A back deck is the perfect spot to spend your summers, whether it’s lazily hanging out with friends, showing off your cooking skills in a barbecue, or just watching a beautiful sunset each night. And no matter what your budget is when it comes to decks, the following 10 have plenty to draw inspiration from. Just make sure you tear yourself away from the pictures long enough to actually put the deck in so you can enjoy it for yourself.
1. Rustic Simplicity
This deck is a perfect example of the saying “less is more”, where all you have to do is capitalize on the natural beauty of the outdoors. The rawness of the wood has been maintained to give it a rustic aesthetic, but the devil is in the details: it’s nestled in between trees and positioned to facing west so you can watch the setting sun, and the spacing and size of the furniture is exact without feeling crowded or overwhelming. This is definitely a DIY project you can complete in a few weeks with a couple extra hands, and just make sure to add mulch at the deck’s edge to complete the au naturel look.
2. Elevated Hideaway
Again, there’s nothing terribly fancy here, just a deck that’s been modified to take its simplicity to the next, elegant level. Instead of integrating stairs that lead down to the lawn from the center (as most decks usually do), keep the edge surrounded by a lovely hand-carved wood railing. Your height above the lawn will give you a sense of privacy, and give you that much better of a view when the sun sets each night. Plus, the simplicity of the wood lets you get more sophisticated with the furniture while still keeping an aesthetic balance.
3. Open Concept Oasis
Buck the trend of deck builders everywhere and forgo any sort of fencing or railing on your deck. Robert Frost may have said “good fences make good neighbors”, but we’re positive he’d take his words back as soon as he saw the beauty of this deck. Its minimalist design is anything but simple, as the combination of a beam-style roof and elegant furniture will make your deck the star attraction of the neighborhood. As a bonus, the open concept design of this deck gives you a fantastic, unadulterated view no matter where you’re sitting.
4. Tropical Elegance
It takes a daring soul to take everything they know about decks and throw it out the window, as this deck truly forges its own design path. You won’t be using wood at all, but rather experimenting with different materials: stone for the floor, wrought iron for the railings, and anything else that springs to mind. Just add in some strategically-placed plants, and you’re ready to make this deck your new living space.
5. Swimming Pool Add-On
If you’ve got a swimming pool in your backyard, this deck is the perfect addition to it. Blur the boundaries between wet and dry land as you seamlessly incorporate your deck right to the edge of your pool, giving your backyard the stunning elegance found only in the world’s most exclusive hotels. And with the covered sections, this deck is perfect for all weather, no matter if the sun or rain has decided to visit you.
6. Gazebo Getaway
Whatever rule book that says decks have to sit attached to your house, throw it away immediately. This deck has a ship-like aesthetic to it that seamlessly blends into nature, lending a bucolic feeling every sunset that’s only magnified by the gazebo at the end. Go for a solid wood construction for the minimalist gazebo or entertain the idea of a thatched roof, and get ready to have this deck be your new favorite spot on your property.
7. Cute Cottage Look
Why save your cottage for sporadic trips during the summer when you can enjoy that look anytime you want? This deck combines eclectic furniture with an abundance of flora to create a whimsical, easygoing look that’ll never get you stressed out. Head out there with a book to watch the sun go down or enjoy your morning coffee in the quiet of early day, and feel like you’re always away on vacation as soon as you step out the door.
8. One with the Trees
If you’ve got mature trees growing right where you want your deck to go, why fight it? Instead of taking on the extra task of cutting them down or building smaller than yo wanted, just incorporate the trees into the design of your deck and instantly feel like you’re in the middle of an enchanted forest. On hot summer days, the canopy of the trees will act as a natural air conditioner, while their leafiness freshens the air so you’re always inhaling the best oxygen possible. People would pay many times more to replicate the look you can achieve naturally.
9. Ultra Modern Experimentation
Don’t be like everyone else on the block, and channel your inner Frank Lloyd Wright with this deck. Its asymmetrical shapes, flowing lines, and open concept with the outdoors will immediately make you feel calm and relaxed. The beauty of this design is its openness allows you to place it in any direction (north, south, east or west), and still get a fantastic view of the glorious sun in the sky.
10. Plug in and Play
After you’ve spent countless hours laboring over the design and effort of putting in the perfect deck, you want to be able to enjoy no matter what weather decides to drop by unannounced. This deck design doubles as an extension of your house interior, blending overhead lights with a cottage-y feel. Enjoy either a cup of coffee or bottle of wine out there, and use the carefully-hidden tech hotspots to play your favorite music and adjust the lighting to just how you like it.