One of the best aspects of living in the Tri-Cities is taking advantage of the beautiful weather. If you are a homeowner in the Tri-Cities area interested in enhancing your outdoor living space with custom patio covers, you may wonder how to get started. Today, we at Patio Covers Unlimited NW have compiled a comprehensive guide on the latest trends in custom patio cover construction to help you achieve a long-lasting, stylish, and functional outdoor space.
Popular Patio Cover Styles in 2025:
In today’s era of outdoor design, homeowners are leaning toward highly functional, multi-purpose designs that will provide long-term value for their property. During 2025, homeowners are expected to choose minimalist, transition, or biophilic themes as the cornerstone of their design.
Minimalist Design: Minimalist styles emphasize clean lines and simplistic embellishment. This style presents with neutral tones, natural materials, and open-concept designs that craft an airy, timeless appeal. Often matched with modern homes, these minimalist designs pair well with smart technology integration for heightened comfort and functionality.
Transitional Design: Transitional designs are crafted to blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces. Ideal for custom patio covers attached directly to the home, the goal is to craft a harmonious space where users can move between indoor and outdoor areas with little friction. Due to this, transitional designs often utilize similar materials, colors, and design elements of the home.
Biophilic Design: Biophilic designs have become increasingly popular as homeowners lean more toward giving back to the environment while creating healthier homes for their families. Incorporating features like natural light, an abundance of greenery, moving water elements, and organic materials, biophilic designs give a “one with nature” vibe where users can feel at peace by being surrounded by nature while still in the comfort of their own homes.
Why Design Matters:
Why it may be tempting to simply choose an outdoor structure from a catalog, design can truly make or break your outdoor space.
Firstly, your aesthetic choices will influence your home’s long-term value. Structures that don’t mesh well with your current design will look disjointed and slapped together, lowering its overall value. Alternatively, structures made with high-quality materials and design elements crafted to complement your home and outdoor space will provide long-term value if you decide to sell your home in the future.
Secondly, the design choices you make concerning materials will impact your level of effort in home maintenance. While we will discuss this more in the next section, we want to point out that wood materials require annual upkeep, so homeowners should expect to spend at least a weekend a year on maintenance. Alternatively, those who choose to go with an aluminum structure will likely need to spend a couple of hours in the spring and fall to give it a quick washdown. Determining how you intend to maintain your space should be a considerable factor.
Finally, the customization elements you select will impact the functionality of your outdoor space. For example, if you add a retractable screen, you can enjoy your outdoor space in shaded comfort on hot days or protect your family from the elements should it be raining. Similarly, should you decide to incorporate lighting, you will be able to utilize your outdoor space day or night, without having to worry about carrying flashlights or tripping over your children’s toys.
Pairing Patio Covers with Other Designs
In addition to these three design options for patio covers in 2025, we expect that homeowners will also be incorporating custom-built pergolas, arbors, and freestanding covers to add even greater style and functionality to their outdoor design. Often paired with each other, these designs can significantly complement a patio cover installation, crafting a cohesive outdoor space that transitions beautifully no matter the daily pursuit.
Pro Tip: To learn more about the latest trends in pergolas and patio covers for 2025, read our in-depth article.
Best Materials for Patio Covers in 2025:
When crafting your patio cover design, one of the primary decisions you must make is the material from which it will be made. Wood, vinyl, and aluminum are the most common options, so let us give you a brief overview of each.
#1: Wood Custom Patio Covers
Wood is a traditional choice for custom patio cover construction, as it provides that rustic aesthetic that creates a sense of natural beauty. Unfortunately, the price of wood as a construction material has jumped dramatically in the past few years, making it a more expensive upfront option.
Additionally, wood requires extensive maintenance, including annual sanding, staining, and sealing to ensure it remains weather and pest-resistant. For homeowners who are willing to pay for and maintain wood materials, it can be a beautiful choice – we just caution homeowners to be aware of what’s required.
#2: Vinyl Custom Patio Covers
Vinyl patio covers are preferred for those looking to keep a low budget on their custom patio cover construction project. Vinyl is cheaper to install and easy to maintain, making it ideal for those looking for a short-term outdoor design asset that will last 10-15 years at most.
For those who choose vinyl for their patio cover, it is essential to note that it is not the most durable of materials. Exposure to high temperatures and sunlight will weaken the material, causing it to crack. Unfortunately, complete replacement is usually the only repair option. Therefore, while vinyl is cheaper to install, its lifespan is significantly shorter than other available materials.
#3: Aluminum Custom Patio Covers
Finally, we have aluminum as the superior choice for custom patio cover construction. As one of the most popular materials, aluminum is known for its high-quality construction, long-lasting durability, and beautiful aesthetics. On top of that, it has little maintenance requirements, only needing a bi-annual or yearly wash to keep it looking nice.
Unlike wood or vinyl, homeowners don’t have to worry that aluminum will crack, warp, split, chip, peel, chalk, or fade, even under perpetual wind and UV exposure. This, in turn, makes it an ideal choice for those living in hot, arid environments, like the Tri-Cities of Washington State. Due to this, aluminum custom patio covers can typically last 30+ years. Therefore, we personally recommend aluminum patio covers for homeowners who want a long-lasting, durable, low-maintenance patio cover.
At Patio Covers Unlimited NW, our solid patio covers are made from high-quality materials. They are both durable and luxurious in appearance, consisting of high-grade aluminum and embossed with a wood grain texture. Plus, our patio covers have a complete gutter system to ensure functional, pleasurable use, even on rainy days.
Customization Options and Add-ons:
When strategizing designs for custom patio covers, there is more to the process than just the material and structure. Patio covers come with various customization options that can add superior functionality to your custom patio cover construction, increasing its value and enjoyment. For example, here are a few different options:
- Built-in ceiling fans for heightened comfort.
- Retractable screens and shade options for increased UV protection.
- Integrated heating and lighting systems for year-round use.
- Custom color and finishing options to match home exteriors.
Any of these extra elements will add another layer of functionality to your patio cover, giving you more opportunities to enjoy your outdoor structure throughout the year while adding long-term property value.
Why Choose Patio Covers Unlimited NW for Your Custom Patio:
At Patio Covers Unlimited NW, our goal is to craft outdoor spaces where families and friends have the opportunity to laugh and play together for years to come. To do this, our service is backed by hardworking experts in the field who solely deliver high-quality products.
Over the years, our team has helped hundreds of families transform ordinary spaces into their ideal outdoor sanctuary. We have extensive expertise in designing and building patio covers customized to client needs, working with both modern and traditional designs.
What to Expect During the Design and Installation Process:
At Patio Covers Unlimited NW, we have crafted a streamlined custom patio cover construction process so that homeowners get exactly what they want in an easy, stress-free method!
We begin with an initial consultation and design phase. During the initial consultation, we assess the property to gain an in-depth understanding of its spatial capabilities. Then, we work with you to design an outdoor blueprint based on your aesthetics and functionality preferences. We always take the time to fully understand our clients’ vision of their outdoor space, diving into their goals for the space.
After establishing a design, we will guide you through your material selection and customizations based on your needs. Whether you want to add retractable shades, lights, or other elements, we will present your options and advise how these components could potentially serve you.
Once the design has been finalized, we will provide you with a construction and installation process timeline. Unlike other companies that give loose promises, our streamlined custom patio cover construction process is designed to stay on track with no hidden fees or surprises. Got any questions? We are always happy to answer them!
Transform your outdoor space today with a custom patio cover from Patio Covers Unlimited NW. Contact us for a free consultation and expert design services!
