Deck Landscaping Ideas

Rely on a deck to maximize the outdoor living area of your landscape.

By Kelly Roberson

view all thumbnails

Curtain Call

Outdoor Delights

Well-Done Deck

Mixed Materials

Give Me Shelter

Modern Maxim

Soft Ceiling

Top to Bottom

Under the Shelter of a Tree

Space for Friends

Related Links

13 Tips to Make Your Deck More Private

Turn your deck into a private, relaxing retreat wi...

Fresh-Air Rooms

In warm-weather months you don't want to be confin...

Before and After Deck Makeovers

Add new life to a ho-hum deck with these fun makeo...

Shade and Privacy: The Ultimate Guide

Create a perfect outdoor spot by incorporating sha...

Your Comment:

Curtain Call

Dressed up with details, a deck's design offers minimalist style.

A simple tieback draws drapes out of the way; if needed, they can be released to enclose the deck.
Using the same paint color from house to deck and stairs unifies the structures.
Containers, wall art, and fabrics add brilliant pops of color.
A mid-height wall provides a place to grow taller-growing plants.
Suspended from the pergola overhead, a series of geometric candleholders adds a sculptural element to the deck.

Outdoor Delights

Foliage and a nature-inspired color scheme add charm to this deck.

Upright materials, such as lattice, offer a good place to suspend window boxes or hanging baskets.
Instead of building an overhead structure, put outdoor fabric to use by creating a simple canopy for sun protection.
Decorative elements adorn a back wall, creating a focal point.
Vertical lengths of lattice stand-in for a more obtrusive fence.
Turned at an angle, flooring supplies a visual counterpoint to the deck's otherwise straightforward geometry.

Well-Done Deck

A small circular space connected to a house supplies a perfect spot to read and rest.

A wood floor offers textural and color contrasts with the stone base.
Railings may not be necessary for decks located a few feet above grade.
Decorative metal lanterns repeat the gentle curve of the deck space.
Since this deck has no railing, a series of containers planted with vigorous blooms and foliage provides a less formal edge to the space.
Tall grasses (planted in containers) screen the view and complement the color of the wood floor.

Mixed Materials

A unique railing embellishes an otherwise ordinary wood deck.

Tucked between support beams, a powder-gray railing adds a minimalist accent to this elevated deck.
Beaded board turned vertically shields the space under the deck from view and critters.
Plenty of no-fuss, budget-friendly options exist for adding shade, including draping outdoor fabric.
Suspended off the metal railing, an orange shelf adds a pop of color and a display spot for an artful container.
Lights in the same shade of gray as the railing add subtle illumination for safe ascent of the stairs.

Give Me Shelter

Plants and an overhead structure enclose a deck.

Include a few hooks on support beams for hanging baskets.
A roof over the couch offers a bit of shelter for a section of the deck.
A chevron-pattern "wall" creates enclosure and protects the deck from neighboring views.
The deck's safety rail -- with wood pieces placed at a slant -- draws design inspiration from the patterned wall.
Lifting containers up on wire supports also eliminates the need to protect the deck's floor from water damage.

Modern Maxim

A stylish deck proves that less really is more.

Sections of a deck can provide varying amounts of privacy, depending on your deck's use and view from the yard. Here, slatted wood sections offer semi-seclusion to the back section.
While the view of the yard from the deck is important, the view of the deck from inside the house matters, too. Large sliding doors offer an alluring picture of a sleek fireplace.
Slim materials on the deck's "ceiling" deftly manage the transition from house to open yard.
Maximize the connection between inside and out by placing the deck at the same grade as the house.
Outdoor lights indicate the shift from the deck to a small paved patio.

Soft Ceiling

Contemporary furniture creates modern style in this unpretentious space.

Utilize outdoor fabric in a variety of ways. Here, for instance, wide lengths offer a soft screen from the overhead sun.
Vertical metal railings supply subtle contrast to the mostly wood deck.
Furniture placement can create "rooms" on a deck, such as the eating and relaxing areas here.
Consider planting containers with tall ornamental grasses; they're easy-care and provide screening, too.
The colors and style of the low-slung furniture and a rug in the seating area offer relaxed comfort and outdoor durability.

Learn about some of our favorite ornamental grasses.

Top to Bottom

Curves meander from one level to the next in this urban space.

A deck can be made up of a series of interconnected areas; this one has four spaces leading from the home's second story to ground level.
Deck height is a good way to conquer the confines of a narrow, urban space.
In such a slim spot, use curves to break up the rigid geometry.
To connect upper deck spaces with lower ones, a section of lattice leads from the top dining area to the lower relaxing space.
Lattice -- planted with a vine -- on top of a mid-height brick wall defines the deck and screens it from view.

Under the Shelter of a Tree

Detailing takes this deck from ordinary to extraordinary.

Horizontal detailing on the screened section of the home's exterior spaces repeats in the multiple-level deck detailing.
While smaller than some, this deck space has lots of visual interest, with several levels for a variety of experiences.
If a deck is built around a tree, leave enough free space to allow room for the tree's growth.
The upper level offers room for a collection of pretty containers.
The deck's design details offer inspiration for extras in the yard, such as the mid-height wall that helps screen the space from view.

Space for Friends

A deck offers impromptu spaces for gatherings.

Before you include a freestanding fire pit on a deck, make sure that you've chosen one that offers fire protection for the structure, such as a metal base and cover.
Dress up simple deck structures with the addition of built-in planting boxes.
Freestanding containers placed at corners and on stairs help to define deck borders for increased intimacy.
In a pinch, wide stairs from the deck can provide additional seating.
Since this deck isn't attached to a house or other structure, trees and shrubs provide additional privacy.

Deck Landscaping Ideas

Top Brands

Top Searches