light these babies emit! They have three settings (bright, medium, and dim) and the bright is almost too bright! We ended up putting these on the dimmest setting (they come with a remote control) because they were too intense at full blast.

This cluster of lanterns adds some much-needed ambiance to this corner of our backyard. It feels romantic and breezy. I almost feel like I’m at a tropical restaurant or resort when sitting back here!

I’m happy I kept the lanterns and hope they last for many seasons back here. I can just picture us in the fall with our fire pit and those lanterns making it extra comfy.

I wrote a blog post about lighting up your outdoor patio at night. It’s the best way to create a backyard escape!

New Landscaping Coming Soon

The one area that we’ve still neglected is our landscaping. I had a landscape designer come out to take a look and he recommend some plants and bushes near our back and side fence. I’m excited to get more color and life back here!

I will be planting my flower pots in a few weeks and I plan to add a few more around this outdoor area. I’m also on the lookout for fun, little accessories to add to the outdoor design.

A Window Treatment…In The Garage?!

Another random to-do that has been added to my list is to find a window treatment for our garage window. I know, I know – a window treatment in a garage?! However, every time I sit on this couch, I stare at the crap in our garage and realize how awful it looks behind the clear glass window. I’m going to find a cheap shade to block the clutter.

Moving The Outdoor TV

You may have seen this last task coming. We’re planning to move our outdoor television to the garage wall near the pergola. We’ve loved it near the outdoor dining area for the past two summers, but now that this is turning into more of a hangout zone, and a focal point of our backyard, it makes sense to move it.

I’m looking forward to many family movie nights out here this summer. Once it’s moved, I’ll need to figure out something for the new empty side of the garage. Trellis screens with climbing plants? It’s a work in progress.

Backyard Pergola Design – Sources

Patio Pergola // Outdoor Rug // Pendant Light 1 // Pendant Light 2 // Pendant Light 3 // Black Coffee Table // Fencing Info // String Lights //  Pavers (color “Greyed Nickel”) // Lounge Chairs // Side Table // Sectional // Palm Print Throw Pillows

More To Come…

Patio season has only just begun. I can’t wait to continue to improve our backyard over the coming months and do some outdoor entertaining! And of course, I’ll keep you posted along the way as I make tweaks to our small outdoor space.

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