How to Design a Pergola That Works as an Outdoor Room
A pergola works as an outdoor room when it continues the materials, colors and lighting of your home, rather than looking like something added at the end. A pergola is an open frame of posts and beams with a slatted or partly open roof. It defines a space and gives you a ceiling without closing any walls, so you get shade and still keep the sky.
For years the balcony was where we sent the plastic chairs and the barbecue, and a pergola was a polite way of saying "we need some shade." That has changed. Livingetc quotes landscape architects who now describe the pergola as an architectural bridge between the home and the landscape. In a country where you can drink your coffee outside for much of the year, and where every square meter costs a fortune, that bridge is real living space.
By Maya Sheinberger | 29.09.26
Key takeaways
Treat the outdoor space as one more room, and plan it with the home.
Continue materials and colors from the inside instead of copying the whole living room.
Decide what the space is for before you choose the structure.
Use furniture and textiles made for outdoor conditions.
Check the permit rules with your local planning committee before you build.
Pergola options compared
Option | Best for | What to consider |
Wood | Warmth, and a soft link to a garden | Needs regular care outdoors |
Slim steel or aluminum | A clean line that continues the facade | Choose a color that suits the building |
Adjustable louvers | Controlling sun and shade | Higher cost, and moving parts to maintain |
Climbing plants on a frame | A softer, greener ceiling | Take time to grow, and need upkeep |
Decide what the room is for
Start by deciding how you will really use the space, because that determines everything else. A morning coffee corner, a dining table for twelve and a place for the children to play are three different rooms. The terraces below aren't pergola projects, but the same planning logic applies to any outdoor room.
The RA apartment in Tel Aviv shows how specific this can be. Its main terrace, decked in ipe, has a seating area prepared for a screen and projector, and a second area for eating outside. The back terrace serves as a play area for the children, with shaded seating so the parents can sit nearby. On the M apartment roof terrace, which covers 100 m², entertaining came first, so we planned a bench, a dining table and a living area with sofas and a coffee table.
Continue the home outside
The key is continuity, not copying. For years we treated the home and the outdoors as two separate worlds, with the design inside and a garden set outside. Today the same tones, materials and level of comfort can carry through. If your floor is a warm stone, that material language can continue outdoors. If your living room is clean and minimalist, there's no reason for the terrace to turn into a party.
In the C apartment in Tel Aviv, a 30 m² balcony faces Yarkon Park. We planned a seating area, a dining corner and a cooking station in warm gray, which continues the home's monochromatic palette. We chose light furniture that stands up to the humidity. In the OA apartment, the balcony continues the home's material language with minimalist outdoor furniture and greenery.
Choose a pergola that doesn't shout
A pergola shouldn't look like something the contractor remembered at the end. The most interesting ones blend into the architecture, with lines that continue the facade, slim structures, and plants that climb into the frame. A good test is to look at the pergola from inside the living room. If it reads as an extension of the room, you're on the right track.
Plan light and comfort from the start
Lighting makes an outdoor room usable after dark, so plan it with the structure, not after it. Think about soft light for evenings and power where you will need it, and if you're dreaming of cooking outside, plan the water and electricity early. I use 3000K lighting throughout the homes I design, and it makes sense to carry that warmth outside so the two spaces read as one.
What to avoid
Don't drag the whole living room outdoors. White curtains, three clay pots, seventeen rattan cushions and a sign saying "resort" won't turn a terrace into a retreat. A few things do far more than ten straw baskets:
Soft lighting
Good furniture made for outdoor use
Plants
Durable textiles
As few garden decorations as possible
Permits and practical checks
Rules for pergolas depend on the size, the materials and the location. In Israel, some pergolas are exempt from a building permit under certain conditions, so check with your local planning committee before you order. In an apartment building, also look at the building's rules and what your neighbors have agreed. Have an engineer confirm the structure and the fixings. If you are managing a home from abroad, ask for all of this in writing.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a pergola feel like an outdoor room?
Continuity. Use materials, colors and lighting that relate to the inside, add comfortable furniture, and give the space a clear purpose.
Which pergola material is best?
It depends on the look and the upkeep you want. Wood is warm but needs care, while slim steel or aluminum gives a cleaner line. Adjustable louvers add control over the shade.
Do I need a permit for a pergola in Israel?
It depends on the size, the materials and your local rules. Some pergolas are exempt under specific conditions. Check with your local planning committee before you build.
Can a small balcony work as an outdoor room?
Yes. Choose one purpose, such as coffee or a small dinner table, keep the furniture light, and add plants and soft lighting.
What furniture works best under a pergola?
Choose furniture made for outdoor conditions, with textiles that can handle sun and humidity. Fewer good pieces will look better than a full set of small ones.
Planning a terrace, a garden or a renovation in Tel Aviv or central Israel, whether you live here or are managing it from abroad? I'd love to hear about it.
Maya Sheinberger is an interior designer with nearly 20 years of experience. She has run her independent studio since 2012, and it is based in Ramat Gan. She holds a B.Des with honors from the College of Management. Eight of her projects have won Archilovers Best Project awards, her work has appeared in more than 100 publications, and one of her Tel Aviv apartments features in the book The New Minimalist Style.
Photography @itaybenitphotographer · Styling @maya_livnat_harush
This post was inspired by my column on Mako (in Hebrew).
