Spring is here, which means that outdoor entertaining season is just around the corner. To prepare your home to welcome friends and family over, how about a space refresh? But here’s the thing… the experts at Better Homes & Gardens stress that “creating an outdoor space that feels cohesive, beautiful and comfortable is about so much more than setting some nice chairs out on your deck.” Point taken.

So how can you create an outdoor space that feels cohesive, beautiful and comfortable? The answer lies under the rafters of a steel pergola. A sleek framework for the personalization to come, steel pergolas are an excellent way to give definition and purpose to the outdoor space of your dreams. Whether you're looking to create an elaborate al fresco dining experience or carve a demarcated corner for a morning yoga session, springing life back into your outdoor living space has never been easier.

Cook up a designated zone for cooking and dining with a steel pergola

If you're someone who loves to cook and plans to prioritize a big ticket upgrade this spring like a new outdoor kitchen-a steel pergola may be your answer. A steel pergola can help you define a designated zone that can accommodate today's sought-after cooking and dining amenities such as a custom pizza oven, expansive counter space for food prep or a restaurant-worthy bar (one of the top upgrades identified by BH&G). For ultimate peace of mind, steel pergolas are noncombustible in nature, which means there's no need to worry about stray sparks or hot coals from the grill posing an ignition risk.

To ensure that your outdoor cooking and dining space is usable around the clock, you may need to factor in different types of lighting. Because a steel pergola's rafters, purlins and beams are hollow, there is a natural space to conceal unattractive wiring.

Use a heavy-duty steel pergola to define your vertical garden

As lot sizes shrink and urban living prevails, vertical gardening is becoming a popular use of outdoor space. Transform an upcycled pallet into a vertical herb garden to grow fresh ingredients to prepare in your outdoor kitchen. Prop up a simple trellis or lattice against a privacy wall or the side of your home and watch climbing plants add a splash of green to your outdoor room. Incredibly durable, steel pergolas can sidestep any issues associated with moisture absorption, one of the most common reasons a traditional wooden pergola will twist, rot and deteriorate. So, you can tend to your vertical garden without worrying about the occasional splash of water from the gardening hose causing long-lasting damage to the nearby steel rafters.

Create an open-air workout room for exercise or a moment of respite

For all of the evenings you'll spend hosting family and friends, it's just as important to take time for yourself. The uncovered rafters of a steel pergola provide the right amount of shade, ensuring a comfortable environment while still allowing natural light and a breeze to flow through the space. This partial coverage makes steel pergolas a perfect setting for an open-air workout session with your best friend or a morning yoga class for one. Better yet, configure your steel pergola in a secluded corner of your yard to create a respite from your daily routine-take in deep breaths and enjoy a few moments of mindfulness. Flexible in application, freestanding steel pergolas can be incorporated into almost any layout and across any type of outdoor surface to define usable space. 

Spring life into your backyard today

Purchasing and installing a steel pergola has never been easier thanks to Fortress Building Products’ Pergola Kits. The DIY-friendly Pergola Kits are available in three standard sizes to accommodate different design visions and backyard functions, including 8’ x 12’, 10’ x 14’ and 12’ x 12’. To discover other ways to enjoy your steel pergola this spring, check us out on Instagram at @fortressbldgproducts.