POP Projects is a collection of new and classic projects from more than a century of Popular Mechanics. Master skills, get tool recommendations, and, most importantly, build something of your very own ...

Learn how to build a pergola with these step-by-step designs for shade in your yard, your garden or over your deck. Bountiful sunshine makes our gardens grow, but all living things need a little shade ...

Need a little relief from the sun? Dress up your pergola with these gorgeous climbing plants that provide color, elevated ...

Probably more people have seen them than can name them, those simple, graceful garden buildings featuring vertical columns and an open array of slats overhead, all of it sometimes wreathed in vines ...

Retractable-roof pergolas can provide the best of both worlds in outdoor living -- sunshine when you want it and shade when you don't. By creating a space that feels like an outdoor room, a ...

With warmer weather and longer, sunnier days on the horizon, now is the time to get your yard ready for summer hangouts. If your yard doesn’t have many trees, consider adding shade—both to make the ...

The pergola, with apologies to the classical gardens of Italy, has become our great suburban equalizer, making even the modest homestead seem sophisticated. This simple boxy arbor with an open roof ...

Your backyard beckons when the sun is out, but it’s tough to enjoy it during peak heat. If your patio, deck, or backyard doesn’t get much natural shade, there are plenty of ways to keep cool and make ...

Shade sails offer practical protection from the sun while also adding a little whimsy to your back porch. They provide more sun protection than a pergola, look more stylish than an awning and cost ...