Australians love the outdoors, so adding a deck entertaining area to your property is a great way to connect your home to nature and get your family outside for spending quality time together.
A deck is a backyard staple for many Australians. And the good news is, backyard decks can be whatever you want them to be. Let’s make your deck a destination! Here are eight design tips for adding a deck entertaining area to your property.
1) Build sunken seating
Sunken seating is not only an exceptional aesthetic addition to a deck entertaining area, but it is multifunctional and allows you to be as creative as you like. Your sunken seating area can form part of a custom made firepit area or can incorporate planter boxes for a pop of bright florals.
The advantage of a sunken seating area in a deck is that most decks are already raised above ground level, keeping the wood from touching the soil. With that advantage to work with, it won’t be too difficult to incorporate sunken seating into your design.
2) Raised benches
Built-in seating is one of the best space-saving features you can add to a deck. Raised seats too can easily be transformed into multifunctional additions by incorporating storage features – perfect for storing sporting equipment, gumboots, pool towels, mosquito repellent and sunscreen, drinks for when you’re having a party, and gardening tools.
3) Add a shade cover
Adding a shade cover to the deck entertaining area at your property is necessary to provide comfort and relief from the hot Australian sun.
A shade sail is easy to install and a great option for those who might not be allowed to install a permanent roof. When selecting yours, ensure it is UV repellent.
If you are looking for a more natural effect, and are patient enough to wait, you could build a pergola over a section of the deck entertaining area and grow a vining plant across the top. Popular options for deck shade are often deciduous plants, meaning they will lose their leaves in winter to let in the sunshine during the colder months. Grape vines are a beautiful choice, giving bundles of fruit beneath a forest of leaves that are perfect for keeping out the sun. Flowering options include wisteria, clematis, and climbing tea rose.
4) Fence Enclosure
You can create entertaining sections or privacy from the neighbours by incorporating enclosure fencing into your backyard deck entertaining area. Bring the decking boards up along the sides of a seating area or the border of the deck for a pleasant, embracing nook of privacy that will blend into your deck’s design.
If your deck sits alongside your house, you can also bring the slats up across the building to serve a dual purpose: They contribute to the wraparound style of the design and hide any unsightly exterior walls underneath.
5) Safety features
If your deck entertaining area borders a slope, ledge or swimming pool, you’re going to need railings to comply with health and safety regulations. Depending on your needs, a simple handrail might do the trick – make it from the same timber as your deck and it will disappear into the design. In you’re concerned about obscuring a view, glass makes a wonderful safety feature that will disappear into the horizon. And swimming pool fences comes in many designs and colours, so you’ll be sure to find one that works with your backyard entertaining area’s design.
6) Define spaces with height
Add visual interest to your deck entertaining area by building it on varying layers. This idea works especially well on sloping properties as you can incorporate the property’s natural flow into your design.
With multi-level decking, you can zone areas for different purposes – perhaps an upper deck with a bar and jacuzzi, a middle deck with an outdoor kitchen and dining area, and a lower deck with an inbuilt firepit.
Although it might seem counterintuitive, adding clever level changes to a deck can make smaller areas feel more open and broader as you can see multiple destinations in one space.
7) Incorporate clever lighting
Designing a lighting scheme can play a big part in how you use your deck entertaining area at your property. If you want to be able to host guests after the sun goes down, you’ll need an easy-to-use and efficient source of light to keep your guests happy.
Lighting options for outdoor entertaining areas are endless. You can simply hang strings of fairy lights or rely on solar-powered garden lights, both of which can be easily bought from a hardware store, and you can install them yourself.
However, if you spend a lot of time using your deck entertaining area, you may want to opt for something more permanent. Overhead lights installed on your house, under a roofline or up on poles provide bright enough lighting to keep the party going after dark. In-floor lighting provides a soft alternative to overhead lighting, with the bonus of lighting the way for your guests. Just ensure the light fixtures you select are designed for the outdoors to ensure they are water resistant.
8) Install an outdoor kitchen
The term “outdoor kitchen” often conjures images of elaborate stainless-steel food preparation configurations but, in truth, an outdoor kitchen for your deck entertaining area can be as simple as you like.
The most popular outdoor kitchen is the classic barbeque, which is great for your classic snags, burgers, ribs and lamb chops, but if you’re looking to create a less charcoal-themed meal, you can add hotplates, a sink, work surfaces and even a pizza oven if you desire.
Don’t forget about the drinks either. If your deck entertaining area doesn’t have a bar, then you’ll need somewhere to keep drinks cool and within reach for those lazy summer afternoons. You could install a bar fridge or drinks station and consider where you’ll store your glasses. This will let your guests help themselves to ice-cold drinks without you having to run back inside to fetch them.
Building a deck entertaining area at your property will enrich your entertaining and outdoor living experiences. If you need a hand getting started, speak to the team at Jim’s Handyman on 13 15 46 for advice or to arrange a quote.