If you’re looking for meaningful upgrades to the garden, then one of the most widely recommended is giving yourself somewhere that you, your friends, and family and lounge in comfort. Whether you want a dining space, somewhere to entertain your guests, or simply somewhere to sit back, enjoy the weather, and look out over your garden, building a deck can be just the thing you need. However, it’s important how you design and build it, as well. Here, we’re going to look into some of the must-haves of a good decking space, and what you can do to upgrade it and make it really fit your standards.
The Importance Of Placement
When creating a decking retreat, placement is the foundation of success. A well-positioned deck should maximize sunlight while providing natural shade during peak hours. Consider the view from both the house and the deck itself, ensuring that it frames the best features of the garden. The direction that the deck is facing matters, as well, as south-facing decks tend to get most of the warmth throughout the day, while west-facing decks can offer a gorgeous view of the sunset, provided your garden offers one. If you want to make sure that your deck offers privacy, then you should consider placing the deck near trees, fences, or screening plants.
Think About How You’ll Use It
Before you go on to build the deck and decide what size and dimensions it’s going to have, you need to think about how you’re going to use it, as well, and how it can best suit your lifestyle. Do you need room for dining furniture, a barbecue station, or a lounging area? Larger decks allow multiple zones, while smaller decks benefit from built-in benches or foldable furniture. You should think about how to design the flow of the space, as well, such as making sure that people are able to move through the decking area without getting too much in the way of others enjoying the space. You might also want to consider storage solutions, like built-in planters or even under-deck compartments, to meet the practical needs of the space without taking up too much room.
Choosing The Right Materials
If you want your deck to stay standing for years to come, rain or shine, then you have to make sure that it’s constructed out of the right materials. Pressure-treated lumber is one of the most popular options because it resists rot, pests, and weathering, ensuring long-lasting durability. There are other options, such as composite, which is lower maintenance but has a higher price, and hardwoods, which require much more regular care, so you have to choose the material based on your own priorities. Keep in mind not just what they add aesthetically, but what level of maintenance might be necessary, as well as how well they fit your budget.
Which Furniture Should You Choose?
You’re going to want to furnish your deck but how you do it should largely depend on what kind of functionality you want it to have for you and its other users. For instance, if you want to create a relaxing lounge, then you should look into cushioned seating, hammocks, or even a daybed. For a dining area, you want seating to comfortable but more functional, able to fit comfortably around a sturdy table. If your deck is a little more compact, then you might want to look into modular furniture or stackable chairs, which you can easily tidy away, providing more space when they’re not in use. Well-selected furniture not only makes your deck functional but also personalizes it, turning a simple platform into your own outdoor haven.
Add Lighting For Safety And Ambience
If you’re looking to bring some quality of life to a deck or patio, then you might want to make sure that you can keep using it once the sun sets. With the right use of strategic lighting, you can make it as much of a nighttime sanctuary as well. Soft, warm lights along railings or steps provide safety while creating a cozy atmosphere. Solar-powered fixtures or LED strips can be energy-efficient options that highlight edges and walkways. If you want to create a warm atmosphere when sitting with friends, overhead string lights and lanterns can add a lot of charm. There are many different ways to light your decking, and you can layer them together so that you have safety, ambience, and visibility at all times.
Give It Some Greenery
If you want to make your deck feel a lot more alive, welcoming, and better integrated with your garden, then there are a lot of ways you can integrate greenery directly into the design. Planters built into corners or railings soften hard edges, while climbing plants can provide natural shade and fragrance. Potted trees add height and dimension, creating a blend between the deck and the surrounding garden. Greenery brings a lot of benefits, from making the space more relaxing to perhaps offering a little more privacy. It also helps the deck better blend in with the garden, making it seem like a seamless part of your outdoor space rather than something separate that sticks out like a sore thumb.
Add Your Personality To It
While many of the tips above do offer plenty of wiggle room to integrate your own personal sense of style into your decking, it’s worth going the extra mile to make it feel like a true extension of your home. This could include adding character with outdoor rugs, patterned cushions, and colorful planters. Your choice of furniture can help it match your preferred aesthetic, too, whether it’s wood grains and warm tones for a more rustic appeal, or sleek lines and muted colors for a more modern and minimalist approach. By tailoring the design to your tastes, your decking retreat becomes uniquely yours, rather than just any other outdoor space.
The tips above should help you create the decking of your dreams, bringing some real usable space to your outdoors and helping you get a lot more out of your garden.
