The options for outdoor living are virtually limitless. Simply put, your deck serves as an extension of your home, allowing you to enjoy the outdoors in a more comfortable and inviting manner than ever before.
With so many options for customization and design, it can be difficult to know where to begin—which is why we’re here!
In this blog, we’ll walk you through our best tips for creating a dream outdoor living space from start to finish: from choosing the right location and materials all the way through lighting choices.
Location of Your Deck
The location of your deck is important for many reasons.
- First of all, it needs to be in a location that you can enjoy. If the deck overlooks a busy street or noisy neighbor’s yard, it will be hard to relax or entertain guests on the deck. If this is the case, you should think about moving your deck.
- Secondly, consider how much sun exposure your deck gets throughout the day. If there are no trees nearby blocking out too much sunlight, then this could cause problems with fading paint on furniture and flooring materials over time–not to mention that UV rays can damage furniture as well!
A good rule of thumb when choosing a location for any outdoor space is “the more shade available during peak hours (10am-3pm), the better.”
Your Deck’s Purpose
Next, consider how you want to use your deck. Will it be a place for entertaining? A place where friends and family can gather? Or an escape from the hustle of everyday life? What kind of weather can you anticipate throughout the seasons when you’ll be utilizing it the most frequently, as well as how many people will use it at once? When you are aware of these factors, you can begin to plan.
The style of your home should also inform how much or little work goes into designing your outdoor living space. If yours is modern or contemporary in style (and many homes are):
- using metal balustrades around any stairs leading up onto it rather than traditional wooden railings instead;
- installing glass panels along one side wall which allows light from inside bounce outwards while still maintaining privacy when needed most.
Know Your Budget
The first thing to do when you’re planning your dream outdoor living space is to know your budget and stay within it. You may want everything at once, but that isn’t realistic or smart–you need to be realistic about what you can afford. If you overspend on the deck, then there will be nothing left for other things in your life that might make more of an impact on how happy and comfortable you feel at home.
Setting a budget before beginning work on a project like this can help ensure that all costs are accounted for without any surprises later on down the road (like finding out that there was another unexpected expense).
Choose Your Deck’s Material
When it comes to choosing a material for your deck, consider the following options:
- Wood: A classic and traditional option that comes in various types such as cedar, redwood, and pressure-treated lumber.
- Composite: Composite decks are made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) resins and are more resistant to warping, splitting, and cracking than timber decks. They are also easier to clean and maintain.
- PVC: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) decking is made of plastic and has similar characteristics to composite decking. It is highly durable, low maintenance, and resistant to insects and moisture.
- Aluminum: Lightweight and weather-resistant, aluminum decking is a great option for areas with harsh weather conditions.
- Concrete: A long-lasting and low-maintenance option, concrete decks can be stained or painted to resemble other materials and can withstand heavy foot traffic.
Add Natural Elements
Welcome natural elements into your space, like plants and flowers.
- Plants can also add privacy to your deck. Planting a tall hedge or screen along the edge of your deck will help block out unwanted views and sounds from nearby homes and streets.
- Plants can also help block out unwanted views and sounds from nearby homes and streets.
Add Lighting
Add lighting to make it feel more comfortable. If you want to design a room that can be utilized all year round, lighting can be used to lengthen the day and make it feel more attractive. If your deck has no overhead lighting, consider adding some pendant lights or hanging lanterns.
You can also add spotlights around trees or other areas of interest on your property that need extra attention from guests who are coming onto the deck at night–these will provide extra illumination without being too harsh on their eyesight!
Designing a New Deck Can Be a Fun Process if You Plan Carefully
Though it can be enjoyable, designing and building a deck requires careful planning. We sincerely hope that these pointers have been useful if you’re looking for inspiration on how to begin creating your own outdoor living area.
When it comes to building an outdoor paradise, keep in mind that there are no right or wrong answers. Everything else will fall into place organically as long as you bear in mind the kind of activities that will take place on the deck and how much money you want to spend upfront (or afterward).
Unleash your creativity and begin discovering the infinite possibilities today! Big Easy Landscaping is always ready to assist you in enhancing the visual appeal of your outdoor space. Feel free to reach out to us!
