The small, urban garden in Anne Hathaway's NYC home masters shade, privacy, and patio coverage in a very modern way – it's the best I've ever seen

A covered arbor or pergola that adds privacy, shade, and scent is a tantalizing project for many of us this season. Actress Anne Hathaway and her husband, jewelry designer Adam Shulman, certainly share this sentiment. The couple's former balcony garden, situated within a historic Neo-Georgian property in NYC, and landscaped by Jeffrey Erb Landscape Design, is the terrace idea of my dreams.

Roof gardens, terraces, and balconies provide a great opportunity to enjoy the surrounding views, and with the right small garden ideas you can extend the living space of your home, whatever the size.

I've always extolled the benefits of pergolas and statement patio cover ideas; they always seemed so magical at dusk, often adorned with scented plants or twinkly lights. Their ability to create shade and act as a good garden screening idea is often underestimated.

Before embarking on a pergola project, garden designer Charlotte Rowe notes, ‘Only have a pergola or an arbor if you think you absolutely need one. I say this because people often think that they will shelter you from the rain when, in fact, they really don’t, and they are more useful for providing shade from the sun.

The best place for a pergola will depend on the layout of your outdoor living room and your reasons for including it in your design.

Garden designer Katrina Kieffer-Wells thinks pergolas with shade sails work well in both sunny and shady spots depending on what time of day you will use it the most.

‘If you have a south-facing garden a partially enclosed pergola can create a tranquil retreat and offer respite on a hot summer’s day,’ she says. ‘In shade gardens, they can make a cozy night-time feature with the addition of ambient lights and hanging drapes.’

Don't forget to plant for privacy if you are overlooked or live in a busy city with neighboring high-rise apartments and offices.

If your rooftop garden is part of a larger overhaul, consider building your planters along the outer edges of your roof. This will offer ample space for layering taller trees for privacy with smaller shrubs and annuals for color. Alternatively, faux planters will add color with none of the maintenance. It is a fantastic option if you live a hectic life.

Look for designs that can simply be slotted over the top of the railings – although always secure your container garden in place properly to ensure they won't get knocked or blown off in high winds or poor weather.

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Dining and entertaining under a beautiful canopy doesn’t have to be limited to holidays. It’s entirely possible to create that laid-back lifestyle at home with a temporary structure you can install and remove as the temperate shifts from summer to fall.

From overlooked urban gardens to cavernous country spaces, we all crave intimacy and intrigue whatever our current roof garden ideas, shape, or size. A pergola, dressed with a simple shade sail – or, even an oversized sun umbrella – is an easy way to create an enclosed space with ample shade and dappled sunlight.