5 Fresh Ways to Deck Out Your Yard for Indoor-Outdoor Living

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Open your back doors and consider the possibilities. An au courant style statement that embraces your aesthetic. An alfresco cooking space perfectly tailored to your tastes. A well-lit dining area for evenings under the stars. Your backyard can be more than an occasionally used overflow space; with smart planning and new products, your deck can welcome you home as much as your interiors do. It can be a place of fun and solace away from the rest of the world. Read on for fresh ways to extend your indoor life out onto your deck.

Deckorators

1. Mirror On-Trend Interiors

Bring the latest indoor looks outdoors with of-the-moment materials and finishes. Try crisp matte white railings, as seen here, for modern-farmhouse and casual transitional styles. Stainless railings and finishes give a sleeker, more contemporary look. “Then bring in some texture with furniture and planters to create more depth,” says Sean Collinsgru, a deck professional who owns Premier Outdoor Living in Palmyra, New Jersey. Wicker furniture is trending both indoors and out.

Underfoot, “match or complement your home’s interior flooring, so you carry the feel of the home as you walk outside,” he says. Warm brown wood-effect decking harmonizes well with wood floors for a slightly rustic look or ‘new traditional’ style. Choose a two-tone gray option if you’re craving a modern aesthetic. Try herringbone patterns or planks of varying sizes for extra visual interest.

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Deck design by All Decked Out

2. Get Creative With Specialized Spaces

Elevate outdoor rooms by shaping them to suit your hobbies and pastimes. “Think about how you’re going to use the space and what you love to do,” Collinsgru says. “Then create different rooms that feel connected, instead of one big open space.”

Love wine tasting? Carve out a space that looks out over a Provençal-like view of rolling hills and meadows, such as seen here, or plant lavender nearby. Install an outdoor wine cooler and add French-inspired seating where you can sip vintages outdoors. An avid pizza maker? “Outdoor pizza ovens are a big thing lately,” Collinsgru says. Install your own oven for crisp pies on demand, and add a counter that’s ideal for rolling out dough and space to grow tomatoes and basil. Buon appetito!

Deckorators

Deck design by Premier Outdoor Living

3. Add Innovative Easy-Care Materials

Spend time enjoying your outdoor spaces — not taking care of them. “I always start with low-maintenance decking materials,” Collinsgru says. He recommends a forward-thinking composite deck board that’s lightweight with good surface traction, as seen here. “That’s what we always look to, since it won’t absorb moisture, swell or contract, or get mildewy like wood,” he says. Opt for slim tongue-and-groove composite boards for easy-care porch flooring.

For railings, choose powder-coated aluminum or stainless steel in timeless black or white; these finishes are no-fuss and won’t fade or crack. Furnishings with new performance fabrics allow for an interior-inspired look that can handle the elements. And make a unique statement with fun focal points, such as composite-board display shelves or privacy walls.

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4. Extend Views With ‘Disappearing’ Railings

Want sightlines to flow smoothly over the landscape, further blurring indoors and out? “If maximizing the view is a goal, use cable railing,” Collinsgru says. “It disappears when you’re looking through it.” Contemporary cable railings are available with many cable length options to suit your space.

Alternatively, put in railings with glass panels. “They’ve come a long way with coatings on the glass; they’re now easier to clean, and new options repel fingerprints and grime,” Collinsgru says. Tie in railings to the landscape with wood posts for a more rustic feel, or go with stainless steel for a minimalist look. And, if possible, install large glass doors between your deck and indoor spaces so they merge easily.

Deckorators

5. Design for Morning Till Night

There’s no reason to head indoors when the sun sets, especially if you love having dinner under the stars. Long-running LED or solar lights save energy and let outdoor spaces shine. Collinsgru installs lighted stair treads in his decking projects. “They’re a great safety feature; it really helps to have that little bit of light on the steps,” he says. Add string lights overhead for a festive atmosphere and heaters for chilly nights.

Top your railings with post caps that have integrated lights for practicality and prettiness. “They put off a good amount of light to illuminate the space, but also create a soft circumference of light to provide a glow and set a really cool mood,” Collinsgru says. Dimmable lights let you either tone down or brighten the overall mood.

Landscape professionals are still working remotely during this time and can help you design your dream outdoor space. If you’re ready to break ground, check local regulations and discuss with your contractor steps for a safe, successful building project.

Share your style: What would your dream deck look like? Let us know in the Comments.

More: To learn more about the Deckorators products pictured in this story, visit the company’s Houzz profile.

This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.