5 Best Contemporary Deck Designs

October 21, 2020

A deck that is designed well provides a beautiful and practical outdoor oasis that effectively doubles one’s outdoor living space. Today more and more people are capitalizing on the indoor-outdoor living trend, with nearly a third of all new homes built in the United States including a deck or patio. When designing your deck, there are a few things to keep in mind. While hopping on the latest deck design trends may seem appealing now, it is also crucial to strike a balance between style, usability, and timelessness. With that in mind, the sky is the limit when designing your new deck. If you are looking for inspiration, these are the five best contemporary deck designs.

1. Modern Industrial Deck Designs

Clean lines, angular shapes, and cool-toned colors dominate modern industrial deck designs. A growing trend within this design is the inclusion of a glass rail. While glass rails used to be an unaffordable and unobtainable stylistic choice, newer options have significantly reduced the cost. The glass railing provides a sleek look that juxtaposes with wrought iron accents that are common within the modern industrial style. Additionally, stamped concrete is prevalent in this design. Utilizing concrete as a deck medium has grown in popularity because of its versatility. Concrete can be colored into a variety of shades and shaped into a wide array of shapes, whether it be pillars and supports or for the deck itself. Modern industrial deck design can be described as the combination of contrasting materials, ranging from liquid-esque smooth glass to solid dark wrought iron.

2. Bringing Technology Outside

As decks begin to morph themselves into true outdoor living spaces, the presence of technology has increased as well. For instance, outdoor televisions have grown in prevalence. Outdoor televisions provide homeowners with the ability to relax outside while still enjoying their favorite shows or Friday night football games. With improved technology, even if a homeowner’s deck is uncovered, they can still enjoy the small luxury of weatherproof outdoor televisions. Additionally, more homeowners are installing state of the art outdoor sound systems. Now, homeowners can enjoy their favorite music while hosting Saturday night drinks or relaxing to soothing jazz during the evening. Technology continues to manifest itself onto decks, transforming them into genuine living spaces.

3. Deck Temperature Control

While relaxing on a deck sounds ideal, the reality is, the weather often leaves much to be desired. The addition of heaters and fans to a deck helps regulate the temperature, allowing homeowners to enjoy their outdoor spaces more often. Furthermore, these heaters and fans are intentionally built as a design element. Long gone are the days of unsightly propane-fueled stand-alone heaters. With the addition of this contemporary deck design, Washington homeowners can now lounge comfortably outside throughout the seasons.

4. Covered Deck Spaces

Over the past couple of years, the design trend of covered deck spaces has picked up in popularity, and rightfully so! Covered deck spaces help maximize space, while also providing shelter from the elements. The hot mid-afternoon summer sun will no longer be a reason to hide away inside.

5. Stylish And Unique Light Fixtures

Whether it be hanging string lights, mounted Edison bulbs, or a dramatic wrought iron chandelier, one thing is for sure: stylish and unique light fixtures are becoming the focal point of deck design. Aside from the utilitarian purpose of lighting, the addition of intentional light fixtures contributes to the relaxing and beautiful ambiance.

Interested in more deck designs? Read more.