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Next time you get the urge to dress up your decking boards, try one of these offbeat touches…

Lanterns

Lighting is important if you want to enjoy your deck after dark. Many decking suppliers provide built-in deck lights, and of course you can’t go wrong with a string of fairy lights, but why not try something a bit more traditional? Lanterns come in all sorts of shapes and designs, and dotting a few around your deck will heighten the ambience in addition to lighting up your outdoor space.

Outdoor Rugs

You’re probably aware that a rug is good for tying a room together, but did you know you can get rugs that are specifically designed for outdoor use? Garden-friendly rugs come in a surprisingly wide variety of styles; pick a colour or pattern that suits your tastes (and your outdoor furniture), and lay it on your deck to bring that cosy living room feel into the garden!

Bunting

A common sight at street parties and other celebrations, a bit of bunting is a fantastic way to give your deck a more festive feel. You can make your own bunting by cutting out triangles of coloured fabric and stitching or stapling them to a long ribbon, but if you’re not especially crafty, you could simply buy some bunting. You’ll find loads of eye-catching patterns online.

Sculptures and Water Features

Put your personality on display by adding an outdoor sculpture to your deck. Again, you’ll be amazed at the huge variety of products available these days—whether you prefer classical or modern artistry, whether you want something big and beautiful or small and understated, you’re sure to find a sculpture that suits you perfectly.

Alternatively, why not invest in an attractive water feature? As well as looking lovely, water features can bring a nice, tranquil atmosphere to your garden with their gentle babbling sound.

Flowers

And if all else fails, you can always fall back on floral decor! A degree in flower arranging is not necessary; just grab some of your favourite plants and dot some pots and other containers around your deck.

This will add both colour and a touch of nature to your outdoor living space. Learning to grow and care for plants can also become a very rewarding hobby!

Photos By: Unsplash

Of course, a simple deck on its own might not have the full impact that you want it to, but there are lots of things you can do to enhance your deck and turn it into an appealing garden feature. Here are a few ideas that you might want to incorporate into your garden design plans.

Create a Dining Area

There’s something really special about eating outdoors. You can really immerse yourself in nature, take in the fresh air and bask in the sunshine. Adding a dining table and chairs is a really quick way to turn a simple deck into an inviting place to eat. If you’re someone who loves to BBQ, you’ll really find you get your money’s worth with this appealing outdoor space. Composite decking is a great option for outdoor dining areas because it features a protective polymer sleeve that can be wiped down quickly. This means accidental food and drink spills (which are bound to happen) won’t leave permeant stains.

Add Lights

Another way you can make your new composite decking a feature in your garden is to add a range of lights and lanterns. Whether you choose lights that are part the decking itself, candles and lanterns that sit around the perimeter of your deck, or outdoor fairy lights for a romantic touch, lights are a great way to draw the eye to a certain feature in your garden.

Not only that, lights help to improve the safety of your deck as well as helping you make the most of it all year round. Even on dark, chilly winter nights, you can still head outside with a hot chocolate and make the most of your garden space if it’s well-lit.

Add Plants

Adding greenery to any area of your home or garden can help to bring it to life. There are so many beautiful, interesting and usual species of plants for you to choose from. You can go for something green and traditional if you want the focus to be on your new decking or something bright and colourful to add something more interesting to a simple deck. One way to add a natural feature to your deck is to use the leftover deck boards to create a planter. This will fit seamlessly on your new deck and can be filled with plants and flowers of all different kinds.

We hope that you’ll incorporate some of these tips into your garden design to make your new garden deck a stand out feature.