Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

Ways to Turn Your Deck Into an Outdoor Paradise

Ways to Turn Your Deck Into an Outdoor Paradise

From simple decor tips to renovation inspiration.

There's a lot you can do with your deck, whether you're ready for a full-on overhaul with new flooring materials (hello, colorful tiles or ipê wood), a pool, or you're just giving it a simple refresh for summer. These 28 well-designed decks will provide plenty of outdoor decor inspiration to help get you started. Ahead, find everything you need to know about deck design, from choosing outdoor lighting to creating visual flow between your home and yard to selecting the best materials. Spoiler: You're probably going to want to start with string lights.



Prep It for Dinner


Optimize your deck for dining and conversation with outdoor lighting and a fully-stocked bar cart. This deck designed by Emily Henderson is styled with stackable metal chairs and a spacious wood table for a classic, low-maintenance look.



Protect It With a Cover


The partial shade from the pergola ensures that this deck is the best of both worlds for outdoor dining and gardening. This deck, attached to a home designed by Aamir Khandwala, is covered with a complementary white pergola for a modern approach that pops against the green landscape but blends in with the exterior of the house. It's the perfect place for some flower arranging or to use as a dining space.



Add an Area Rug and Canopy


Since most decks feature wooden materials, they can feel a little cold and bare. Warm yours up with an outdoor area rug and a daybed. Here, Vanessa Alexander of Alexander Design chose a a large daybed with an ethereal canopy and tropical palm trees to set the mood.



Hang Plants


If you don't have a ton of space, fill it with the coziest items you can find and add extra vertical space to hang plants from instead of taking up valuable ground space. This area by Malcolm Simmons features hanging plants, cozy throws, and layered outdoor rugs, making it the ideal spot to sit with a cup of coffee and a new book.



Extend Decking to the Pool Area


Frame your pool with the same material as your deck for easier maintenance and a lovely visual flow as Robert McKinley Studio did here. Beautify the area with greenery, whether it's a grassy lawn or a line of trees.



Make It a Mudroom


Optimize an enclosed deck at a beach house by installing wall hooks for towels and other things that might make a mess indoors. Then, add a couple of chairs for an outdoor reading nook or hang-out spot, as Romanek Design Studio did here.



Complement the House's Architecture


"I was worried the pool might be too close to the house, but I love it," says Eric Olsen, the architect of this California home. "When we open the doors, it feels like one big room." Take a closer look at the left corner and you'll see the outdoor shower peeking out too.



Opt for Tile


This deck is proof that tile can trump wood in an outdoor space. It;s easier to cleans and looks a lot more colorful and fun. Adding lanterns, textiles, and vines will finish things off nicely.



Invest In a Swimming Pool


Just because you don't have a backyard doesn't mean you can't have a pool. Use your roof deck area for poolside lounging and sunning. Also, remember that throw pillows are the perfect way to introduce hints of bold color.



Hang a Swing Bench


Swings aren't limited to porches-they can fit right in on the deck, too, if you have a partial covering or anything to hang them from, as seen here on a front deck by Kystral Matthews Design. This is the spot everyone will be fighting over on your deck.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
×