It wasn’t that long ago that people faced restrictions on where they could go, how close they could stand or sit next to others, and how many people they could assemble with. While COVID-19 isn’t over, the restrictive policies designed to curtail its spread certainly are.

It's been reported that the pandemic increased interest in outdoor living spaces. After being confined to their homes a lot during the health crisis, many homeowners figured that they might as well make staying at home as pleasant as possible. And while COVID-19 is no longer considered a global health crisis, outdoor living hasn’t lost its luster.

Spending time outdoors -- rather than remaining cooped up inside -- is good for your health. But you must also be mindful of overexposure to the sun.  One option that’ll afford protection from the sun on a hot day is a pergola. It’s a structure with a roof and open sides.

According to one report, the global pergolas market is expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 8.1% and should be worth $3.9 billion by 2030. If you don’t have a pergola on your property but are interested in learning more, consider these three benefits of having one.

1. They’re Great for Outdoor Entertaining

One of the reasons people buy pergolas is to make their outdoor living areas more functional. Investing in a pergola will transform your patio deck into a more seamless extension of your home. It’ll be like expanding the functional square footage without having to knock down walls or add extensions to make your home physically bigger. For the same reasons people invest in outdoor kitchens or swimming pools to make the most of their exterior spaces, they also invest in pergolas. It’s a way to make your property more current, modern, and useful. You and your guests will have protection from the sun so you can socialize, eat, and spend time together.

If you’re going to make the investment, consider a solar pergola. Many homeowners are going this route to increase the functionality of their outdoor living spaces. A solar pergola can generate some or all of your residence's energy needs, so it’s more useful than a regular pergola.

"We're increasingly seeing many customers who own high-end homes adding a solar pergola as part of a major outdoor living space project," says Jen Helms, co-owner and director of business operations at Shade Power, a company in Sunnyvale, California that provides solar shade structures for homes and businesses.

2. They’re Great for Patio Decks

If you recently got a new back deck or otherwise don’t want to completely cover it up and dilute its aesthetic appeal, one option is to get a pergola. You can get a custom pergola that is lightweight and durable to cover a specific section of your back deck or patio deck. Remember that pergolas don’t have walls, so you won’t feel cooped up, and your deck won’t be hidden.

Consider, as well, that you don’t have to limit pergolas to decks. Do you have an area in your backyard where you’d like to place a swing set for the kids or an area for an outdoor kitchen? You can get a custom pergola suitable for any area of your exterior space. 

3. They Make Great Poolside Lounges

One source notes there are north of 10.7 million swimming pools in the U.S. That works out to more than 10.4 million residential and 309,000 public swimming pools. If you have a pool, a pergola can be the perfect addition to your outdoor living space. 

Spending time out in the sun and enjoying the water in your own pool can be great, but it's also a nice idea to have a pergola nearby so that people can get some protection from the sun, rain, or wind. You can place some comfortable outdoor furniture under the pergola so that people have a comfortable space to hang out, socialize, and enjoy spending time outdoors.

If you don’t have an in-ground pool, no worries. A pergola will also work great if you have an outdoor hot tub or even if you have a blow-up swimming pool or wading pool for your children.

These are some reasons to consider getting a pergola for your property, and there are others. It can make your outdoor living space more useful and functional.