Landscape Design
Trending Now: Step Outside With These 20 Decks
Get inspired for your own project or just take in the view of these recently uploaded spaces getting the love of the Houzz community
With a deck, the flow of living doesn’t have to be interrupted when you reach the door. The transition outside can be seamless, and the party never has to pause. These recent most popular decks on Houzz, which include platform, raised and cantilevered outdoor structures, reveal just that.
2. Step off the kitchen in this historic home in Wenatchee, Washington, onto an expansive Trex deck designed for casual outdoor dining and entertaining. Two 8-foot-long farm tables and a 4-foot insert built by the homeowner’s brother anchor the space and invite friends and family to gather.
Exterior paint: Brilliant White, Benjamin Moore
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Exterior paint: Brilliant White, Benjamin Moore
See more of this rustic farmhouse
3. Large potted trees and shrubs envelop this outdoor deck in New York City, contributing to a chic urban-jungle effect. Weathered, unfinished ipe decking and rattan chairs add to the relaxed East Coast beach vibe.
Dining table and chairs: Restoration Hardware
Dining table and chairs: Restoration Hardware
4. A compact deck in Melbourne, Australia, didn’t deter this industrious homeowner from growing herbs and veggies at home. A metal planter with a tiered structure and terra-cotta pots feature rosemary and other leafy greens. Peppers grow in a pot in front.
5. Plants peek from every nook and cranny of this urban deck in San Francisco’s Mission District. Garden designer and author Baylor Chapman uses everything from window shutters to vintage metal drum barrels as planters, and the succulents and other resilient plants she has incorporated into her garden seem to love it.
Shutters: Building Resources; white metal container: Alameda Point Antiques Faire
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Shutters: Building Resources; white metal container: Alameda Point Antiques Faire
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6. Sometimes it’s just about getting out of the way of the view, as this sprawling deck in South Carolina shows. Pull up a chair, sit back and take it all in.
Furniture: Laurel collection, Home Decorators Collection
Furniture: Laurel collection, Home Decorators Collection
7. Another backyard in San Francisco takes advantage of the city’s famous topography. This view from the living room reveals how much terracing can benefit a sloped lot. A mixture of paving types and outdoor living spaces, ending with the deck on the lowest level, creates visual diversity. The deck sits on the same level as the living room, flowing beautifully into the wood-floored interior.
8. When detached from the house, a platform deck can serve as a backyard destination. This Trex structure includes an extensive pergola to complement the decking.
9. This rooftop deck in Chicago transitions easily from day to night, with lights, high bar tables and a TV providing opportunity for constant entertaining. High wood walls shelter the deck and potted plants from any swirling winds.
10. At the Kips Bay show house in New York City, this deck for outdoor dining offers luxe amenities you might find in an indoor counterpart. An eight-seat table made of teak and cast zinc, from Henry Hall Designs, is the showcase. The design team incorporated more of a garden feel with extensive container plantings, including a chandelier made with air plants.
Outdoor rug: Dash & Albert
See more of this New York decorator showhouse
Outdoor rug: Dash & Albert
See more of this New York decorator showhouse
11. Retreat to this resort-inspired balcony in Southern California. Lush potted plants, striped outdoor cushions and plush, oversized outdoor furniture round out the look. An extensive roof protects guests from the elements.
12. A sliding window and wall-mounted shelf make for a convenient kitchen pass-through on this Sydney deck. A matte black wall adds a modern background while also softening the garden’s borders — a reclaimed-wood topper ties in with the wood-framed window.
13. Cascading decks surrounding this South Lakeland, England, home appear to float over the minimalist reflecting pool. This modern take on a moat and bridge adds beauty and function.
14. Lines converge in the corner of this courtyard deck in London, including in the decking, horizontal slat fencing, olive trees and potted hedges. What could have been an awkwardly shaped and unused corner now serves as a cozy nook.
15. One structure on this deck provides multiple solutions. By incorporating a built-in bench, the designers added more seating as well as a guardrail and plant stand.
16. Sometimes it’s hard to know how to handle a deck’s corner. This hanging chair creates an inviting and attractive outdoor vignette out of what would have been an unused space.
17. Wall-mounted shelves mean no space goes to waste on this urban deck. Perimeter plantings soften the exposed brick wall, surrounding the outdoor lounge furniture in soft green foliage.
18. If the deck is simple, you can go for standout furnishings — as this Trex deck shows.
19. Who wouldn’t want to pull up a seat in this outdoor lounge? A cozy sectional sofa, corner fireplace and wall-mount TV mean this space can be the center of the party, even as the summer nights wane.
20. Retractable roofs might come up more often in talking about professional sports teams, but this deck in New York’s Tribeca neighborhood can be closed off to the elements with its own sliding roof.
On a sunny day, the homeowners step outside onto bluestone pavers and river rock to enjoy a picturesque view of the Hudson River.
Chairs and triangular table: Leaf collection, Arper; retractable roof: Rollamatic Roofs
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What to Know About Adding a Deck
Decking Materials Beyond Basic Lumber
On a sunny day, the homeowners step outside onto bluestone pavers and river rock to enjoy a picturesque view of the Hudson River.
Chairs and triangular table: Leaf collection, Arper; retractable roof: Rollamatic Roofs
See more of this loft
More
What to Know About Adding a Deck
Decking Materials Beyond Basic Lumber
A custom retractable shade keeps the space covered or exposed, depending on the time of day, and doesn’t clutter the floor with an umbrella pole. The homeowners’ French bulldog, Hugo, seems to enjoy it.
Awning: PJ’s Canvas; coffee tables: Restoration Hardware; sofa and chairs: Terra Patio; console table: Crate & Barrel
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