Plan your pergola carefully; these structures can look large and imposing. You don’t want your new patio roof to look out of proportion with the rest of your home. For a traditional look, you can build your pergola roof out of wood. For a more modern solution, use vinyl as your building material. It will be resistant to decay and require less maintenance.

Don’t be afraid to mix materials. A good idea is to create the columns out of elegant stonework and then use wood for the upper framework of your pergola.

Your completed pergola roof will provide plenty of shade, but if you want a bit more, then let a vine plant grow on your new roof. This will create a filtered light effect and blend in perfectly with a country or traditional home.

2. Wood-Paneled Patio Roof Ideas

You may be familiar with beadboard paneling and its use as a wall covering indoors, but did you know you can also use it in your outdoor living space? You can use it to line the underside of your patio roof for a finished look.

Natural wood can bring nature into your covered patio and give it a tropical look. An option is to paint the wood white and brighten up the space as the light reflects off the white paint.

Wood paneling creates a solid roof above you. This may block too much of the light, so consider using wood paneling in combination with other roofing types. You could panel a section nearest your home for a covered sitting or dining area, then extend out beyond it with a pergola for a slightly shaded area.

When choosing your paneling or wood plank material, consider using materials that look like wood but are actually man-made. There are plenty of modern materials that look exactly like wood but are more durable such as composites, metal, vinyl, and plastic.

3. Louvered Patio Roof Ideas

A louvered patio roof is similar to a pergola. Both have posts or columns that support a frame. Then there are wooden beams that are evenly spaced over the frame to create the roof. The difference lies in the type of beams and how these are installed.