Investing in your outdoor spaces makes sense – who doesn’t want to while away the day dining under a pergola, relaxing on the patio, or welcoming guests through a wisteria-laden arbour? Integrating the right outdoor structures to your alfresco areas and landscaping design creates highly liveable and usable spaces and cohesion between inside and out.
In Perth’s Mediterranean climate, an outdoor structure elevates landscaping design by providing shade and a cooler, more comfortable space. It also improves the aesthetic appeal of your home and may potentially increase your property value. Keen to extend your home’s footprint in a non-obtrusive way? TDL’s landscape designers and architects can provide innovative integrated custom options for outdoor areas that function as seamlessly as interior spaces.
Below, we’ve rounded up our best of the best outdoor structures for creating functional and beautiful spaces. These high-performing structures are designed for functionality, durability, and to meld seamlessly with your landscaping design for year-round beauty and usability. No matter what your needs, TDL has you covered.
TRELLISES
A trellis wire system, with its simple and functional framework, is an ideal support for climbing plants such as wisteria, star jasmine, or grape vines. It can be used horizontally overhead to provide shade and vertically to separate different areas of the garden such as a vegetable patch from the outdoor entertaining area. Additionally, it offers an aesthetically pleasing solution for privacy from neighbouring properties. An affordable option, a trellis wire system strikes a perfect balance between providing shade and seclusion while still allowing fresh air and natural light to flow through.
“Trellises can be integrated into virtually any structure or against fences,” adds TDL landscape designer Ruby Johnson. “Trellis structures are great if you’re looking to plant a deciduous vine for winter sun and summer shade.”
PERGOLAS
Consisting of rafters, beams, and posts and attached to a structure or stand, a pergola provides an outdoor space with partial cover allowing sunlight to gently filter through. Typically designed to shelter patios—especially those with outdoor furnishings—pergolas cut a striking statement on their own or look glorious shrouded in fragrant flowering vines, which add extra shade and create a beautiful ambiance.
Choose from designs ranging from bold and eye catching to rustic and organic in materials such as hardwood, recycled timber and elegant sandstone. The TDL team specialises in designing, building, and customising pergolas to suit any outdoor space and lifestyle needs. Whether adding one to your pool house, establishing a stand-alone dining area in the garden or using it as a link between two buildings, the possibilities are endless.
ARBOURS
An arbour is a classic garden feature characterised by its two side panels and a connecting top piece. Designed in various shapes, sizes, and materials, it adds a vertical element to the garden and is a highly sought-after addition in landscape design. An arbour serves multiple purposes; when adorned with climbing plants, it can function as an entrance, a passageway, or a focal point in a garden. It can also define transitions between different areas of your landscape, such as separating a vegetable patch from a rose garden or framing sculptural features of your home.
“Arbours bring an architectural element to your garden, often featuring elegant or whimsical designs,” adds Ruby. “Their form—whether a simple arch or a more elaborate, ornamental style—adds depth, height, and beauty to your landscaping design. Arbours are also helpful in guiding visitors through a garden and defining different zones.”
Arbours provide wonderful, shaded areas, making them ideal for plants that prefer less sunlight. Placing an arbour against a fence or wall allows for filtered light and offers some protection for shade-loving plants while creating a comfortable spot to sit, relax, and reflect.
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX
Sometimes your space and requirements demand an outdoor structure that doesn’t fit into a traditional category. TDL’s architects and landscape designers specialise in creating landscaping designs in Perth and can work with you to create custom outdoor structures tailored to your needs. Whether you need a specialised design or a flexible solution to maximise your space, we can bring your vision to life with a structure that makes your garden a seamless extension of your home.
Get in touch with us today to discuss ideas for creating your perfect outdoor structure and maximising year-round enjoyment for all the family.