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.

Talk about the perfect family home! This spacious estate in Napa, California is a hidden gem with beautifully practical outdoor and indoor living spaces. With a expansive luxury kitchen, sparkling swimming pool, and a enormous outdoor deck ideal for outdoor entertaining, there really is something for everyone in this home.

The backyard of this home is where the main focus is at! California has beautiful weather almost all year around, so it’s logical to pay a lot of attention to outdoor living.

The home was built to be a family compound and to highlight the outdoor garden and deck area, which is perfect for family time. The wood patio was a good choice since wood tends to wear well and is super affordable.

I am in love with the outdoor deck – there are tons of wood grains and colors on the market to choose from, it’s just important to make sure you choose a timber that is durable, fits within your budget and suits your homes outdoor style.

Indoor and outdoor living is almost merged into one by finishing this living space with a rustic stucco finish. It really ties in with the Mediterranean style outdoors. The designer also included Moroccan accents for an exotic feel like the local artisan lighting and vegetable dyed carpets.

A big bay window and a cozy seating area makes this corner of the living room the ideal place to snuggle up to a good book. It was dressed up with a combo of Fortuny and custom lighting sconces. To give the home a more lived-in essence, French antiques were thrown into the mix.

If you have some extra space in your home, creating a kids nook where they can hang out, read books, play, and relax is probably one of the greatest investments you can make. This nook filled with toys, whimsical art lighting, and lots of comfy seating serves as a gathering place outside the children’s bunk rooms.

The heart of the home is always the kitchen and with a big bustling family, this open plan kitchen celebrates gatherings and cooking. The designer installed a copper hood to compliment the hand made artisan tile with bronze accents. The cabinets were painted gray to accent the large mahogany island.

The large, wooden deck is an ingenious way to create a comfortable outdoor living space. Instead of holding celebrations or every day festivities indoors, the covered deck provides ample seating space, a outdoor fireplace, stone pizza oven, couches, and even an outdoor television.

Along with the landscaped yard, the highlight of the backyard really is the wooden patio. Building a deck can be quite challenging for most, so it’s important to look at tons of models like Patio Living pergolas, patios, and other outdoor features before deciding on truly what you need and what will fit in your backyard.

Steven Paul

Keep it Simple

If it’s your first deck project, keep your skill level in mind and opt for something simple like a single platform with one set of stairs. The worst thing is to tackle on a complex project loaded with trial, error, and wasted materials.

Renewal Design Build

Choose Materials Wisely

Real woods like cedar and redwood may be traditional, classy choices but don’t last as long down the road. You may get a luxurious rich appearance, but be prepared to re-polish and lacquer your deck every few years. Synthetic materials such as vinyl cost less and last decades. Visit Davies Timber and get accustomed to some of the best supplies to use for your deck.

Sarah Greenman

Invest in Good Quality Screws

Don’t opt for the cheapest screws on the market! Invest in high quality stainless steal or coated screws to avoid a rickety deck, and even discoloration on the wood to extend your deck’s life.

Tim Barber

Place the Bark Side Up

When laying your deck’s boards, remember to keep the bark side facing up and so that the end grain growth curves upward. This way, you can prevent water from pooling in the middle of the deck, and drain off of it instead.

Jeffrey Gordon

Use Invisible Screws

If you want a flawless look to your deck, hidden fasteners will leave your deck’s surface with a clean look rather than having loads of screwheads visible throughout.

Steven Paul

Choose Your Deck Levels

If you need more space on your deck but are limited with a smaller yard, construct two or three levels on your deck instead of making the platform bigger. This way you can have multiple areas for entertaining, like one for the seating area, barbeque, and the hot tub.

Anthony Cusat

Protect and Seal Your Deck

The final step to completing your project and making it last as much as possible, is to properly seal it to help prevent the wood from rotting. The best way to preserve your deck is with a water repellant preservative from your local home improvement store. Shop around and find the best option for your decks environment and your budget.

Slater Associates