My husband built an arbor over our hot tub this summer. After staining it we planted climbing hydrangeas, one at the base of a back post and one at the base of a front post. Hopefully by next summer a flowering canopy will shade our hot tub.
If you’ve got a spot for an arbor there’s sure to be a design and material to suit your style. Check out some of the great ideas I gathered from around the Internet for this inspiration post.
Arbor Ideas
Arbors can be designed to suit numerous home and garden styles and serve a variety of purposes. There’s still time to create and enjoy an arbor in your yard this summer. Check these out for inspiration:
Photo sunset.com
In the photo above a rustic arbor shields a walkway and a wooden chair, providing a lush setting for a moment of solitude.
Photo bhg.com
A traditional arbor connects the space between the house and an out building. The result? An outdoor sitting room, complete with a chandelier hanging from the center of the structure.
Photo bhg.com
Square tubing, a suitable accent to the contemporary house, creates an arbor over an outdoor dining area.
Traditional landscape design by Chicago Aquascape Inc. via houzz.com
A swing hangs from a pond-side arbor, drawing folks into the garden to sit a spell.
A quarter radius arbor defines the seating area in the corner of a Mediterranean style garden.
A circular arbor outlines a patio room and extends the living space into the yard.
And You?
Do one of these arbor styles speak to you? Which one would you and your family enjoy most? Share your ideas about arbors by using the Comment link at the very end of this post.
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I had my husband build an arbor based on a beautiful photograph of wisteria blooms dripping down between the wooden cross pieces . . . and found out that it is beautiful for a very short time of the year! The leaves and blossoms make a huge mess all over my patio and wisteria vines are very vigorous and can tear apart just about any structure except the most robust! We have to keep it pruned and keep a careful eye on the vines so they don’t rip the structure apart. We live in a rainy area, so I wish I had gone with a roof of some type – preferably one with glass or plexiglass to allow the natural light in. My husband tried to get me to go for a roof, but my mind was made up!
I do love the way the arbor over our deck off the back of our home ties the home in with the yard . . . it makes my yard feel like an extension of my home. Also, on the rare hot days we get, the arbor gives lovely shade. We have bird feeders just off the corner, so we can sit on the deck and enjoy the birds close up while we sip our morning coffee.