5 Ways to Transform your Pergola into the Perfect Outdoor Party Venue

There’s a lot that goes into hosting an unforgettable outdoor event. Whether you’re organising a summer BBQ, birthday party, or even a wedding reception, you need to think of everything from your seating plan to the food you serve - and, of course, how to keep your guests feeling comfortable throughout.

A pergola is the perfect way to do just that.

Pergolas are the large, freestanding structures you can find in gardens and outdoor spaces across the world. Their elegant looks, sturdy construction, and the shelter they provide make them ideal for elevating your party and your guests’ experiences.

Broadview have been one of the UK’s leading shading specialists since 1969. Below, we explain how incorporating a few simple touches (such as lighting, decorations, and seating) can transform your pergola into a stunning outdoor party venue your guests will remember for years to come.

1. Furnishings

First things first: no one wants to stay standing all night, so make sure there’s enough seating in your pergola for all your guests. You can use chairs, benches, or even some pillows or beanbags, which will let your guests relax in comfort should the weather take a turn.

How you should furnish your pergola largely depends on its intended use. If you plan on using it to serve food and drinks, consider setting up a table or bar area. Use an assortment of trays, bowls, and platters to create an attractive display of snacks and beverages.

For some extra fun, you can also turn your pergola into a dedicated games area, a home for a jacuzzi, or even set up a photo booth for your guests to snap some shots. With a little creativity, you can turn your pergola into a fantastic space for your guests to socialise and make memories.

2. Shading

Next up, think about how you'll protect your guests if the heavens open (a very valid concern, considering the typical British weather!), or in the blinding midday sun.

One of the biggest benefits of pergolas is the amount of shelter they’re able to provide. Thanks to their solid construction and size, pergolas can protect multiple people from the wind, rain, and sunlight without sacrificing comfort.

Many of Broadview’s pergolas are built with louvred roofs, which feature slanted horizontal slats that can be opened and closed easily. Louvres can be rotated a full 180 degrees, allowing you to let in as much or as little sunlight as you’d like.

If you want to take it a step further, we can integrate your pergola with optional sliding glass panels and roller screens. These provide extra protection against wind and rain from the sides.

3. Lighting

Your event has the potential to continue late into the evening, but nothing puts a stop to it quicker than everyone stumbling around in the dark!

Make sure there’s enough lighting to keep the party going all night long. In your pergola, you can use string lights, lanterns, or electric candles to create a warm and cosy atmosphere.

When designing your pergola, we can integrate LED lighting strips within its roof. These strips can be turned on and off at the touch of the button, and can easily be changed to any RGB colour - create a fresh and funky vibe with a bright pink hue, or keep things classic with a warm white. It’s completely up to you!

4. Heating

Evenings can get chilly in the UK, even in the spring and summer. You don't want your party to get cut short by a sudden nip in the air, so it's a good idea to prepare in advance by placing small heaters within your pergola.

At Broadview, we can install subtle outdoor heaters under your pergola’s roof. They come in a variety of sizes and styles to suit different needs and can be easily turned on and off, making controlling the temperature simple. Thanks to their non-obtrusive design, they’ll keep your guests warm without taking up too much space or detracting from the overall aesthetic of your pergola.

5. Decorations

With the practical considerations in place, you can move onto the fun stuff: making it look amazing! By dressing up your pergola with decorations that match your party’s theme, you’ll create a fun and colourful space your guests will have a blast in.

Here are just a few ideas for potential events and themes:

• Beach theme: Give your pergola a nautical makeover with seaside-themed bunting, beach balls and inflatable pool toys, and props like beach chairs, umbrellas, and surfboards. Place some fake palm trees and tiki torches at the entrance for a more tropical vibe!
• Wedding reception: Create a beautifully romantic space with floral arrangements, lanterns, and drapery, and string up fairy lights for an extra magical touch. If you prefer a more rustic feel, include homey decor like wooden signs and natural linens. A pergola is also a fantastic space for a live singer or musician to perform, so consider making the space more suited to accommodate them.
• Disco theme: Why says disco is dead? Bring back the 70s with a light-up dance floor, psychedelic prints, and (of course) a glittering disco ball hanging overhead. Switch your LED lights to pink or purple for a really groovy vibe!

Create the perfect outdoor event space with Broadview

At Broadview, our goal is to create premium-quality, made-to-measure pergolas that transform your garden into the stylish outdoor space you’ve been dreaming of. Whether you want something modern and sleek, classic and understated, or anything in between, our team of experts is dedicated to creating the perfect focal point for your garden.

Book a no-obligation consultation online or call us on 01202 679012 to get started!