Simple Deck Projects That Extend Outdoor Living

Most decks are basic platforms that connect the house to the yard, offering little encouragement to spend time outdoors. You head out, discover there’s nowhere to sit or anything to do, and head back inside after a few minutes.

The deck is then a through-way area rather than a destination, forfeiting valuable space that actually increases your living space. Converting a deck into a functional outdoor living space doesn’t require a central building or hiring professionals.

Thoughtful additions of ambiance, comfort, and functionality transform that wooden platform into a place you’ll be happy to visit. These are projects that make your deck worth using, rather than shying away from it.

Build a pergola for formal overhead space

Open decks are unshielded and offer no relief from the sun or light rain, limiting their use when you can use them with ease. Building with dimensional lumber for a pergola provides easy overhead framing that surrounds the space and offers some shade.

The project requires basic carpentry skills, will cost between $300 and $600 in materials, depending on the size, and will completely transform the deck’s feel.

Add built-in seating along railings

Portable furniture blows in the wind, must be stored seasonally, and never quite fills the space. Building benches into the deck’s structure creates permanent seating that maximizes space and gives the area a more intentional look.

With pressure-treated wood and basic framing, you can build substantial seating for approximately $150 to $250 in materials.

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Include string lights for evening ambiance

Decks are useless at night if not illuminated, but searing overhead floods are institutional, not inviting. String lights stretched overhand or along railings cast golden, soft light that extends the pleasant hours of the evening.

Well-designed outdoor string lights cost between $30 and $80, depending on the length, and the only installation required is hooks or eye bolts screwed into beams.

Create a privacy screen on exposed sides

Decks facing other dwellings or busy streets are too exposed to sit and rest upon. Framing one or two sides of a deck with a lattice or slatted wood screen provides visual breaks without fully enclosing the space.

Materials for an eight-foot section cost around $100 to $200, and the installation involves basic framing and panel attachment.

Install a fire pit for cold-weather enjoyment

Decks tend to get dust from fall through spring because weather conditions drive people inside. A fire pit table or built-in fire feature extends the season by a few months, making the deck livable even when the ambient temperature outdoors is cold.

Propane fire pit tables start at $200, while Do-It-Yourself built-ins with fire pit kits begin at $300 to $500.

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Build planters to cushion hard edges

Unadorned wood decks are chilly and unfriendly without a splash of vegetation to break up the sea of boards. Railing or corner planters custom-fit to slide over railings or corners bring in color and life while utilizing vertical space.

A basic box planter made from cedar or composite costs $40 to $80 per item in materials and takes an afternoon to complete.

Install an outdoor ceiling fan to move air

However, hot air makes decks unbearable in summer afternoons, even in shady places. A ceiling fan mounted on a pergola beam or overhanging structure circulates air enough to make a space livable when it would otherwise be unlivable.

Outdoor-rated fans cost between $100 and $250 and mount like indoor fans, provided you have an overhead structure and access to electrical power.

Mount a shade sail for sun-flicker protection

Fixed roof structures exclude the desired sun during winter months, yet shade sails are adjustable shades that offer removable protection, which can be removed seasonally. Shade sails are fabric screens that attach to posts or existing structures using hardware to create dramatic shade coverage.

High-quality shade sails cost between $60 and $150, depending on their size, and can be installed with tensioning hardware within a few hours.

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Create a serving station or outdoor bar

Castle Rock, Colorado, USA-May 14, 2023-A stylish outdoor kitchen and dining space featuring a sleek pergola, built-in grill, and bar seating. The patio is designed with elegant pavers and surrounded
— Photo by urban_light

Running back and forth to the kitchen for drinks and food makes outdoor entertaining tedious. Building a simple serving counter or bar along one railing provides a prep and serving area that keeps everything outside the kitchen.

Using weather-resistant materials, a basic outdoor bar costs around $200 to $400 to build and adds serious functionality.

Install an outdoor sound system

Shouting over distance or silence only serves to make decks look separate from the socializing and entertaining that occurs indoors. Weather-resistant outdoor speakers, mounted under eaves or posts, drive your home’s sound system outside.

Basic Bluetooth outdoor speakers cost around $100 to $200 a pair and mount with plain brackets.

Add storage benches for cushions and materials

Outdoor furniture scattered about looks cluttered, and repeatedly bringing it in and out is a nuisance. Storage benches with lift-top seats conceal cushions, games, and party supplies under a cover, yet within easy reach.

A storage bench construction requires approximately $100 to $200 worth of materials and combines seating with hidden functions.

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Build steps down to yard level

Decks a few feet above the ground appear to be isolated from the yard, preventing you from utilizing the space as a whole. Adding wide, slopey steps down to yard level creates flow between spaces and makes the deck itself feel less like an island.

Simple deck stair materials cost between $150 and $300, depending on the width and height.

Add a retractable awning for weather protection

Fixed roofs encumber the space and require much structural work, yet retractable awnings shield from rain and sun at will without constant coverage. Motorized varieties provide the ease, though manual cranks are adequate for smaller spaces. Good retractable awnings start around $300 for DIY, with motorized varieties being more expensive.

Add an outdoor rug to demarcate zones

CHICAGO, IL, USA – AUGUST 4, 2021: A cozy rooftop patio with covered pergolas over the top, outdoor furniture, and the sun peaking through. — Photo by j.hendrickson3

Large, bare decks are vague and unpleasant, with no function or defined areas. Weather-resistant patio rugs create visually appealing spaces for dining, lounging, or conversation.

Rugs priced from $50 to $200, based on size, instantly transform the space into a functional outdoor room.

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Turning platforms into places

The difference between a deck you never spend time on and one that you spend all your time on typically has something to do with comfort and functionality, not high-end materials or size. Most average-sized decks have plenty of square footage, but they often lack the features that make relaxing there enjoyable instead of painful or tedious. Permits and paid professionals are not required for these jobs; just general know-how and a desire to improve what you already have.

A decked-out, lighted, shaded, and atmospheric deck is an outdoor living space that extends your house rather than merely connecting it to the yard. The time and minimal money invested pay dividends every time you choose to spend time outside rather than on the couch.