The Outdoor Room You May Be Missing Out On
If you have unused standing room under your deck, there’s plenty you can do to make this space work better for you
Becky Harris
August 4, 2018
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
Ew, that space under the deck — it’s often a dark and mysterious place that we imagine is full of creepy-crawly creatures. But if there’s standing room under your deck, this space may be a missed opportunity. Spruce it up and you may have usable space for storage, potting and other garden puttering. You may even find a spot to catch some much-needed shade in a hammock. Here are some tips for taking advantage of the space underneath your deck.
Protection Overhead
You’ll want to use an underdeck ceiling system to protect it from moisture and to direct any water away from your foundation. The product on the ceiling shown here is Aquadrain Under Deck, which is made of aluminum but comes in finishes that look like wood and has a gutter system to prevent water from damaging your foundation. An investment in underdecking will make the space much more pleasant and usable.
You’ll want to use an underdeck ceiling system to protect it from moisture and to direct any water away from your foundation. The product on the ceiling shown here is Aquadrain Under Deck, which is made of aluminum but comes in finishes that look like wood and has a gutter system to prevent water from damaging your foundation. An investment in underdecking will make the space much more pleasant and usable.
Ground Cover
The ground in these afterthought spaces may start out covered in muck or haphazardly-placed pavers. You’re going to have to do better than that to make your underdeck space something to enjoy — or at least walk through without dread. We’ll go through a few options.
Pea gravel. Pea gravel is one of the easier DIY materials to install on the ground underneath your deck. Here pea gravel from a backyard path continues under the deck, lined in brick.
Learn more about using gravel and stone in your landscape
The ground in these afterthought spaces may start out covered in muck or haphazardly-placed pavers. You’re going to have to do better than that to make your underdeck space something to enjoy — or at least walk through without dread. We’ll go through a few options.
Pea gravel. Pea gravel is one of the easier DIY materials to install on the ground underneath your deck. Here pea gravel from a backyard path continues under the deck, lined in brick.
Learn more about using gravel and stone in your landscape
Concrete. Here, stamped concrete on the patio and driveway continues under the decks, creating a pleasant entry to the lower level and carport.
Here, concrete extending from an adjacent pool area makes this underdeck space a shady lounge.
Decking. If you want to use wood or another decking material for the floor, you’ll need to build a low-to-the-ground deck with structural support. This is a bigger investment, but the result is a nicely finished floor that expands your outdoor living area and ties it in with your main deck above.
With wood decking, this underdeck space is an inviting sunken outdoor room.
Decking Materials Beyond Basic Lumber
Decking Materials Beyond Basic Lumber
Lighting
If your underdeck space is dark, you’ll want to be able to flick on a switch and light it up before you enter. These lights are lovely, but if you’re looking for less-expensive illumination, hang outdoor string lights underneath the decking.
How to Hang String Lights Outdoors
If your underdeck space is dark, you’ll want to be able to flick on a switch and light it up before you enter. These lights are lovely, but if you’re looking for less-expensive illumination, hang outdoor string lights underneath the decking.
How to Hang String Lights Outdoors
What to Create With Your Space Under the Deck
At this point you may be thinking, “Why bother?” What follows are some ideas that may inspire you to spruce up the space underneath the deck.
An outdoor shower. Outdoor showers are especially popular in beach and lake houses, as well as in yards that have pools. If it’s one of your favorite things about a beach rental, you may want to bring it home. And the space under your deck can provide privacy.
How to Add an Outdoor Shower
At this point you may be thinking, “Why bother?” What follows are some ideas that may inspire you to spruce up the space underneath the deck.
An outdoor shower. Outdoor showers are especially popular in beach and lake houses, as well as in yards that have pools. If it’s one of your favorite things about a beach rental, you may want to bring it home. And the space under your deck can provide privacy.
How to Add an Outdoor Shower
Play area. If yard space is tight, consider creating an extra play space for your kids under the deck. Install a covered sandbox, toy storage and perhaps a swing like the one in this photo.
Carport. New storm surge regulations require many new homes in affected zones to be built up from the ground, above potential flood waters. The space beneath is often a story high, and the ground level cannot be used for livable space or for storing mechanical equipment. This makes turning the ground-level area into a carport a good option. Use an underdeck ceiling system and make sure your supporting post placement allows enough room to park your cars between them.
Read about this storm-resilient home’s design
Read about this storm-resilient home’s design
Potting station. The deck is a good spot to tuck away your gardening tools, pots, supplies for harvesting seeds, soil and mulch — and it gives you a place to putter with them.
It’s also a good spot for covered yard waste containers and composting bins (open bins and piles for such things should be placed farther away from the house, as they don’t exactly emit sweet scents of summer).
You can also add portable sheds for protected tool storage.
It’s also a good spot for covered yard waste containers and composting bins (open bins and piles for such things should be placed farther away from the house, as they don’t exactly emit sweet scents of summer).
You can also add portable sheds for protected tool storage.
Porch swing. On a hot sunny day, a shaded spot under the deck can be just right for a porch swing. Just make sure it is installed in a way that is structurally sound.
See how one Houzz reader turned thrifted items into a swinging daybed
See how one Houzz reader turned thrifted items into a swinging daybed
Hammock. The shady area underneath a deck is also a good spot for a hammock. String it up between structural posts like you would between two trees.
How to Find the Right Hammock | Browse hammocks and swing chairs
How to Find the Right Hammock | Browse hammocks and swing chairs
Outdoor kitchen. The protection provided by a deck can be a great spot for patio-side grilling and prep, as long as your space has plenty of ventilation. Stick with a gas grill underneath a deck for safety, and never leave it unattended. And only grills designed for outdoor kitchen surrounds should be used within an outdoor kitchen surround. Alternatively, you can set up a prep and serving area under the deck and keep the grill farther out in the yard.
A spa. Once you’ve got your deck in good shape it will be a good tucked-away spot for a hot tub.
Tell us: Have you found a good way to use the space under your deck? Please share with us in the Comments — and please include photos if you have them.
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What to Know About Adding a Deck
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What to Know About Adding a Deck
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Stylish, sophisticated living spaces only happen by design. Mary Shipley-Smith has over 20 years of residential... Read More
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I have a very small second floor deck, and the covered space is right off the front porch. I floored it with salvaged brick, and it's a shady spot for house plants on summer vacation. Planted tall hydrangeas on the far side- in a couple of year they will ave grown tall enough to provide an enclosed room feeling.
My deck is fairly small and is shading my downstairs slider, so I can't really use the space underneath it. BUT, I've definitely employed its supporting columns to create a seating area. These sofas are new this summer and so far I'm really enjoying them! I used to have four very modern chairs, and this is so much more practical. Even better-looking since it defines the space so well. You can also see my goofy pups staring indignantly from inside the house. ;)
I am contemplating turning my car port into a summer patio as the main patio is lovely but not until late afternoon. I need to pop in a couple of skylights and go from there. I think it will look great as the carport is connected to the house. Now, if I only had time to sit there! Great for guests and grandkids.