Open-roof outdoor structures with beams/rafters providing partial shade, exploding 2015-2020 as backyard entertaining focal point, often supporting climbing vines, string lights, or retractable canopies.
The Outdoor Living Room
Pergolas—ancient garden structures—became suburban backyard standard in 2015-2020. Pinterest boards showed aspirational setups: wood/vinyl pergolas ($2K-8K installed) over patios, defining outdoor dining areas, supporting wisteria vines, festooned with string lights, or topped with retractable shade canopies.
The hashtag documented the boom: DIY builds ($500-2K materials), kit pergolas ($1K-4K), or custom designs ($5K-15K). HGTV’s outdoor shows (2016-2019) made pergolas expected features. Home Depot/Lowe’s expanded pergola sections. The structures provided: partial shade (better than full sun), architectural interest (empty patios felt unfinished), and framework for lighting/plants.
Modern vs Traditional & Maintenance
Design debates: traditional wood pergolas (cedar/redwood, $4-8/sqft, requires staining every 2-3 years) versus modern aluminum/vinyl (white powder-coated, $10-15/sqft, zero maintenance). By 2020, “modern pergolas” with louver roofs (adjustable slats, $10K-25K) became luxury upgrade.
The movement reflected pandemic-era outdoor living investment: backyards became entertainment spaces. By 2023, pergolas were as common as decks in new construction suburbs—the outdoor room framework completing yard designs.
Sources: