How to decorate your deck: 9 stylish ideas for 2024

Written by

27 March 2023

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7 min read

Every year, more and more homeowners look to embrace outdoor living in their daily lives. A common way they’re doing this is by decorating their decks, making them more inviting and comfortable for themselves and their guests. In doing so, these areas become true extensions of their homes and there are some inspirational ideas you can follow that will help you transform yours with style.

Building a deck is a complicated home improvement process which takes a lot of time, planning and effort. However, what people don’t often think about as part of this process is how they’re going to decorate their deck when it’s finished. It’s such a missed opportunity, especially when you start to see the inspired decorating ideas of others.

1. Make a statement with a fireplace

Nothing is more inviting than the warmth of a roaring fire when temperatures start to cool. An exquisite outdoor fireplace will let you achieve exactly that, prolonging the use of your deck late into the evening hours. It also makes a great focal point when relaxing with friends and family.

Australia has strict laws on how and where outdoor fires can be made but one of the safest and most stylish ways to do this is with an outdoor fireplace. This lets you keep control of the fire and looks incredibly impressive representing the best of contemporary living.

The amazing Escea Outdoor Fireplace Kitchen makes an incredible statement in any space

2. Create an al fresco dining area

One of the most practical ideas to decorate your deck is to bring your dining area outside. This makes the space immediately serviceable for friends and family where you can enjoy each other's company with equally beautiful food and drink.

An outdoor dining area works best when you have an overhang, or pergola to house it in. This protects your table and chairs from the elements such as wind and rain to an extent. However, you can have them in the open by selecting more robust options.

Don't forget to house your cooking appliances nearby too if you can. This will save you from doing countless trips inside and out as your courses become ready to serve. It will also make everyone feel like they’re having a genuine al fresco experience.

3. Stylish outdoor rugs for smaller spaces

An outdoor rug can create the illusion of space, making even a small deck look much bigger. The trick with using a rug in any situation, even in a living room, is to size it right. Picking something too small will shrink the visual space of the area while selecting something too large will make it feel unbalanced in the other direction.

If you have outdoor furniture then make sure your rugs are big enough for the large items to sit on without going over the edges. Alternatively, you can layer rugs on top of one another. This works if you have an angular space that is not squared. They’re a very easy and flexible form of outdoor decor which will give you a quick win with respect to style.

A stylish option like the 1188 Eco-Friendly Outdoor Rug in Sand Dune Beige can tie everything together

4. Invest in quality lighting

When it comes to lighting, it can be hard to find a range of contemporary choices that match the quality you’ll find of their indoor counterparts. The traditional options were limited to motion sensor security lights, but high-quality outdoor lighting is starting to become much more design focused with some fantastic options readily available.

The main benefit of outdoor lighting is that it lets you stay out long into the night but this shouldn’t be the limit of its potential. The lighting fixture itself should also be decorative to some extent, enhancing the visual appearance of your outdoor living space.

When you start to think about your outdoor lighting fixtures in this way, you’ll find that it opens up a whole new world of possibilities. You can also start to think about combining different types of lights too - wall lights, pendant lights and string lights for example to create a beautiful layering of light.

A great example of well-designed outdoor lighting at this magnificent Californian Bungalow in Balwyn, Melbourne

5. Add the comforts of a living room

Another way to bring the inside out is to create an outdoor living room. The focal point of this is the deck furniture and seating, which should be a choice that most reflects your design aesthetic. After this, you can increase its comfort with throw pillows and blankets.

Coffee tables are another addition that works well. If you don't have much storage, don't be afraid to utilise storage benches either.

Finally, make the area lush with potted plants and added greenery. If you want privacy from neighbours or a road, this can help massively as an added bonus.

The plush Teak Outdoor Loveseat takes centre stage in a scene that completely embodies comfort

6. Don’t be afraid to mix and match

Mixing and matching can be a little risky, especially if you’ve not really done it before when it comes to design and decorating. However, your deck is a great place to give it a try as it's surrounded by an already diverse environment in your garden which is a real mix of foliage, shapes, and colours.

One easy way to mix and match is through your outdoor seating area, playing with the colour scheme and material. For instance, you may choose to have wooden benches alongside colourful chairs. Colourful ottomans are another great choice that you can dress with unique throw blankets. Bean bags are another that often come with vibrant designs that can add a bit of individual pop to your deck design.

Options like the coast Marine Bean Ottoman present a great opportunity to mix and match colours, textures and patterns

7. Outdoor screens to frame the deck

There are two trains of thought for decking. You can either have it merge into the rest of the property seamlessly or mark it off and have it as its own distinct section.

One great way to mark it off is with an outdoor screen and trellis, which will create a boundary while adding a pleasing aesthetic. It works best when they still let some light through which allows patterns of natural light and shadow to wash over your deck. If you have a particular trellis design in mind, you can even get them custom-made from a range of different materials.

Related article: How to create a great deck in Australia

8. Embrace nature with a hanging garden

If you like the idea of using potted plants but only have a small deck, creating a hanging garden might be the perfect solution. Brackets can be affixed to walls, or on hanging basket stands or you may be able to attach them to overhead structures.

This will free up floor space but still allow you to add natural features, colours, smells and shapes to your decking environment. Hanging potted plants are best suited to bright flowers or long, trailing plants.

9. Use a decorative shade for the best of both worlds

Even if your outdoor area is covered, you may get the sun coming in from different angles. In these instances, adding decorative shade is a great idea.

The most common type is a deck umbrella. Housed in a sturdy base, you can then move it around as the sun moves. The range of designs is very diverse. You’ll be able to find ones in solid colours or patterns leaving you some nice options to stylise your deck.

Caractere Centre Pole Umbrella is a contemporary style statement for the modern home

Knowing how to decorate your decking area with style

Now you know how to decorate your deck thanks to these inspirational ideas, you can get started on finding features and furnishings that will elevate your deck's style. As you can see, there are many different approaches you can take with this outdoor space and the possibilities are really only limited by your own imagination.