How To Design Your Dream Deck

A deck is one of the most versatile and functional spaces in a home. Your deck can be a bridge or transitional space to your garden, a wonderful socialisation space, or a quiet sanctuary. When it comes to the design stage, it really comes down to your personal preferences and your plans for space. Deck design is and should be a highly personal process so you can end up with a space that matches your aspirations for it. So how do you design a wonderful, functioning deck that looks all year round and lasts a long time? Start by considering these six practical tips. 

Establish your wants and needs

Get clear about your wants and needs. Your needs concern factors like how much space you have to create the deck, how much time it will take to complete the design and build, and other potential constraints. On the other hand, your wants relate to things like your intended purpose for the deck. For example, will the deck be used for everyday outdoor dining or mostly for summer barbeques and parties? Will you be using the deck for winter outdoor living as well? Alternatively, you might be dreaming of a private terrace oasis or a place for intimate gatherings rather than a social space. You might be adding a fire pit, pot plants, a spa, and cooking equipment, so plan the right shape for your deck and consider the garden views.

Bridge the house and the backyard

Your deck might be a quiet refuge or a space for gatherings, but either way, it’s probably an important transit point between your house and backyard. As such, consider whether you’d like it designed in a way to blend in with or to be completely distinct from the outdoor aesthetics of your hose. Similarly, you might want it to have transitional materials where it meets the backyard. These can be natural, earthy options like wood, stone, pavers, and brick. 

Create shade overhead

Creating shade increases the utility of your deck. Pergolas, gazebos, umbrellas, awning, and other shading options like sails can transform a deck from an outdoor space into an extra room or extension of your home. You’ll have the benefit of shade from the sun and shelter from rain and the elements. Beyond that, you’ll have more options for furnishing and accessorising your deck area with items that might not be waterproof or sun-proof. 

Plan for foot traffic

Ensure your deck has enough space not only for barbeque equipment, furniture, and other items but also for foot traffic. Allow sufficient space for the activities you have in mind as well as the easy flow of traffic between and around zones. These zones could be for cooking, dining, mingling, and lounging, for example. Free movement will ensure each zone can function as intended. In addition, leaving and entering the deck area should be easy. This means your stairs, house doors, and exits and entryways should be easy to access. 

Consider maintenance

You’ve invested time, energy, and funds into creating your dream deck. Now, you’ll need to keep it in good shape and safe for visitors, family, and pets. Fortunately, ensuring your deck stays in optimal conditions doesn’t require a lot. One way to reduce maintenance requirements is to opt for low-maintenance decking materials like composite decking. Composite decking won’t rot, warp, crack or fade, and doesn’t need restaining, repainting or resealing. 

Consider composite decking

Composite decking is a superior alternative to wood as it requires just about no maintenance and is more cost-effective. Made from recycled wood fibre and plastics, composite decking is environmentally friendly and offers a durable and strong yet lightweight option that looks like natural timber. However, it’s much easier to work with and doesn’t need oiling or painting. What’s more, it’s resistant to splintering, stains, mould, UV, pests, shrinking, expanding, and moisture. For design outcomes, composite decking also provides more flexibility as it’s moulded, not cut and shaped. 

Maximising durability with sustainable deck materials

One of the best deck planning tips is to choose the right material. With the right material forming the foundation of your deck, you can expertly mix aesthetics with functionality to create a space that is inviting and comfortable. 

From recycled plastic decking options to sustainably sourced wood and composite decking, it can be difficult to choose the right eco-friendly and durable material for your dream deck. 

While all valuable and viable options, composite decking excels when it comes to eco-friendliness and durability. At the outset, composite decking will be more expensive due to the additional manufacturing requirements. However, long term, it’s an extremely cost effective option.

When compared to other deck materials, composite decking is inherently durable and low maintenance. In terms of maintenance, owners won’t have to worry about staining or repainting in order to hide conditions like fading. Instead, maintenance will be as involved as a clean with soapy water. 

Composite decking’s durability also helps to reduce maintenance needs and the associated costs. Able to withstand weather conditions ranging from extreme hot to extreme cold and rain, composite cladding will not warp or rot. 

In addition to this, composite decking is also pest resistant. This means that home owners will not have to replace sections of their deck on account of things like pest and insect infestations. 

As such, durability and low maintenance requirements combine to ensure that homeowners can design and build the outdoor decking of their dreams, all while reducing the common costs associated with maintaining an outdoor decking area.

Incorporating smart outdoor features

One of the great things about installing outdoor decking is that homeowners can essentially create an additional living, dining and entertaining space. With this in mind, some of the best dream deck design tips centre around incorporating smart features.

In order to ensure functionality, think about additions such as lighting and even heating and cooling systems. This will ensure that you can easily and comfortably continue to use the decking space no matter the time of day or the weather patterns.

Further additions to consider include things like built-in furniture. With these kinds of accessories, you create spaces for family and friends to gather comfortably for a meal or a party. 

To further enhance the functionality of an outdoor decking area, some great deck planning tips include wiring the area for power. This way you can easily install things like speakers to pipe some music or a television and even a projector to take movie night to a whole new level.

The Right Deck For You

Building the right deck for your home requires a good design and planning process. Reviewing the deck in the context of your property, and weighing up maintenance needs are some of the essential things on your to-do list. Choosing the right decking materials will also be another vital step that could save you time and money. In all, approach it like a fun project and working out what you want and need will allow you to create a deck that will give your household years of utility and enjoyment.

KEKSIA’s composite decking provides a superior option for building decks on any type of property. Eco-friendly, lightweight, durable, and resistant to stains and slips, our timber and wood decking are available in a wide range of colours and finishes. Whether you’re looking for a deep-textured, luxurious look or a natural, traditional aesthetic, our composite decking requires next to no maintenance, allowing you more time to enjoy your deck without the maintenance work. Explore our composite timber decking and composite wood decking ranges today, or contact our friendly team now with your questions.