Pergola lighting helps create visual points of focus within the structure. This can come in a variety of forms, whether it’s up-lighting alongside the stone pillars or hanging lights above your outdoor dining table. Pergolas are like extensions to a home’s living space. They provide a covered place outdoors for entertaining guests for a dinner party or just a quiet evening with the family.

During the daytime, the open roof of a pergola allows natural daylight to peek through. Pergola lighting complements this natural light, especially on cloudy days when an extra boost is needed.

As the sun sets, pergola lighting helps extend your space use. You can safely access amenities in this area—the outdoor kitchen, for instance—and entertain guests even as nighttime falls.

Soft lighting can add a unique and warm ambiance to a pergola structure. This glow creates a cozy atmosphere that is inviting to others and makes it a magical place to spend an evening. With the roofline of pergolas, these structures make the perfect canvas for outdoor lighting. What homeowners need to consider is which style of pergola lighting best fits their structure and needs.

4 Ways to Light Pergolas: Enhancing Functionality and Allure
Here are 4 ways we like to light pergolas to enhance their functionality and allure!

1. Bistros bring a sense of occasion to any outdoor living, especially pergolas. They create an environment that is warm and welcoming. Hanging restaurants inside of a pergola not only provides you with a soft ambiance, they also bring function to your pergola. As the days get shorter, we lose time in our outdoor space due to the sun going down. Adding bistros gives your back that “daylight” we lose as fall approaches. They allow you to use your outdoor space far longer than before. Bistros, or string lights, are one of the easiest ways to add life to your pergola.
2. Downlights are a simple way to light up the area beneath a pergola. If you have a dining or sitting area in your pergola, downlights are the perfect way to bring light to the space without the feeling of a spotlight shining down. Downlights are fixed up in the crevasses of the top of the pergola, casting a soft, moonlight glow over the space. This fixture has the ability to be dimmed which allows you to choose the mood of each occasion.
3. Star lighters are the perfect way to bring a magical feel to your pergola. This lighting fixture is designed with small openings so the light can shine through, casting a “starlit” scene on and around a pergola. They also cast light from the bottom of the fixture, creating functional light for the space. Star lighters are a great lighting fixture to bring ambiance and functionality to any pergola!
4. If you have a steel pergola, we are able to place lighting directly into the beams of the pergola. We are able to do this by cutting into the steel using a magnetic drill. This drill magnetizes directly to the beam of the pergola, allowing us to drill holes exactly where we want the lighting fixture to be placed. These small, round fixtures are then recessed up into the steel frame, leaving a seamless finish. This technique is great for those with a dining or sitting area under their steel pergola. Recessed soffit lights cast a soft light over the area, making the space more accommodating to both you and your guests in the dark evenings!