Summer – what a great time to take your outdoor living space to the next level! Whether you’re hosting friends, relaxing with family, or simply seeking a serene sanctuary right outside your door, your deck can be so much more than a place to park your lounge chairs. Instead, make yours an inviting extension of your home, blending comfort, keen aesthetics, and the beauty of the outdoors.
With some creative updates, you can completely transform your deck into a stylish, functional, personalized retreat that’s perfect for both quiet time and entertaining. From lush vertical gardens to elevated pool aesthetics to smart yet simple design upgrades, here’s how to make your summer deck a standout space.
Grow a Vertical Garden
Start by raising your gaze. Incorporating vertical gardens into your deck design is a savvy way to up your deck’s green factor without sacrificing space. These living walls aren’t just eye-catching—they’re a clever design element that boosts privacy, improves air purification, and keeps soaring temperatures in check.
Zero in on features that draw the eye upward. Think tiered structures, trellises, baskets, and wall-mounted pots to display trailing vines, colorful annuals, or fragrant herbs. To add even more greenery, complement your vertical garden with railing planters. These add harmony and even more vibrant life to your hardscape.
Achieve Poolside Deck Perfection
Got an outdoor swimming pool that could use more pop? In pool decking, style doesn’t have to take a backseat to practicality. In fact, today’s poolside setups are more design-forward than ever.
“Modern pool areas have evolved from simple splash zones to key focal points for your outdoor spaces,” saysShu Saito, HVAC and water filtration expert and CEO of All Filters. “From pool shape and finish materials to landscaping and lighting, every detail contributes to ambiance. And water quality is central to creating an outstanding swim experience.”
Enhance Ambiance
Little things go a long way. Upgrading your pool filter ensures crystal-clear water that’s as beautiful as it is refreshing. If you’re not afraid to bite off a bit more, reno projects like heat-resistant wood planking, dramatic uplighting, outdoor media systems, and built-in seating and loungers all add a luxe pool vibe.
Staging isn’t just for inside your four walls. Finesse your setup and turn your deck into a comfortable, inviting extension of your home. Think of it as a big, open-air room, then place furnishings with an eye to creating zones.
Call out your comfy spots with rugs, benches, and cozy furniture like an outdoor sectional. Position vertical features like high-backed chairs or tall planters so they serve as natural dividers between areas like a dining space or reading nook.
You’ll probably spend a lot of warm summer nights outdoors, so think about how your space feels after dark. Incorporating lanterns, string lights, and solar LED lamps sets a mood and makes your deck look fabulous well into the night. Fire pits and oversized candles add warmth and allure after the sun goes down.
One final pro tip: add art. Wall installations, mosaic tabletops, and kinetic sculptures all add exciting color, artistry, and dimension. Special pieces make your deck feel curated rather than just decorated.
Add Attractive Functionality
Decks can be a hefty investment. Protecting yours – and what’s on it – means you can get more long-term enjoyment out of your time outdoors. To that end, practical decor elements boost functionality but won’t overshadow your style.
Pergolas, shade sails, and retractable umbrellas not only protect from the sun – they can be statement pieces in their own right. For fabrics, pick materials and colors that coordinate with your overall palette. If you add a vertical garden, consider planting it with night-blooming jasmine, wisteria, or honeysuckle to add both lushness and fragrance.
Be sneaky! Disguise storage by topping deck boxes with comfy cushions for seating. Buy furniture like ottomans that open or coffee tables with hidden compartments. And remember that even plant stands can cleverly conceal hoses and garden tools.
Consider Sustainability
One of the best aspects of these design upgrade recommendations is that they can be implemented sustainably. Plant your vertical garden with native or drought-tolerant species so they require less water. And go with energy-efficient pool filtration to reduce electricity usage and extend the life of your pool water.
Adding solar-powered lighting, using reclaimed wood for decking, and cooling the area with shade solutions rather than fans or misters also boosts sustainability. Make your summer deck space not only stylish and comfortable but also more in step with modern, conscious living.
Final Thoughts
Embrace these as a springboard for pursuing your own summer deck dreams, and meld them with cool ideas of your own. Whatever your dream deck vision, let summer be your inspiration for elevating your slice of outdoor heaven.
Patio with Fireplace
