Cabanas, Pergolas & Pavilions: What Each Adds to Your Space

Cabanas, pergolas, and pavilions each add their own unique charm to an outdoor space. Adding a shaded feature to your space can elevate the overall appearance and provide much-needed function. 

If you’ve been considering an outdoor structure for your backyard, this is the article for you. Cabanas, pergolas, and pavilions are all structures that seriously elevate your backyard. But which one is best for your backyard?

We’ll show you the benefits of each, share fun landscaping ideas to pair with them, and help you decide which addition works best for your personal needs.

What is a Cabana?

A cabana is a small, freestanding shelter often located near a backyard pool. It usually has an enclosed roof with three enclosed sides and one open side facing the water.

Cabanas are the ultimate addition to your backyard space - especially for homeowners with a  swimming pool. They are perfect as a lounge and spot to sip a drink. Cabanas can also be designed with a designated changing area and/or bathroom, keeping dripping swimsuits out of our house and allowing guests to have easier access to a bathroom.

Curious to see what kind of pools pair well with a cabana? Check out our luxury, in-ground swimming pools.

Unique Benefits of Cabanas

Cabanas are a phenomenal option if you like your privacy or need a place to unwind away from the rest of your backyard space. Here are some of its greatest advantages:

• Fully shaded area, often made of wood or metal with fabric curtains or solid walls
• May include furniture, changing areas, or even small bathrooms
• Designed for relaxation and lounging, especially poolside

Additional Landscaping and Hardscaping Ideas

To fully pull your cabana together, we recommend adding additional hardscaping and landscaping.

For landscaping, the most beautiful backyard setups often include landscaping options and plants artfully set throughout the area. This breathes life into your space and helps pull everything together in a way that exudes a natural feel.

For hardscaping, we’ve seen gorgeous cabanas placed on pool decking or with stone paths leading up to them. Some people add fire or water features nearby, for some natural charm.

Whatever you imagine for your backyard cabana, an expert hardscape or landscape designer or builder can bring your ideas to life. Contact one of our designers today by requesting a quote. 

Related Blog: How to Add Value to Your Home’s Landscaping

What is a Pergola?

A pergola is an open-air structure with vertical posts and a slatted (often latticed) roof. It doesn't provide complete shade or shelter, but is great for defining outdoor spaces and providing some shade.

This combination of shade and sunlight is the ultimate perk for homeowners who love an open, airy space but also crave a little cool.

Unique Benefits of Pergolas

Where cabanas are meant to provide solace, pergolas are meant to open up the space. On top of that, one of the biggest benefits is that it’s the best option for anyone who loves to garden. The light shade is perfect for curling vines, partial shade plants, and so much more. Here are some other advantages:

• No walls, and the roof is open or partially covered
• Can support climbing plants like wisteria or vines
• Adds architectural interest and partial sun coverage

Additional Landscaping and Hardscaping Ideas

Pergolas are a phenomenal option for a beautiful focal point in your front yard, backyard space, next to gardens and pathways. 

Because pergolas are so open, they can be paired with climbing plants and surrounding the space with butterfly-attracting flowers. Complete with intentional mood lighting, it creates a beautiful and calming environment. 

For hardscaping, we love a natural stone paver patio, retaining walls where the elevation changes, and built-in bench seating to complete the ethereal ambience of a pergola. 

Explore Pergolas & Gazebos

What is a Pavilion?

A pavilion is a larger, open-sided structure with a solid roof. Similar to a pergola, it allows in air and sunlight. However, the solid roof on a pavilion provides more shading.

The Unique Benefits of Pavilions

Pavilions are the ultimate party planner’s backyard dream. With enough space for entertaining, dining, and lounging, this feature is perfect for larger yards and multi-use areas. Here are some other unique benefits to pavilions:

• Weather-proof construction and year-round use 
• Fully roofed for rain protection / sun protection
• Sturdy and often built with wood, metal, or stone

Additional Landscaping and Hardscaping Ideas

To style your upscale backyard pavilion, we recommend adding an outdoor kitchen and dining space. If your pavilion is large enough, you can fit both! Otherwise, you can always have two separate areas if you want to keep the dining area in the pavilion and want the grilling station elsewhere. Either way, you have all the options with this backyard addition.

For landscaping, we love a symmetrical garden bed or trees lining the edges or corners of the pavilion. Adding trellises near the back can also be a great way to enhance privacy in the summertime without putting up walls or curtains (but we highly recommend curtains because they look gorgeous and help prevent bugs from getting in).

Since Minnesota winters can be harsh, adding a fire feature is a phenomenal idea for all-season use. Ask your builders to add a chimney or a vented roof to accommodate any fire feature (fireplace, firepit, fire bowls, etc.). With the proper installations, you can enjoy your outdoor space year-round.

Curious to see our projects brought to life? Explore our gallery to see our amazing outdoor designs for yourself.

Is a Cabana, Pergola, or Pavilion Best for Your Space?

When deciding whether a cabana, pergola, or pavilion is best for your space, consider your wants and needs and how they work with your budget or yard size. Once you determine a general idea of what you’re able to do, use our chart below to see the benefits of each backyard (or front yard) feature and how it meshes with your needs.

To decide what’s best for your backyard space, partner with an experienced backyard designer.

Expert Minnesota Landscaping & Hardscaping

Here at Outdoor Innovations Landscaping, we make it our mission to make Minnesota homeowners’ dream backyards and outdoor spaces a reality. Ready to explore our personalized outdoor solutions?

Outdoor Innovations Landscaping creates elevated backyards for homeowners in Minnesota. From in-ground pools to luxurious grilling stations to outdoor living rooms, we do it all. Explore our past projects and get a quote online to make your dream backyard a reality.