83 Stunning Deck Decorating Ideas To Elevate Your Backyard (2024)

You built a deck and have a backyard ready for hanging out and entertaining. Now what? You need to decorate it. These are the finishing touches that will turn a plain deck into a beautiful outdoor living space.

Consider deck decorating ideas that will create a space that you want to be in. Take a similar approach that you would when decorating the inside of your home. Add lighting features, arrange furniture, and place finishing decorative pieces around your deck.

The ideas below should help get your imagination in full flow and give you some fantastic inspiration to decorate your boring deck.

1. Enhancing Your Backyard With Deck Decorating Ideas

Turn your backyard patio into an outdoor living space. Start by upgrading your outdoor patio into a raised deck. You can easily build a raised deck over your concrete patio. Choose a kit or design it yourself out of durable hardwood.

Now that you have the base add the finishing touches with a fire pit and decor. A traditional fire pit will add plenty of heat. However, a modern look can be achieved with a table with a fire feature in the middle of it. Arrange your patio furniture around it and create an outdoor lounge area. Don’t forget to add a covering that will protect you from the sun and rain.

2. Creating a Cozy Ambiance

Just because you’re outside doesn’t mean you can’t create a cozy outdoor living space. Use the same elements and ideas that you would inside to make your backyard feel cozy. Divide the backyard into smaller usable spaces.

In the smaller area, you can create an outdoor living room. Lay down an outdoor rug and place a coffee table in the middle. Arrange outdoor furniture around the table for plenty of seating. Place throw pillows on the furniture. Hang string lights overhead for a soft glow. All of these ideas will help make the space more inviting and cozy.

3. Designing a Spacious and Stylish Deck

Larger backyards give you more space for creating larger designs. This is your chance to build an outdoor dining area. Place a long dining table on your deck with chairs or benches down each side. Cover the patio with a pergola or sail shades.

Add potted plants around the patio. Choose ones that flower to add natural color. Or you could have ones that vine to grow up and over your pergola for a canopy of flowers. Combine deck design ideas to create a custom feel that reflects your style and taste.

See Also

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4. Beautiful Patio Extensions

Decorate your patio with items that are durable enough to leave outside. Citronella candles will create a wonderful smell and help to keep the bugs away. Add them to your patio design for a romantic feel that’s also functional.

Nautical lanterns are perfect for a coastal home to add decor and light. A hanging chair will give your deck a bohemian or whimsical feel. A sofa made from pallets with a cushion on top will create a rustic look for your patio.

5. Poolside Paradise

A pool in your backyard gives you the perfect centerpiece for your backyard deck. Build your deck out from around your pool. Make it large enough to have plenty of furniture on it. Place loungers around the pool and colorful pillows on them to give your backyard an outdoor oasis feel.

Choose a decking material that’s durable and safe for use in high-moisture areas. Hardwood is a good choice because it’s better suited than softwood. Another good option is composite decking. It’s durable, affordable, nonporous, and anti-slip.

6. Porch Perfection

Everyone focuses on their backyard, but don’t forget about your front porch. You can use these deck designs there too. Install a wraparound outdoor deck that lets you walk all the way around your home.

Turn your front or back porch into an outdoor living room. This gives you additional space to enjoy and entertain your guests. When the weather is nice, you can lay out on a chaise lounge, relax on a sofa, or nap in a hammock.

7. Embracing Rustic Charm

You’re already outside, so embrace the feeling of nature and create a rustic look for your deck decor. Embrace the idea of using greenery and create a garden on your deck. This is one of the more popular DIY projects because it’s possible to achieve by anyone.

Add other rustic touches by repurposing items or looking for salvaged pieces. Find new ways to use vintage items. Turn an old stroller, bathtub, water trough, or toilet into a planter. Create a bench out of salvaged wood.

8. Small Deck, Big Impact

Just because you have a small backyard or deck doesn’t mean you can’t do a lot with it. Small deck decorating ideas focus on making the most of the space. Scale the size of the furniture to the small patio space. Instead of using a large sofa, stick with small accent chairs or even cafe chairs.

Do away with having a large fire pit and get yourself a standing heater to warm the space. Skip the pergola and mount a sail shade or two. String lights could be too bright, so use fairy lights instead. Look for small patio decorating ideas that serve multiple purposes to have more functionality.

9. The Beauty of Wood

Wood is a beautiful and classic look that will last for years when properly cared for. You can start with a floating deck as the base for your outdoor space. Then build a pergola overhead to block harsh sunlight. It also provides a convenient frame for hanging lights and planters full of blooms.

Choose the right wood when building anything out of wood designed to stay outdoors. Once installed, regularly care for your deck. This helps it to last as long as possible. Thoroughly clean it once a year to remove mold, mildew, and bacteria. Lightly sand when dry and apply a sealant.

10. Outdoor Deck Oasis

When you build your wooden deck, consider adding different levels. This gives you more outdoor living space. Then you can try more than one deck idea in your backyard. Have one area that’s the same level as your home with a few steps leading down to another usable area.

Consider the shape and topography of your backyard. Then design your deck and decor to complement that. You can use beautiful vining plants with colorful flowers to create a natural wall for privacy. Or hang string lights overhead from a sturdy centralized pole.