7 DIY Outdoor Patio Cover Ideas For Various Space & Shade Needs

Last Updated On March 11th, 2023 at 12:00 pm

Make it easier to relax and enjoy your patio by making a protected area for family and friends. You can create your own all season DIY patio cover that will shade your deck or backyard patio. Constructed in a wide range of sizes with an optional retractable canopy, our do it yourself pergolas are a simple way to add-on to your house for year-round enjoyment! The pergolas shown here provide some ideas in freestanding and attached styles that will work in many different locations!

DIY Patio Cover Kits for Maximum Shade

Finding the perfect amount of shade can make a big difference in how much you actually use that fabulous retreat you’ve created! For maximum relief on sunny days, the Big Kahuna pergola kit is one of our best pergola designs to protect you and your loved ones. Three of our 7 ideas are examples of our full coverage pergolas. Make the most of your backyard on even the sunniest days with a covered pergola that attaches to your home or is a stand-alone patio cover.

Building a freestanding pergola as a cover for an outdoor living room seating area and relaxing zone. An easy and cheap way to add-on to our house, pergola kits offer a more cost-effective way to build that extra room you’ve been thinking about.

Another concept is building your structure so that it sits just outside your backslider to create the perfect cover for walking right out your door without concern of the elements.

Since there are small, medium and large sizes, you can measure your space and find the perfect size and fit. It may turn out that your patio measurements equate to a custom pergola size.

Idea #3 for maximum shade is to purchase a pergola along with a retractable canopy setup. Canopies come in many styles, colors, and sizes. We offer a canopy that will fit on many of our popular pergola sizes, to create a little more shade than our full-coverage pergola top slats. You can find many other options on Pinterest and design magazines to find the perfect fit for your space.

Space Saving Patio Cover Ideas

Coming in at Idea #4 is a recommendation for the smaller sized patios out there. If you have a limitation on space in your back yard, one of the most popular and suitable size pergolas you can purchase are our 10-foot pergolas.

Our standard 10-foot full-size pergolas are configured with rafter length (projection) of ten feet and width (beam length) of between 10 feet and 20 feet. Also important to note are the inside post to post measurements and post height options. If you’re working around an existing outdoor dining patio set you can ensure the pergola fits nicely with room to spare around the seating area.

For example, for a 10×14 pergola, the tip to tip measurements are 10’x14′. The inside post to post measurement is 6’x10′ and outside post to post is 7’x11′. Post height can be either 8′, 10′ or 12′ and you make that selection based on how you’ll be mounting your pergola posts. If you need help taking measurements of your patio and choosing a size, follow along in our pergola guide for choosing or contact us any time with your questions.

The fifth idea to craft your own patio design is to create a space that encompasses patio, grill station and bar all-in-one! If your space is tight, go with a smaller overall size. And if space isn’t an issue, expand the number of guests you can entertain under patio cover with a larger pergola!

Freestanding pergolas work very well to provide a framing of an outdoor kitchen space complete with a shade cover.

If you lack open lawn space in your backyard but still want to build the best escape from the real world, consider a pergola that attaches to your house.

Wall-Mounted DIY Patio Covers

Attached pergola kits are one of the best all-season patio covers you can add to your home. Ideas #6 & 7 incorporate patio covers that attach to a structure to extend the usable space. This wall-mounted Big Kahuna pergola kit not only doubles the entertainment area but becomes the focal point of this beautiful retreat.

We don’t want to leave out the city-dwellers! Attached pergolas can be installed in a diverse range of environments. This custom pergola sits outside a New York City rooftop townhome.

What’s your vision for the perfect patio cover you can build yourself?

No matter where you live or how large or small your patio space, when you construct your outdoor structure from a kit, you get the satisfaction of a DIY project. And, the end result is spending more time relaxing in your outdoor shady spot with family and friends!