Before & After Deck Makeovers

Deck looking drab or dated? Browse this slideshow for inspiring sprucing-up ideas.

view all thumbnails

Deck with Privacy Walls

Small Deck with Colorful Accents

Video: Wood Deck Maintenance

Multilevel Deck Addition

Deck with Cottage Charm

Simple Yet Stunning Deck

Match Railings with House Trim

Inviting Outdoor Room

Deck with Pergola

Deck in Wooded Yard

Deck Makeover with Paint

Deck with Trellised Railings

Deck with Privacy Pergolas

Double-Decker Deck

Related Links

20 Ways to Upgrade Your Deck

Is your deck looking drained and dull? Give it a r...

24 Ideas to Steal for Your Apartment

Living in a small space is tough, especially when ...

Create a Fun and Budget-Friendly Outdoor Room

Whether building a new or updating an existing dec...

Deck Railings: The Ultimate Guide

Learn important terms for a safe and stylish deck ...

Your Comment:

Deck with Privacy Walls

Any old fence can give you privacy, but lattice walls dress it up and keep snoopy neighbors out of view. Add a handful of plants (such as these dramatic red-leaf castor beans) and you have yourself a retreat for reading the morning newspaper, enjoying a quick lunch, or entertaining friends for cocktails.

Deck with Privacy Walls

Small Deck with Colorful Accents

Even small spaces can be big on color. A series of container gardens with ornamental grasses, flowers, and shrubs add color and define space, instead of letting the deck blend into the wooded background. Some new furniture and a pair of outdoor rugs make the place pop.

Small Deck with Colorful Accents

Video: Wood Deck Maintenance

Watch how to clean and protect your deck.

Multilevel Deck Addition

The innovative fusion of a multilevel deck and a balcony redefines this Massachusetts home, adding architectural character to the back of the house. The ground-level deck hides the foundation and offers bonus dining space. A few steps away, elegant pillars extend from a raised deck to support an upper-level bedroom balcony. The double-decker combination creates a sheltered area below that's ideal for enjoying the outdoors even in rainy weather; the upper balcony serves up a private retreat off of the master suite.

Multilevel Deck Addition

Deck with Cottage Charm

A dated overhang once shut out sunlight from this home. Its removal made way for an open deck, letting homeowners enjoy uninterrupted morning sunlight. Stairs lead from the deck to a patio, accessed by another set of French doors. Lattice skirting painted to match the new cedar-shake siding masks a children's play area just off the patio and provides a backdrop for new plantings. The white-painted deck railings match the thick trim on the house, furthering the home's cottage style.

Deck with Cottage Charm

Simple Yet Stunning Deck

The bare bones of this standard builder's deck did nothing for the home's exterior, but a two-step transformation made it a destination. Spindles add safety and character, and a lattice skirt dresses up the base of the deck while hiding dirt beneath. Staining the stairs and posts dark brown adds a rich contrast against the white siding. The look is topped off with a matching window box, a small patio, and an updated walkway.

Simple Yet Stunning Deck

Match Railings with House Trim

Although this remodel didn't involve any structural changes to the deck, the home's new siding complements the natural tones of the wood, and the white railings match the trim. New light fixtures ensure the homeowners can admire the makeover and the views day and night.

Match Railings with House Trim

Inviting Outdoor Room

A 16x12 concrete slab seemed sparse for this frequently used outdoor spot, so the homeowners used its footprint as a starting point for their patio project. A small landing area now meets the back stairs and opens out into the rest of the space. The flowerbed edged with railroad ties made way for lush landscaping now defined by stonework, and potted plants help create an inviting ambience in this outdoor room.

Inviting Outdoor Room

Deck with Pergola

An uninspiring builder's deck is replaced with a one that comes alive with a stately pergola. This new structure not only adds style--it provides shade. Hanging plants soften the effect of the big beams, and a white railing defines the space and adds an element of safety. For even more protection from the sun, use a sheet of outdoor fabric to create a ceiling, or plant climbing vines around the pergola to block sunlight naturally.

Deck with Pergola

An uninspiring builder's deck is replaced with one that comes alive with a stately pergola. This new structure not only adds style--it provides shade. Hanging plants soften the effect of the big beams, and a white railing defines the space and adds an element of safety. For even more protection from the sun, use a sheet of outdoor fabric to create a ceiling, or plant climbing vines around the pergola to block sunlight naturally.

Deck in Wooded Yard

The weathered brown stain of the new deck and railings matches the back fence and helps the structure transition into the wooded background.

Deck in Wooded Yard

The weathered brown stain of the new deck and railings matches the back fence and helps the structure transition into the wooded background.

Deck Makeover with Paint

This old balcony was perfectly serviceable, but far from fun to use. A fresh coat of paint revives the space and makes it feel larger. A taller set of railings, along with two hydrangeas grown as patio trees, add style and privacy. For a contemporary feel to complement the home's decor, white furniture and splashes of cobalt blue containers create a crisp color scheme with the pale blue floorboards.

Deck Makeover with Paint

Deck with Trellised Railings

This old deck was begging for some needed attention. New paint in fresh colors gave the trellis some life. This design extends to the railing, which replaces the traditional spindles. Instead of refinishing the deck, a good cleaning and a painted outdoor rug did the trick. A series of potted plants softens the scene.

Deck with Trellised Railings

Deck with Privacy Pergolas

Tall pergola sidewalls were designed to not only house climbing plants, but to add an element of privacy to this low deck. Railings add a decorative touch (be sure to check local codes for railing height requirements) and open with a wide set of stairs to the backyard. For a decorative touch to hide bare space beneath the deck, latticework wraps around and runs to the ground.

Deck with Privacy Pergolas

Double-Decker Deck

A screen porch addition and wide, rambling deck offer tons of outdoor living space, improving the architectural design of the home's back view. The addition of the covered portion also created an opportunity for a second-story sitting area off of the master suite; it's just large enough for a small chair and side table, the perfect nook to enjoy a morning cup of coffee. For continuity with the deck below, the same railing design was used and scaled to the appropriate size.

Double-Decker Deck

Before & After Deck Makeovers

Top Brands

Top Searches