plants in large flowerpots

Do you use it as a gathering spot? As suggested large flowerpots but what is in them will depend or where you are located.

More pics from further back so we can see the whole house & yard will be helpful.

What BPMBA said.

Is this new-to- you house? So much depends on how the deck “ overlooks “ the street, neighborhood, as to how the “ feels” ( “ feel” can be altered/ improved, but need to first understand what seems needed); what is orientation to sun-as to whether it’s usable at various times of day as-is or requires sun- blocking. You could try putting a couple of folding chairs & mall table out there & see how you currently feel about having a cup of coffee , listening for birds, whatever. Sometimes assess whether it’s worth investing in specific furniture, sun shades, even the plant containers ( which need to be reasonably large, be on good heavy- duty rolling trivets —meaning, there is $$ involved). Also, do you have a “ backyard “ outdoor area you prefer and would rather fix up first? Or interior spaces.

You absolutely can still have a seating area here. Also depending on direction it faces you could do raised garden beds for veggies. It could be quite beautiful

Thanks everyone. It is a new house for us, less than a year. We live on an island in the PNW and the back has two decks; one that is very narrow ( room for just a couple of chairs) on entry level and a larger one on the lower level. The lower level has room for some furniture but the front deck is the largest. Our driveway is secluded so it just overlooks our yard.

Some additional pictures of the back deck and another angle of the front

Beautiful. What direction does front face?

Both large terraces deserve good decoration - with sofas, armchairs, tables, large plants. On the front, largest terrace, I would not place any furniture in the part that is visible from the road. But in front of the railing, before the start of the terrace, on a gravel area, I would place one very large plant/tree - for unobtrusive zoning. And maybe hung a few containers of flowers/greenery on the railing.

And group all the furniture on the large terrace near the wall, under the plumb of the roof. The water, visible through the glass doors, is an excellent vantage point.

Here it is, very schematically))

And in my opinion, nothing is needed between the garage doors (it’s worth removing that pot)).

The front terrace faces west and is not viable from the road. We have a very steep driveway with a solid, roadside fence.

visible

Techch, thanks for those ideas! I have a lot of outdoor furniture (sectional, couches, etc from our past house to use. It just seems so odd to put seating on the front deck.

These are the couches and sectional

Decks can be great places to grow fruit and veggies without wildlife enjoying the fruits of your labor.

If no one is going to sit out front, then I wouldn't put any furniture there. Why create extra maintenance & cleaning work for yourself.

I would do a couple of large pots/planters and maybe a bench, in case someone needs to sit down.

Erin, I don’t find it strange that everything can be done beautifully and conveniently). Moreover, if you say that the terrace is quite well hidden from prying eyes. But I would have placed the plant, as I drew in the photo, anyway..

My idea of outdoor furnishings is that they ought to work for YOU and not just be another thing to maintain-because it all take upkeep.

So, it’s not weird to have furniture on a “ front” deck, particularly one that is woodsy/ natural like yours. OTOH, you’ve got those marvelous long views out back. So just start by focusing on where you do what, and whether any existing furniture works best where. The pieces you own vs the spaces, orientation, doors/ pathways. And what interior spaces are connected, insofar as it is ideal if the outside Connor at least blends either your interior aesthetic (I like that idea but don’t take it TOO seriously because of cost: benefit, what types of outdoor products and materials are needed for climate & budget, comfort ).

chispa , in my opinion, it’s good to be able to sit comfortably on different terraces - at different times of the day, each of them has its own advantages and charm)

It’s nice to have a chat area at more than one area when you have the option! I sit on front side during afternoon (north) and backyard in morning and evening (south). Even just a couple comfy chairs and small table.

Hi Erin, congratulations on your new home, it it’s gorgeous! Is that the ocean I see through the front doors? Maybe a lake? It is drawing my eye right through, but kinda gettin stuck at the red doors. Have you considered painting the doors to soften the look and help your eyes go to the view out back? if you paint the doors the same color as the transom window above them, it will soften it up and blend into the house. You should definitely decorate the deck just as you would if it was inside…it’s a large space…a large LIVING space. In the corner to the left of the front doors, I’d put in a curved couch, keep it away from the walls though…you have that electric plug on the wall that you can’t cover. In the corner, behind the curved part of the couck, you can set a pretty tree in a large planter. in the winter, put some twinkle Christmas tree lights. A round coffee table would be great to have there to rest your coffee mug or even put your feet on🙂 Double happiness if you can find a ”fire table”… self contained with room for a small propane tank for fuel. Further on the left under the roof overhang, I think a couple adirondack chairs would look great and tie in to your house design. There’s a new design of chairs that has a leg and footrest that is on sliding track that slides under the seat when not in use. its a wood composite chair, so it will last. A side table between the chairs will provide space for drinks and a pretty citronella plant or mint plant to repel mosquitoes at dusk. Set the chairs to the best view, but never put a chair with it’s back facing you—-its like it is pushing you away. On the right side along the wall under the roof overhang, a bar height table with a shelf or two underneath for plants. Not too deep though, maybe 18”, so you don’t block the flow to the door. If you find two barstools or other sized stools that fit the table height, that would give you extra seating. You could also pull it away from the wall and put more stools around it and use it as a dining table when you need it. On the far left side up againt the deck railing, a long bench with a cushion would come in handy for seating when you have lots of guests. When not in use, you could always put some lovely potted plants on it. The wreath next to the front door is cute, but you might want to hang it under the small double window just below the roof line to the left opposing wall from the front door. Good luck and post photos when you have finished!😃

These are all amazing ideas! I will post this week so you can see the result! Sue, it is the Strait of Georgia. The San Juan Islands sit to the east of Vancouver Island, BC. That said we do get to see the occasional orca pod off the back decks.