Dream Decks

Grow perennials, shrubs, or small trees at one end of your deck to create a sense of enchantment (and add privacy). Plus, the plantings will help blend your deck with the surrounding garden. Include your favorite fragrant plants (such as lilacs or gardenias) to complete your magical setting.

Here's a hint: Place your taller plantings right up against your deck to make it clear there's a barrier.

Add interest to your deck by creating different levels. To enhance the effect and eliminate tripping hazards, add outdoor lighting to each level.

Here's a hint: You don't need a deck this tall to create drama -- even a foot or two of height difference from a built-in planter or two can bring your deck from everyday to exciting.

Use a pretty pergola or other architectural accent to dress up your deck. This white pergola, for example, makes a great focal point and provides shade and cover for a grilling area.

Enjoy a peaceful getaway by tucking your deck in a secluded corner of your yard. After all, there's no rule that says your deck has to be attached to your house.

Here's a hint: Place your deck in a private spot to make it more of a sanctuary. Flowering vines, such as wisteria, can help create intimacy, as can a simple pergola.

Mature trees make this detached deck feel nestled in the landscape, and a water feature off the end creates a moat effect. These elements combine perfectly to make the deck seem like it's in the middle of nowhere -- even though it's just feet from the house.

Click on the next slide to see how close to the house it is!

This is the same deck you just saw, but from a different angle. Though it's close to the house, a few evergreen trees give it that wonderful faraway feel.

Make your deck feel more upscale by adding a pool or hot tub. Bump up the drama by adding a vertical-edge pool, such as the one shown here, where it looks like it drops off into space.

Here's a hint: Check local codes if your deck or pool require a railing or fence for safety.

Add character to your outdoor spaces by creating different designs in the decking. There's no rule that says all of the boards have to run the same direction -- or be made from the same material. Highlight an area with a different pattern or color.

Make your decking playful by adding curves. You can make curved decks from a number of materials, including wood and composites (manufactured from wood and plastics). It's a little more work, but the effect is worth it.

Soften your space with beautiful blooms and lush greenery from container gardens. It's easy to tuck a few containers here and there -- and if you use a drip-irrigation system, they'll practically take care of themselves.

Here's a hint: You may not be limited to growing annuals. Perennials and shrubs survive outdoors in containers if the container is large enough, which may be 4- to 5-feet wide in northern climates.

Cover your deck with a roof made from Plexiglas, fiberglass, or similar material, and you'll never worry about being rained out. Choose a clear material to let the sun shine through on bright days, or if you're in a hot climate, try a translucent material to create shade.

Use a variety of lighting techniques to give your deck a theatrical look at night. You don't have to go over the top -- get a great look from a handful of strategically placed candles, lanterns, or solar lights.

With today's outdoor fabrics and wide selection of outdoor furniture, you can make your patio or deck as comfy as your living room. You can pick lounge chairs, love seats, and even sofas in just about every style imaginable.

Here's a hint: Consider accessories such as outdoor rugs to dress up your deck's "floor" and canopies to create shade and offer a ceiling.

Add distinction to your deck with unique accents. Be creative and select the features that best suit your personality. For example, instead of a standard deck railing, try tall planters with fragrant flowers or herbs.

Use a fountain to soften the noise of a busy street or to create a pleasant background sound. It's easy to add a water feature to your deck. Tuck small fountains in corners where they'll be out of the way or use a bigger, bolder piece as a dramatic focal point.

Include a few planters filled with your favorite fruits, vegetables, and herbs and you'll transform your deck into a miniature farmer's market. Most of these plants grow beautifully in containers -- and some, like this eggplant, look as elegant in a pot as your favorite flower.

Here's a hint: Look for dwarf or compact varieties of your favorite vegetables. For example, patio-type tomatoes usually grow only 2 or 3 feet tall.

Give your guests a selection of spots to sit and relax by providing built-in seating. (Plus, the more seating your deck offers, the less furniture you have to purchase.) Keep in mind that if you live in a hot, sunny climate, shade from large trees or buildings can make your deck even more welcoming.

Turn a troublesome slope into an opportunity to showcase your deck. Here, for example, the deck was carved into the hillside and surrounded by a retaining wall. On top of creating a dramatic presentation, you'll add usable space to your yard.

Here's another example of a deck that conquers a slope. While most of us don't have hillsides this extreme, you can apply the same idea in a smaller space. Simply floating your deck 2 or 3 feet off the ground on one side can make it a showpiece.

This small deck offers a great balance of comfy furniture, a sun-shielding pergola, and colorful surroundings. It's a perfect fit for the homeowner. Adding features that suit your needs is all it takes to make the deck of your dreams.