Beautiful Deck Ideas and Inspiration

Rooftop decks can offer dramatic views, such as this skyline, but it's important to have an engineer check your roof to make sure it can support the extra weight of decking and human traffic. Geometric fences around this deck mirror the architecture in the skyline buildings.

Several seating areas at different elevations expand outdoor living spaces into different rooms that complement the classic style of the home and create important visual breaks along the rear of this large home. The upper deck offers a shaded structure and seating area, and the lower paved patio is a sunny spot with a beach view.

Glass doors create a smooth transition between indoor and outdoor spaces. A pergola offers shade and privacy, and columns give classic formality to the space while complementing the brick exterior of the home.

Creating an outdoor room is a great way to expand your home. Here, French doors lead seamlessly from the family room of this urban home to a well-integrated dining area with a view of the city. A pergola shields diners from direct sunlight, and a ceiling fan keeps the air moving.

The simplicity of this space brings Zen style outdoors with a stone lantern, clean-lined furniture, and Asian-style planters. The deck follows the gentle contours of the land and connects several different spaces including a dining area and a meditation platform for yoga.

This terraced deck is a great example of how to deal with a backyard slope. Not only do the stepped levels accommodate the drop in terrain, but they also create a more interesting series of spaces that can be used for different functions.