Garden decking is an extremely popular way of transforming a garden. A decked area can help the garden to become multi-functional as well as stylish and usable. Decking can be used in a wide variety of ways; some that may not have even crossed your mind. We have put together some garden decking ideas to help give you some inspiration to transform your garden.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have all spent a lot more time at home due to restrictions from the UK government. Even now as restrictions are gradually lifted, people are continuing to spend more time in their gardens; so what better time to transform your garden and make the most of your time at home?
Match your decking to your fence
If your garden is on the smaller side, you may want to match the decking colour to your fence colour. This can help to create the illusion of more space, making your garden look bigger. This may also help to enhance the aesthetic of your garden, tying together the overall look with shared wood and colour choices. Of course, contrasting the colour of your decking to your fence colour can also work well in larger gardens, helping to create a feeling of separate areas and zones.
Surround a water feature
Using decking to surround a water feature can help to not only create a neat edging to the feature but can actually draw more attention to it. By using decking to surround a water feature, you can also make your garden feel more contemporary and stylish rather than naturalistic or traditional.
Create a private space or dining area
Decking is a great way to create separate areas in your garden. There are some easy ways you can take this a step further however in order to create a private space; perfect for al fresco dining. Why not try creating a barrier by planting tall plants along the edge of your decking. You could also achieve this feel with a pergola or an outdoor screen.
Create decking planters
Use your decking to create built-in planters. This can be achieved in a number of ways. You may want to build small planters into the actual body of the decking or you may choose to create an irregular and interesting deck shape by surrounding existing planters or flower beds with decking.
Utilise different levels
Different levels can be used in countless ways. Not only do they maximise space and allow decks to be built over uneven ground, they provide more opportunities for unique design features to be incorporated and create a visually interesting environment. In addition to this, multi-level decking can be used in different ways depending on the level or area; it also provides a more gentle transition from deck to garden.
Create built-in decking seating
Using decking boards to create built-in seating can not only help to maintain the aesthetics of the garden but it can also be a great way to incorporate seating without having to spend a fortune on garden furniture. You could even use a different colour or style of decking board for seating if you wanted to create a contrasting effect.
Suit the decking shape to your space
When most people think of decking, they usually imagine a rectangular shape, however, keep an open mind when designing your decking. By sticking to rectangular decking, you may be limiting your use of the space. Curved decks could be used to mirror the landscape and create a unique garden transformation.
Play with different laying patterns
If you’re looking to go a step further to create a unique decking space, try playing around with different laying patterns. Whilst most decking is laid either horizontally or vertically, you could lay decking on a diagonal, at interlocking angles to create a chevron or even in a diamond or parquet pattern. Using different widths of wood can also create an interesting effect.
Create an outdoor feature wall
When laying decking, it is likely you will have a few decking boards left over. Don’t let these go to waste, try creating a feature wall that links your decking to the garden aesthetic. You may choose to cut leftover boards at different heights and attach them to the wall to create an uneven panelled effect; you could also use leftover boards to create flower boxes that can decorate your decking space.
Make a boardwalk
Boardwalks are also a great leftover decking idea. Boardwalks can create a path through your garden, leading to the decking. This can help to tie in the decking to the rest of the garden, as well as creating a usable feature ideal for moving from one area of the garden to another.
Incorporate a children’s play area
If you have young children, you may think it’s important to keep as much grass area as possible for them to play on however, you could incorporate a child-friendly play area into your decking. By cutting out a square in your decking, you could create a sandpit, or perhaps even a ball pit on raised decking, perfect for children’s play.
Explore our range of affordable outdoor decking – available to buy online – and begin your garden transformation!