25 Best Deck Design Ideas

Interested in updating your deck or need new deck design ideas? Transform your outdoor space with inspiration from some of our favorite Trex decks and enjoy more time outside playing, entertaining, or just relaxing with the ones you love.

1. Gain Higher Ground with a Rooftop Deck

Don’t overlook an opportunity to build a rooftop deck if your home allows. Tucked away off a master bedroom, hallway, or some secret attic location, a rooftop deck can be a fun spot to spend time with friends or simply hide away with your favorite book.

2. Elevate Your Deck Design with Creative Curves

It takes a little more creativity to plan a deck with curves, but the payoff is spectacular. Trex composite decking boards and composite and metal railings can be curved to suit most design needs.

We suggest reaching out to an experienced deck builder rather than tackling this yourself, as it can be a challenge to make more complex designs like this work without the right construction know-how. 

3. Enhance Your Outdoor Oasis with the Perfect Pergola

Create a room within a room by adding a pergola to your outdoor space, like the one anchoring this contemporary stunner. This “Balance” pergola model, from the Trex® Pergola™ collection, provides shade with a manually retractable metallic grey canopy that blends in nicely with the surrounding trees.

4. Screen in a Small Porch for the Summers

Even if you have a smaller deck, a deck doesn’t have to be boring. Here, this small screened-in porch provides the ideal place to sit a spell and watch the Spanish Moss waft in the lowcountry air. You don’t need a lot of bells and whistles to dress up your outdoor space. A couple of attractive Adirondack chairs and a few plants make for a comfortable spot that will soon become your favorite room in the house. 

5. Save Space With a Spiral Stair Solution

Short on space but need a lift up to the second floor? Try a spiral stair for a functional solution and some visual fun. Spiral stairs take up less space than a typical staircase, allow for extra room on the ground floor, and can end up being the talk of the deck. If you're unsure about how this unique feature may look, use our spiral stair ideas as inspiration for how you can elevate your space.

6. Illuminate the Night With Outdoor Deck Lighting

Adding outdoor lights on a deck is an absolute must. With all the easy-to-install systems available today, it’s a no-brainer. Riser lights on stairs, post cap lights, or recessed lights integrated into the edge of the decking boards not only serve up a fun atmosphere when the sun goes down, but also increase the time you can spend outside while making wayfinding much safer.

7. Tailor Your Outdoor Space With Multi-Level Activity Zones

Consider the activities you plan to enjoy on your deck and then design accordingly by creating activity zones to make your time outside more enjoyable. Do you plan to entertain regularly? Then you’ll want a lot of furniture to create a pleasant experience for your guests. Do you love to wow family and friends with your grilling acumen? Establishing a cooking area right outside the kitchen will make life more convenient.

Taking a few moments to think in more detail about how you typically spend your time outside will result in a deck you’ll want to spend time on.

8. Delight in Your Deck Décor

The furniture and décor you choose for your deck can make all the difference in comfort and enjoyability. Take some of these common additions for example: 

• Adding some pillows and throws that play off the surrounding environment make for a cohesive aesthetic that feels welcoming and inviting. 
• Pops of color that complement your backyard, outdoor accessories that make you feel good, and groupings of potted plants that add visual appeal. 
• A fun sculpture can add a touch of whimsy. Have fun and create a space that fits your personality.

9. Enhance Your View With a Glass and Mesh Railing Design

Deck Railings are important for any deck but they don’t have to be boring —and they should never be an afterthought. If your deck has a gorgeous view, don’t block that view with clunky railing. Consider a mesh infill that provides a fun touch of style while also letting you see what nature has to offer beyond the boundary of your deck.

10. Customize the Colors of Your Composite Deck

No two composite decks need to be alike. Unlike wood, composite decking comes in a variety of rich colors that allow you to customize your space.

For a small touch, consider a secondary color around the perimeter of your deck, or go big by mixing light and dark composite deck boards to create a checkerboard design like this one featuring Trex Transcend® Rope Swing and Spiced Rum decking.

11. Turn Up the Heat With an Outdoor Kitchen

Outdoor kitchens are all the rage these days, and for good reason. Not only are they functional, but with all the material options available they can add a swoon-worthy zone to your backyard.

Grills, smokers, refrigerators, ice makers, and storage can easily be integrated into kitchen components of all sorts, including aluminum, composite and stone. All you have to do is select the outdoor kitchen elements that suit your taste and get ready to enjoy.

12. Prioritize Fun Features in Any Space Size

If you’re tight on space, no worries. Make the most out of your space using a variety of small deck design ideas:

• Invest in multi-functional furniture to maximize your space's potential uses.
• Add storage to avoid cluttering your deck.
• Place small design touches around your space, such as pops of color and greenery.

With careful planning, you can create an entertaining space for you and your guests in even the tightest of areas. Creating a space that acts as a transition between your home and backyard can also make your small deck seem like an essential piece of a larger whole.

13. Build a Tree-Encompassing Deck

Building a deck around a beloved tree can provide a unique space to relax, unwind and entertain. While some deck designs may do away with a tree that's in the way, you can opt to feature your favorite tree by designing your space around it. 

While designing around a tree requires some extra planning,  doing so also offers a number of benefits, including enjoying a natural aesthetic and promoting an environmentally friendly space.

14. Guarantee Safety With a Gorgeous Gate

Adding a gate to any deck space adds an extra level of protection. It can also add a bit of privacy while also redefining the aesthetic of the space. You can build your own gate or use premade models such as the Trex aluminum deck gate, designed with strength, durability and easy care.

15. Tuck Away Your Space with a Covered Porch

There’s nothing sweeter than a quaint, intimate outdoor space tucked away in the backyard. Covered porches can act like an escape from the world around you, allowing you to enjoy the peace of your outdoor space without the threat of the elements or prying eyes.

This Trex Transcend Havana Gold covered porch creates a comfortable spot for this family’s television viewing, and takes advantage of a stone fireplace to extend their use in cooler weather.

16. Create a Peaceful Waterside Retreat

Serenity is a necessary requirement for life on the water. Create a peaceful stage to enjoy it with a light, composite decking board like Trex Transcend decking. Accessorize with outdoor furniture in neutral tones and you’ll never want to leave.

17. Transfigure Your Small Space into Outdoor Reading Nook

Looking for a way to transform your deck's small spaces into one-of-a-kind features? Create an intimate reading nook by adding a comfortable chair, a side table for your coffee, and pillows or blankets for a cozy touch.

Perfectly suited for an intimate nook, this second-story deck extends life off this tiny attic room. A stylish adirondack chair, paired with the ideal backyard lookout, makes this nook an easy place for you to get lost in your favorite novel.

18. Install a Cocktail Rail to Put the ‘Fun’ in Functionality

For the natural-born entertainer, Cocktail rails come in handy for when you need somewhere to set down your drink. These railings combine a flat deck board over your top rail to transform a traditional rail system into a functional accessory.

Cocktail railings can act as an extension of your entertainment surface, creating the perfect spot to set down a cold glass or even pool towels on your way to take a dip.

19. Make a Statement With Your Dock Design

If you have waterside property, you know that your choice of dock is essential to both the aesthetic and practicality of your space. It may seem like dock design is straightforward — until you realize all the composite color choices available to put your own stamp on the design. 

Simple boardwalks and docks need not be so simple when you can choose from an array of beautiful greys, browns and reds. Match the dock to your home’s exterior or go completely against the grain.

20. Create a Cozy Atmosphere With a Fire Pit

Fire features are all the rage. Not only do they extend the use of your outdoor space but they create a pleasing atmosphere. If you’ve got the room, craft a bench around a fire pit using Trex composite deck boards. Throw down a bunch of pillows, bring out the hot chocolate and spend an evening you won’t soon forget.

21. Create Cohesiveness With a Monochromatic Aesthetic

For those who want a bit of consistency, a monochromatic look in your backyard space could be the way to go. Transcend Island Mist decking perfectly matches this charming home’s style and amps up the calming feel. Running the width of the home’s backyard, the exterior space feels as connected to the inside as it does the outside.

22. Go Green with Some “Deckscaping”

Make your deck feel one with nature by adding charming gardens that fit naturally into the design of your backyard space — also known as "deckscaping." Although these green spaces may take some effort to curate, they help your deck feel organic and generate a zen experience for you and your guests.

Particularly in urban areas, elevating your space with greenery ideas create an escape from the chaos of the city.

23. Build a Wrap-Around Deck to Enjoy the View

This charming A-frame and wrap-around deck meld beautifully into the surrounding countryside. Attractive blue siding with black window accents perfectly complement the Trex Select® Saddle decking and fascia. A black Signature rail with mesh inserts allow this family of four to live their best life outside.

24. Use Innovative Decking to Create a Stylish Privacy Wall

Think outside the box and turn decking on its side to create the perfect privacy wall. It’s a great way to protect your space from nosy neighbors in a style all your own. The rich dark tones of Transcend decking in Spiced Rum make for a warm hug for anyone enjoying this three-sided porch.

25. Center Your Space Around Lakeside Access

Who ever tires of lake life?This multi-level Trex dock and decking combo offers a convenient and stylish way to travel from home to boat. Maximize the safety and use of your under-deck docking area by adding overhead soffit lights that make it easy to park before and after the sun is in the sky.