Outdoor Kitchen Pergola: Buying Guide & 6 Gorgeous Ideas (2024)

Imagine, for a moment… You’re in your backyard, grilling your favorite foods on your outdoor kitchen grill.

You love your kitchen… And your patio space looks beautiful… But something about it just feels incomplete.

Something is definitely missing.

What you need is some way to elevate your space from a nice outdoor kitchen area…

And transform it into a well-designed space that looks intentional and complete.

There’s an easy answer…

Frame it with a beautiful outdoor kitchen pergola!

Now, you may be wondering what exactly a pergola is.

There are all kinds of beautiful outdoor shade structures… So what makes a pergola different?

Quick Links:

• What Is A Pergola?
• Benefits of an Outdoor Kitchen Pergola
• Outdoor Kitchen Pergola Considerations
• Should You Build Your Own Pergola, Buy From A Store, Or Hire A Professional?
• Ideas For Outdoor Kitchen Pergola Design

Many homeowners (understandably) think that a pergola is any outdoor shade structure… But it’s actually just one specific type of outdoor kitchen roof!

While many outdoor kitchen roof structures, like gazebos and pavilions, have solid roofs… A pergola will let light in through its slatted, louvered roof.

There’s a lot of variety… You’ll find different sizes, materials, and colors… And they can be freestanding or attached to your house!

Whether you’re looking for traditional charm… Or something to match your modern outdoor kitchen island… There’s a pergola for you.

It sounds cool… But what will a pergola actually do for you?

An outdoor kitchen pergola is a great idea for your outdoor space!

It transforms a patio into its own outdoor room… Extending your indoor living room into your backyard!

If you put some outdoor furniture underneath it as well… You’ll have a covered outdoor dining area!

Pergolas are also very practical.

While they don’t typically provide full coverage on their own… You can choose between a few additional features that will offer full shade for your outdoor kitchen area. We’ll talk about your options later!

Keeping your grill island and patio out of direct sunlight is a great way to safeguard them… And your guests will appreciate the shade, too!

There are also some serious benefits to getting a shade structure without a solid roof…

You’ll get to enjoy more sunlight while you cook during the day… While still blocking some UV rays.

…And at night, you’ll be able to relax under your pergola and watch the stars!

It’s safe to say that a pergola is almost always a good idea… But what sort of things should you consider when you buy or construct one?

Researching a new backyard feature can be overwhelming. There are so many things to think about when you’re trying to get the perfect covered patio!

First, how do you pick the ideal size for your backyard?

If you’re interested in a pergola purely for the aesthetics… You can get any size you think would look good… And that is big enough to cover the area you want!

Simple as that.

But, if you’re specifically after shade… You’ll want to check out the angle at which the sun shines in your yard throughout the day.

For example, if you buy a pergola that only covers your outdoor kitchen or outdoor kitchen patio… The sun might cast shadows that don’t quite shade your BBQ island!

Of course, as the sun moves during the day… The amount of shade you have will change. Due to the angle of the sun… You will have more shade in the morning and evening than at midday.

If this is the case… You might want to scale up a bit so that your outdoor kitchen space is shaded at all times of the day!

While there are a few standard sizes you’ll find in box stores (often 16×16, 16×20, and 20×20)… You can also get your own custom-built pergola in nearly any size you’d like.

On top of that… You’ll also find a variety of materials to choose from!

Wood is an inexpensive material… And it’s the easiest material to build with.

A wood pergola has a beautiful, natural look that will pair nicely with any BBQ grill island… But especially a wood outdoor kitchen.

Wood is prone to warping, cracking, bowing, and rotting.

It’s also a magnet for termites.

To preserve it… You’ll need to do quite a bit of maintenance, such as sanding, staining, sealing, and other treatments.

It’s also not fire-resistant… So be careful with your hot built-in grill!

Aluminum is a very popular material for pergolas!

It can either come in a metallic silver… Or any powder-coated color you’d like!

Aluminum is a very light-weight, non-combustible material.

It’s extremely durable and won’t rust!

Stainless steel can rust… So you’ll want to treat it with a zinc coating.

Just like aluminum… It can also get hot in the sun.

PVC (also called vinyl) is a durable plastic that can be molded into nearly any shape. It’s also a material commonly used in outdoor kitchen cabinets.

Often, PVC pergolas are made with an interior aluminum frame coated in a layer of PVC.

PVC is a strong material that does well in outdoor features.

It is easy to maintain… And is fire-retardant.

Fiberglass is a very strong and durable material.

The only maintenance you’ll need to do is wash it off with a hose.

Many pergolas are freestanding.

They can be placed anywhere you want in your yard… And they stand up on their own.

Alternatively, if your outside kitchen is next to your home… You can attach the pergola to the wall!

Many companies offer pergolas that are built to be attached.

This means that it will have two pillars fixed in the ground, plus a roof overhead… But the other side of your pergola will be attached directly to the exterior wall of your house.

This is a really interesting design that gives your home and pergola a very harmonious appearance… Just be aware that it can shade your house’s windows as well as your outdoor kitchen!

Speaking of shade… Will you add a shade cover?

Are you starting to think more about shade?

A pergola is a beautiful design idea… But it won’t give you full coverage from the sun!

Adding a cover on top is a great way to make your pergola even more useful.

It’ll make cooking in your outdoor grill station more comfortable during the summer… Protect your outdoor kitchen patio from sun damage… And keep the rain and snow off!

One option you could choose is motorized louvered panels.

These are roofing panels that pivot closed… So your pergola’s roof will go from a traditional pergola into a solid roof at the push of a button!

Alternatively… You could purchase a cover that will go over the roofing panels.

Most solid pergola patio covers are made of fabric… So you’ll be able to choose whatever colors and textures you’d like!

Some people invest in a motorized, retractable cover. This will peel the fabric back at the touch of a button!

That might be a good idea if you want an outdoor pizza oven, fire pit, or outdoor fireplace underneath your fabric cover.

It also is helpful in the event of a storm that could rip or stretch your fabric.

This is a clear cover made of a strong plastic.

It keeps harsh UV rays out… And still lets the light in!

You’ll also be protected from the elements.

In addition… You could also hang curtains to cover the sides… Like a canopy!

You can use these to keep the sun out of your outdoor cooking space from the sides… And provide a bit more privacy from your neighbors.

Depending on how complicated your goals are… You may want to think about whether you’ll be constructing your own, buying a kit from the store, or hiring someone to build one for you!

When you want your own pergola… You have three options!

You can either construct your own… Buy one from a store… Or hire someone to make one for you!

While you can certainly make your own… It is usually best to leave this to the experts.

A professional will have a better idea of how to securely anchor a pergola… And how to build it in a way that will be durable and weather-resistant.

Especially if you want to install any kind of motorized system… It’s safer to pass the torch on this home improvement project.

Whether you buy or hire is completely up to you.

If you hire… You can get special, custom-made options.

However, if you would rather buy… There are a lot of great brands to choose from!

When you go to buy your pergola… You’ll have lots of different places to buy it from!

There are some fantastic contractors and pergola manufacturers who make amazing, custom pergolas…

And there are larger companies that offer more standard options!

For example, if you go through Home Depot… There are over 800 pergola options.

With that many choices… You’ll get a lot of variety in the colors and materials.

About half of Home Depot’s pergolas are from Toja Grid… Which is another great place to buy a pergola from!

You purchase the wood separately… And then their outdoor kitchen pergola kits come with everything else you’ll need to complete the project.

You can construct their pergolas in under two hours… And their design options allow you to make your pergola as large or small as you’d like!

Alternatively, Lowe’s offers all kinds of outdoor kitchen features… Including almost 200 different pergola options.

Just like Home Depot… They distribute all kinds of different designs, so you’re sure to find something you like!

While these are three reputable brands… There are many more great options out there! Just read the reviews and pick an option that speaks to you.

In the meantime… You want to have a good idea of what you’re looking for!

For some inspiration… Check out these pergola outdoor kitchen ideas.

A beautiful pergola is the perfect way to spruce up your backyard space.

They’re able to highlight your outdoor living space in a special way!

They also have so much opportunity for unique outdoor kitchen designs.

We want to give you a few examples of pergola and outdoor kitchen ideas… So that you can enjoy the beautiful opportunity that this outdoor home decor brings to a backyard.

Really, this is just a gorgeous yard no matter how you slice it.

The U-shaped outdoor kitchen and plants especially stand out…

And the white of the BBQ island and its outdoor kitchen countertops contrast gorgeously with the dark brown of the pergola.

Even though it isn’t the same color as the rest of the grill station…The pergola perfectly complements it and adds so much to the space.

This is a gorgeous, modern outdoor pergola kitchen that transforms the area into a true outdoor room!

In contrast to the vivid green vegetation in the background… The dark hues and strong lines look wonderful.

This pergola over outdoor kitchen design is unique… Because you get to enjoy the natural look of the spaces between the beams… But while still being protected from the rain or snow!

It’s angled so that rain and snow will fall right off… And you can keep on cooking!

You’ve seen a dark, modern pergola before… But now you can see how beautifully an industrial pergola complements a modern outdoor kitchen.

The outdoor pizza oven, grill, and outdoor kitchen refrigerator all stand out against the dark colors of the pergola.

This unique shape serves as a beautiful backsplash… And an overhead cover for this summer kitchen!

One way to make your space feel cohesive is to create unity through the colors you use.

Whether you’re matching the color of your house… Or the color of your fence, like in this example… It’s a beautiful look that will make your pieces feel as though they truly belong together!

This stone outdoor kitchen looks right at home!

These homeowners have installed outdoor kitchen utilities… And even ran electricity through the pergola! Because of this, they’ve been able to add a ceiling fan in the pergola itself!

This is the perfect way to make your space even more comfortable.

You could use this L-shaped outdoor kitchen even when it’s super hot outside!

Now… You must be ready to get out there and get your own!

You’ve seen some beautiful outdoor kitchen and pergola combos… But where do you even start?

There’s only one answer… With an outdoor kitchen!

We’ll be honest with you… This is a big project.

When you’re trying to plan out an entire outdoor design… You want things to be convenient and easy.

You have enough on your plate as is. We get it.

That’s why we’ve reinvented the process.

What does that mean?

You don’t want to spend 20+ hours talking to a contractor and shopping for your own outdoor kitchen appliances.

The process used to take months… And in some cases, over a year, before your outdoor kitchen was finished!

Now… the process has been simplified into a few simple steps.

First, you’ll design your own custom outdoor kitchen in our easy-to-use free Design Tool.

It only takes a few minutes… And it’ll give you a 3D rendering of exactly the island you’re looking for… Because you’re the one who created it!

After that… You’ll be set up with someone from our team of Design Experts.

They’ll give you one-on-one advice… And help finalize your design to make sure it’s perfect.

Lastly? You’ll receive your made-to-order island… Appliances included. You’ll just have to assemble it… And then enjoy.

A few hours and some basic tools later… And you’re all set to enjoy your outdoor kitchen for a lifetime (guaranteed).

If you want to learn more about what makes our outdoor kitchens stand out (and more!)… Just visit our Learning Center!