Inspiring Design Ideas For Beautiful Backyard Deck Setups

An outdoor deck is a very engaging feature, one which invites and inspires people to spend more time outside. Nowadays having a backyard deck is basically standard so it’s not really a question of whether or not to build a deck but more of how to do it and what elements to include in its design. Today we’re hoping to give you an incentive to go out and find ways to make your own deck look more beautiful, more comfortable and more enjoyable by finding inspiration in the examples below.

First things first: if you want to build your own deck from start to finish that’s an entirely realistic goal, especially with all the great guides and tutorials that you can find online these days. Planning everything just right is important. Consider the defining characteristics of the topography, the role that your deck will fulfill once built and how you want it to interact with its immediate surroundings. This will help you customize everything according to your exact needs and the context.

A backyard deck can be designed to frame and to complement a swimming pool in which case it’s often furnished with lounge chairs and often a table or a set of small accent tables complemented by umbrellas. Keeping things clean and simple is sometimes a good option, especially when the deck is small and you want to give it an airy and spacious look. This is a poolside of a residence in New York designed by Bates Masi + Architects.

In the case of this house from California which has been renovated by The Brown Studio, Inc the wooden deck comes in the continuation of the indoor living areas being placed at the same level while the pool area is placed at a lower level. This distinction gives each section individuality and suggest different roles.

It’s important to have a clear idea of what the role of the backyard deck is in order to create a suitable layout and to find the right furnishings and accessories for it. This small backyard designed by SEED Studio was created for entertaining. It has a small curved deck with a seating area on it and a fire pit area below.

Consider complementing the backyard deck with something extra. For instance, there are a lot of cool pergola designs to choose from. This is a setup designed by studio Jaeger Kahlen Partner which could serve as inspiration. Of course, there’s also the option to build the pergola yourself.

The architecture of the house and the design of the outdoor deck often go hand in hand. A nice example is the house designed by MCK Architecture + Interiors which has a cantilevered volume that extends over the deck and partially over the swimming pool as well.

An interesting idea is to organize and delineate the backyard area using different floor levels. There could be a patio or terrace at the same level as the interior spaces, with a wooden deck placed slightly below it or partially juxtaposed just to get a feeling of cohesiveness. The inspiration could come from this project completed by NiHu Arquitectos.

Add some color to the backyard deck to make the setup a bit more exciting and eye-catching. This can be done in a variety of different ways. Most commonly color is introduced through furniture and accessories but another cool idea is to paint the deck itself. Take inspiration from the design of the Santos Dorado hotel in Spain created by studio Ilmio.Design.

Backyard decks are great for enjoying the sun and fresh air during the day but also for enjoying the cool breeze after the sunset. At night it’s up to the solar and artificial lights to create a pleasant ambiance. We find this urban house set up by architect Przemek Lisiecki to be very inspiring in this sense.

Just how different types of flooring can delineate different areas within an open plan indoor volume, a similar strategy can be used outdoors to create a distinction between the deck and its surroundings. This is the courtyard of a house designed by Kokai Studios.

The deck is also an element which reinforces the dialogue between a house and its immediate surroundings. That’s true even when the design is extremely simple, with no railings and nothing but a flat wooden platform with lots of potentials. This lovely cabin was designed by Devyni Architektai and is neatly framed by a minimalist deck on two adjacent sides.

You can add a lot of features to a deck, such as a jacuzzi, a fire pit or even a pool plus of course the usual: comfortable benches, a daybed or an outdoor dining area setup. This French chalet designed by Chevallier Architectes has a little bit of everything.

It’s not just houses and cabins that get to enjoy a strong connection with the outdoors. Urban homes like this penthouse apartment in Tel Aviv have their own day of staying connected to the outdoors. The penthouse and its lovely wooden terrace were designed by architect Gabrielle Toledano.

One strategy when designing a backyard deck is to focus on the view. That usually requires a low-profile design with no railings or railings made of transparent glass and a setup which allows the users to take in and admire the view while sitting down or enjoying other activities. This design by Blaze Makoid Architecture is a good example.

Here’s a rather unusual and at the same time very interesting idea regarding the backyard yard: an outdoor movie theater. It’s small and cozy and perfect for those lazy summer afternoons when you want to spend time with family or friends but you’re tired of sitting indoors. This was a project completed by studio Christopher Megowan Design.

Another inspiring option is to create a breezy vacation vibe out on the deck with the help of certain select pieces of furniture and by using certain types of materials and color schemed. That comes naturally when dealing with a beach house, like the one designed by studio Resolution: 4 Architecture.

There are also plenty more backyard decorating ideas that we could share with you. For instance, hang strings of fairy lights to create a pleasant and magical ambiance in your backyard at night. You can hang them from trees or add posts along the deck.

A traditional deck would have railings which are a good way of delineating the deck and creating a visual separation between it and the rest of the backyard spaces. They also play a safety role in the design, especially in the case of raised decks.

It’s always nice when the deck comes as a seamless continuation of the indoor spaces and also blends into the garden pathway. This fluidity creates cohesion throughout the property.