Pergola or Pavilion? Pros, Cons, and Key Differences Explained

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Look around your backyard. What do you see? 

Is it a space where your children can play and where you can sip your coffee on a quiet morning? Do you invite your friends over to barbeque when the weather is nice? Do butterflies and hummingbirds frolic around your brilliant flowers?

And if not, what can you do about it? Should you get a pergola? Or maybe a pavilion?

What exactly is the difference between the two anyway?

At Terrascape Supply, we’re committed to helping you create the backyard of your dreams. That’s why we sell landscaping supplies of all kinds, including pavilions and pergolas. 

Today, we’ll discuss the differences between pergolas and pavilions so you can make an informed choice about what would best suit your backyard.

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What Is a Pergola?

Pergolas are outdoor garden structures with vertical posts or columns supporting a series of crossbeams on top.

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People use pergolas to define outdoor living spaces and add dimension to their gardens. Pergolas can also serve as a support for climbing plants like honeysuckle, grapevines, or wisteria.

Here are a few key features of pergolas:

  1. Open Roof: Pergolas have a slatted roof that offers a bit of shade while allowing sunlight to filter through. Growing flowers and vines over your pergola will make the area shadier. While pergolas are not designed to shelter you from rain, shade canopies and curtains can be purchased for protection against light rain. 
  2. Defines a Space: Many people place their pergolas in a yard or on a patio or deck to define the space and create the feel of a room. Then, when they add outdoor furniture or a table and chairs, it looks deliberate and curated. 
  3. Integration with Nature: Although pergolas emulate the shape of a room, their open design integrates with nature, creating a lovely balance. Growing vines over your pergola integrates the space with nature even more.
  4. Styles and Materials: Pergolas can be made from wood, metal, vinyl, or composite materials, depending on the desired style, durability, and budget.

In short, pergolas are popular for creating inviting outdoor areas for relaxation, dining, or entertaining. They add charm and architectural interest to any outdoor space, but you cannot use them during harsh weather conditions.

What Is a Pavilion?

A pavilion is a freestanding structure with a solid roof that is open on all sides, typically used for outdoor activities, gatherings, or relaxation. The roof provides full shade from the sun and shelter from rain or snow, while the open sides allow fresh air and an outdoor atmosphere.

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Here are a few key features of pavilions:

  1. Solid Roof: Unlike the open lattice design of a pergola, a pavilion has a complete, weatherproof roof, often made of wood, metal, or shingles. It protects you and your guests from sun, rain, and snow.
  2. Open Design: While the roof is solid, the sides of a pavilion are open, allowing for a spacious, airy feel. Pavilions are supported by sturdy posts or columns, which can be made of wood, metal, or stone.
  3. Outdoor Living: Commonly found in parks, gardens, and backyards, pavilions are used for events, outdoor dining, lounging, or as a centerpiece in landscaped areas.
  4. Styles and Materials: Pavilions come in various styles, ranging from rustic and traditional to sleek and modern, with materials chosen to suit the environment and design preferences. The most common pavilion materials are wood and vinyl. 

Pavilions are popular for creating a comfortable and sheltered outdoor space, combining functionality with aesthetic appeal. They can serve as gathering spots for family and friends or as a focal point in a landscaped setting.

Pros and Cons of Pergolas vs. Pavilions

Both pergolas and pavilions are excellent choices for enhancing outdoor spaces, but they cater to different needs and aesthetics. Here's a comparison of their pros and cons:

Pros of Pergolas:

  1. Aesthetic Appeal: Pergolas have an open, airy design that adds visual interest to a garden or patio.
  2. Partial Shade: The open roof provides filtered sunlight, creating a balance between shade and brightness.
  3. Cost-Effective: Pergolas are generally more affordable than pavilions due to simpler construction and materials.
  4. Blends with Nature: Pergolas are ideal for integrating greenery like vines and flowers, creating a natural, romantic atmosphere.
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Cons of Pergolas:

  1. Limited Weather Protection: A pergola won’t shelter you from rain, snow, or intense sun unless you modify it with additional coverings. Even if you add a canopy, it won’t be as durable as a pavilion roof. 
  2. Seasonal Use: Because of its minimal weather protection, you’ll only be able to use your pergola when the weather cooperates.

Pros of Pavilions

  1. Complete Weather Protection: The solid roof provides full shelter from sun, rain, and snow, making it suitable for year-round use.
  2. Multi-Seasonal Use: Because of the weather protection, a pavilion allows you to host gatherings, dine outdoors, or lounge in a fully protected space – especially if you add a fireplace, fire pit, or outdoor heater.
  3. Adds Value: A high-quality, well-designed pavilion will increase your property value.
  4. Aesthetic Appeal: Pavilions, like pergolas, add beauty and charm to your space. Whether you prefer the look of a pergola or pavilion depends on the nature of your home and your personal taste!
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Cons of Pavilions

  1. Higher Cost: Pavilions are generally more expensive to build due to the complexity of construction and materials required.
  2. Heavier Appearance: The solid roof of a pavilion makes the structure feel bigger and heavier, potentially dominating the space or overwhelming smaller yards.
  3. Less Integration with Nature: Unlike pergolas, pavilions don’t encourage climbing plants and don’t have as much of that open-air feel.

If you want an affordable, light, and airy addition that blends seamlessly with greenery and suits mild climates, you’ll probably enjoy a pergola. On the other hand, choose a pavilion if you need a durable, fully sheltered outdoor space and have the budget for a more permanent, substantial structure.

The decision depends on your budget, climate, intended use, and the style of your outdoor area.

Other Similar Structures

Of course, if you’re looking for an outdoor structure to add visual interest to your yard, there are more options than pergolas and pavilions! Let’s briefly examine a few other structures you may have heard of.

Arbors

Arbors are similar to pergolas, offering a decorative structure for plants to climb. However, arbors are smaller than pergolas. Instead of defining a room-shaped space, they function as an archway over a path or a nook to place a singular bench. Arbors are affordable structures that add charm and visual interest but don’t create outdoor living spaces. 

Gazebos

Gazebos are technically a type of pavilion, but they have a very recognizable octagonal or hexagonal shape.

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This shape isn’t as practical if you want to put a rectangular table inside, but it offers a quaint charm and may be better suited to your style than a rectangular pavilion.

Cabanas

A cabana is a type of pavilion associated with beaches and pools. They have a relaxed, beachy look and may incorporate sides that can close, allowing you to change into your bathing suit. If you’re looking for poolside pavilions, you may want to explore cabana options.

But remember: although structures add beauty, dimension, and functionality to your outdoor space, a structure alone won’t transform your yard! For more information about how to create the outdoor space of your dreams, read our blog posts about using natural stone in landscaping, how to use hardscape materials, and the art of mulch.

How Terrascape Supply Can Help

As you work toward creating a beautiful, functional landscape at your property, we’d love to help you! 

At Terrascape Supply, we offer quality outdoor products & inspiration to transform your backyard into a landscape you love. That’s why we offer beautiful pavilions and pergolas made of wood or vinyl, depending on your preference. If you need it, we’re also happy to help you install these structures. 

We also provide for your landscaping needs by offering:

Contact us today or stop by and see us for more info! 

We look forward to working with you to create the landscape of your dreams.

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