People love their decks, and no wonder. It’s a great place for grilling delicious food for family and friends and for just relaxing in the open air.
Here are some ideas to spruce up your deck to give a fresh, new look.
- Spice it up with a Rug
An outdoor area rug is one of the simplest deck accessories to add, and yet it can really spice up a deck. For instance, laying down a rug with bright colors can separate, define, and anchor the deck’s seating area, and create a comfortable, cozy atmosphere. At the same time, it can also complement the design of the other sections, unifying the whole color scheme.
An advantage of outdoor rugs is that they’re easy to clean, and they dry quickly so you won’t have to wait long after it rains to get back on your deck.
- Let There be Light
Lighting brings life and beauty to a deck at night, and makes it available for late dining, entertaining, and enjoying family activities. There are different types of lighting power sources to choose from.
One choice is electrically-powered lighting that can be hard-wired to the house’s power source. If they aren’t hard-wired, you can use extension cords but that may be awkward if you don’t have easily accessible power outlets on your deck.
Battery-powered lights allow for greater placement flexibility and are easier to manage — you just have to change or recharge the batteries when they run down.
The easiest solution of all is to use solar lighting. Those lights can be placed anywhere you want and without cords or batteries.
Some types of solar lighting include:
- Rope lights with small LED bulbs for hanging above a cozy seating area, or to accentuate railings, trellises, and latticework
- Carriage lights for placing on top of deck posts
- Paper lanterns for hanging from overhead trellises, railings, and nearby trees
- Festoon LED lights for running above the deck, or anywhere you would use rope lights
- LED lantern candles for tables, or beside chairs
- Flameless candles for tables, deck, or railings
These various light sources are available in an assortment of colors, sizes, and shapes, so let yourself be creative when lighting up your deck.
- Design with Container Plants
Incorporating container plants into the deck layout is one of the easiest ways to add color, interest, and life to your outdoor space. Your choice of plants and containers will depend on their functions, such as softening deck edges, dressing up railings, acting as privacy screens, defining seating and eating areas, or creating a focal point on the deck. Be sure to match the container size to the plant (e.g. trees and shrubs will need large pots for their roots).
To create the best visual impact, vary plant heights and types, and cluster pots and containers into groups. You can also place an entire design into one large container, with tall plants in the center, and increasingly shorter plants beside them. Use a similar idea for window boxes on railings — a taller plant in the middle, some colorful flowers or greens on either side, then a leafy or floral plant spilling down the front.
Your choice of container materials can include clay pots, wood boxes, basket-like structures made of woven willow, plastic pots and boxes, old metal buckets, recycled food tins or cans, etc. Just remember to drill holes in the bottom of non-traditional containers for drainage so your plants don’t drown.
- Made in the Shade – Deck Coverings
Deck coverings not only provide shade and protect you from the sun, but they add style and a unique look to your deck. Some deck coverings to choose from include:
Pergolas
A pergola is usually a square or rectangular wide-open structure with four support beams, no walls, and either a lattice roof or cross beams. It can be free-standing or attached to a house. The latticework or cross beams, create a patterned shade effect on the deck. To add further protection from the sun and elements, you can cover the roof with a retractable, waterproof canvas cover.
There are even retractable roll shades available for the sides of the pergola for more shade options and privacy. Some people prefer instead to hang curtains for a beach resort look.
Awnings
Awnings are an economical way to provide deck shelter. Popular choices for decks are the retractable and stationary awnings, which are available in an almost unlimited selection of color combinations and patterns.
Retractable awnings are either operated manually using a hand crank, or by a motor that’s triggered with a wall switch, remote control, or weather sensor. Awnings with weather sensors detect sun, rain, or wind, and automatically expand or retract according to the conditions.
Stationary awnings are mounted on a fixed frame and can be customized with side panels for additional protection and privacy. They’re an excellent option for oddly-shaped places that have bump-outs (an extension of a room or building that creates a projection in a wall). You can remove the awning cover for the winter months to allow more sunlight into your home.
Shade Sails
Shade sails are a cost-efficient, unique way of providing a shaded comfortable zone on your deck. They’re available in water resistant (which protects the deck from a light shower) and waterproof materials. These sails require less maintenance than other awning-type covers, and can be installed on any structure, building, or pole.
They come in rectangular, square, triangular, and custom-made shapes, as well as in a variety of colors and sizes. You can even mix and match shade sails to create artistic designs for a range of playful or dramatic effects.
One of the most important items on your deck is your grill. For maintenance and repair of all your major appliances, you can count on the experts at C&W Appliance Service. Call us at (855) 358-1496 or use our online service request form.
