Deck Ideas: 12 Creative Ways to Transform Your Outdoor Space

There are several different deck design ideas that allow you to a build a custom deck for your home. Decking materials vary, but the most popular back deck ideas are made of wood. Here’s some things to keep in mind when evaluating wood decking ideas.

• Pressure treated wood tends to be the most popular with its economical pricing and durability. It will usually require annual cleaning with a pressure washer.
• Softwoods such as redwoods and cedar provide some of the most attractive materials with reddish and yellowish appearances, respectively. Softer woods may not be appropriate for all the demands of deck construction. However, some of the best deck ideas incorporate stylish railing made from softwoods.
• Exotic woods such as ironwood and ipe have the richest colors and greatest longevity, but also tend to be the most expensive.

Composite materials are made of a combination of wood and plastic fibers, usually from recycled materials.

• Composite decking boards tend to be easy to clean and maintain, but are most often used as surface decking. Wood decking materials, such as pressure-treated lumber, are needed to provide the structure.
• Vinyl, plastic and aluminum can all be alternate deck materials that resist insect and weather damage. However, they may not convincingly pass as real wood.

Platform decks are built at ground level and require no support posts. They make railing and steps unnecessary. They can be placed right off your front or back door and can be a straightforward, more budget-friendly DIY project compared to other kinds of decking.

Detached or freestanding decks can be placed island-style on your lot with no attachment to the house. They can make a focal point of little-used portions of your property. Consider placing a path of paving stones or other materials from door to deck.

Raised decks elevate your perspective from a few feet to several stories. As bigger projects that often need railing for safety and a staircase for convenience. Raised decks require more upfront investment and carpentry expertise than other types of decks. A raised deck overlooking a perfect view can create the feel of being up in the trees.

Side yards often see less attention than your front or back yards. Deck ideas like these can transform a side yard into a stylish part of your landscape. A side yard deck can also add more space for entertaining guests or provide a quiet spot for relaxing.

Wraparound decks capture the feel of the old-fashioned wraparound porch. They provide seating and shade (or sun) at every place along your home’s exterior. Choosing one of these types of deck ideas will may depend on your home’s floor plan and the flatness of your lot.

A rooftop deck, like a garage deck, turn the top of your home into a space for entertaining or ease. A roof can offer 360-degree views and more opportunities to catch a breeze. They may also be a homeowner’s only option if yard space is limited. The roof style may leave you with less space for patio furniture, however.

Dining decks can be customized to those who love to eat al fresco. Ideally designed as an extension of the kitchen, they can include a seating area with a bar and a patio dining set with picnic umbrellas. Dining decks usually have a convenient grill, sink or other cooking accessories.

Garden decks specifically show off green thumbs. They can be placed conveniently beside your garden plot. They can provide a staging area for planters as well as shelves or storage for gardening tools.

Tip: Unused space below a raised deck can provide excellent storage for garden accessories.

Multilevel decks often take a tiered approach and offer a different feature on each level. Multilevel decks let you take advantage of a dining area placed off the back door and a garden spot closest to the yard. These deck ideas also work well with the natural slope of your lot.

Pool decks tend to be very common in accompanying a swimming pool. A pool deck tends to be planned and built around the pool’s size and features. In addition, deck wood is designed to resist getting slippery when wet. Hot tubsalso go well with decks, and a privacy screen may be welcome with either.

Deck boards are commonly laid perpendicular to the joists and parallel to the adjoining wall of the house. There are, however, other decking patterns that can make your deck look more interesting.

Modular:

• Modular decking is laid in sections, and each section requires joists running in the correct direction. The joists are doubled where the decking boards meet at right angles.

Chevron:

• Although you should space joists 16 inches on center for 2 x 4-inch, 2 x 6-inch or 1 1/4 x 6-inch perpendicular decking, you must space the joists 12 inches apart for 1 1/4 x 6-inch diagonal decking. Mixing 2 x 4-inch with 2 x 6-inch decking is another appealing design possibility. Do not use boards wider than 6 inches, because they are more likely to cup and split.

90-Degree Herringbone:

• The 90-degree herringbone is one of the most interesting decking patterns, but requires a combination of both single and doubled joists to provide support where the ends of the decking meet.

Framed Diagonal:

• The framed diagonal provides an unusual visual effect by juxtaposing two different lines. This pattern can be used to "picture frame" an entire deck surface or create modular sections to define different areas of the deck.