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Innovative Design Ideas for a Stylish Deck
The right design deck can transform your outdoors and create perfect spots for entertainment and relaxation. Constructing a deck that lasts long and looks spectacular requires careful planning. This ensures you have a practical deck that enriches your home. Here are a few design considerations when building an eye-catching deck.
Size, Location, and Layout
Various site conditions have a big impact on the deck’s placement and design. For instance, a sloping ground requires a multi-level or raised desk design. If the site has overgrown vegetation, you can customize the design to incorporate natural vegetation.
The deck can connect with the main house from the back or the side. If the proposed deck doubles as a front porch, include features that match the facade. However, if it leads to the pool, design a spacious area to dry off and bask in the sun.
The scale of your property is also essential since it determines the size and layout of your design. For example, a deck for vacation homes is significantly different from a deck in a city house. Since rooftop decks have limited space, it’s prudent to plan for spots to keep container plants.
Decking Materials
It’s tempting to ignore long-term satisfaction when you find huge discounts on decking materials. Typically, pressure-treated softwood seems to be the least expensive material based on the cost of similar materials. However, in the long term, composite decking delivers a higher value than wood. Besides its durability, it requires minimal maintenance and often involves pressure washing.
If your design requires composite decking, it’s best to stick with reputable manufacturers and suppliers. However, most suppliers implement price segmentation of their products depending on quality levels. Some brands offer colour-matched materials and accessories for a seamless finish.
In addition, you can request custom designs that are otherwise unavailable from general suppliers. Ideally, it’s best to work with a local distributor since they have the best materials for local conditions.
Lighting and Outdoor Furniture
Good lighting makes your outdoor space inviting and safer. LED lighting is popular for easy installation, but there are other deck lighting ideas for a luxurious touch. For a sleek, professional appearance, go for modular lights since they integrate with railings, stairs, and posts.
On the other hand, deck furniture should be appealing, comfortable, and weatherproof. Implementing the features necessary for a luxurious living space can be expensive. Before you spend on additional furniture, experiment with your current furniture.
Alternatively, you can purchase low-cost but unique pieces that you can replace later should your priorities and needs change. To upgrade your storage space, consider box benches with under-seat storage. But if you have a raised design, you will have enough space to store equipment, toys, and tools.
Sun and Wind Exposure
Decks often experience different temperatures in a day, so you must consider ways to optimize heating and cooling processes. If your deck faces south, you can use awnings and trellises to minimize sun exposure. This method may be less practical in the morning and evening hours. While you won’t have issues in winter months, you may experience overheating in hot months.
Ideally, the design should capitalize on sunshine and shade patterns in your area. Besides wrapping a deck around strategic corners in your home, adjustable screens can shield you from weather elements.
Wind changes strength and direction depending on the season, so it can be difficult to deal with. You can design a raised deck with few openings in the railing. This creates protected areas on lower deck levels by blocking the wind.
Traffic Patterns
While weather and other external factors impact your building site, it’s important to understand how the deck relates to your interior space. If you are required to walk to the opposite side with foodstuffs to access the deck, some people might avoid the hassle. The deck should also be close enough to monitor activities and interact with guests.
Ultimately, the deck should be a luxurious extension of your indoor space. A deck with easy access attracts guests and encourages everyone to stroll and enjoy the space. Unless your deck is a private hideaway, it should be seamlessly integrated with your home.
Most decks serve multiple purposes, so it’s ideal to locate the door in the kitchen, dining, or living area. Ideally, the door should route the traffic around the room rather than directly. If you don’t have a door in the perfect spot, you can create a walkway to connect the deck. Nevertheless, it’s better to create a new door instead of putting up with accessibility issues.
Since traffic and maneuverability are essential, access to adjacent areas should come naturally. For example, the stairway should create easy access to frequently used areas like lawns, driveways, pet houses, and yards. By analyzing traffic patterns, you can design access routes to important areas.
Design Continuity
Continuity and flow are among the most important considerations. Ideally, new design features must be congruent with existing architectural features. A deck in a modern home fits perfectly, but building a deck in contemporary homes requires special considerations and expertise. This means the deck should have a conservative design to avoid discontinuity with surrounding properties.
Most importantly, the deck’s size and mass should match the house. For instance, decks with massive, visible foundation posts may not match a tiny cottage home. If foundation elements must be exposed, it’s essential to enhance continuity by using matching materials. A home with brick veneers requires a deck with bricks in the foundation and railing.
On the other hand, a Victorian home may need a deck design with features that mimic the architectural details of the house. If attaching the deck to the house causes design confusion, it’s best to build a freestanding deck.
Endnote
Building a deck can be an exhilarating task to spruce up your outdoor living area and boost your home’s value. However, getting outstanding results requires careful planning, design, and material selection. This ensures that the deck is functional and visually appealing. Besides, you likely want to build a stylish deck that serves your needs for many years.
