One of the benefits of living in a house over, say, an apartment is the presence of a yard. A yard gives you space to enjoy outdoor activities. However, a backyard alone might not be enough to facilitate your outdoor lifestyle. That's where a deck addition comes in. Below are four ideas for laying out your deck according to how you want to enjoy the outdoors.
1. Layout for Entertainment
Many homeowners have a deck installed to facilitate entertaining outdoors. If that's your aim, you'll want to create a multi-use space.
First, think about what you need for your deck party. You'll want a place to prepare and serve food and drinks. You'll also want seating. So you should designate one area of your deck for food preparation with a good transition space to the seating area. For example, the two areas can be separated by a counter for dispensing the food and drinks.
For an entertainment deck, lighting is especially important. Install perimeter lights on the deck railings, and illuminate any transition areas. Also incorporate some ambient lighting, such as a dimmer or an array of string lights.
2. Layout With Some Privacy
Most likely, you have neighbors and perhaps a street view from your house. Therefore, you'll want to incorporate measures of privacy for your outdoor space without enclosing it completely.
First of all, try to locate the deck itself so that it's as far from street or neighbor view as possible. At minimum, designate a corner for privacy. You could locate your lounge furniture or even build in seating in this corner.
For the privacy itself, one of the most popular methods is a lattice fence. You can train plants to grow up the lattice, or you can utilize a system of outdoor curtains for additional privacy. However, you can also have screen panels installed for more privacy and even some wind protection. An opaque glass wind wall works, too.
3. Layout With Multiple Tiers
For many homeowners, when they envision a deck, they envision a rambling addition with multiple terraces. Such a layout is one of the most luxurious options because it affords you the opportunity to get more creative with the flow of movement than you can within your house. You can incorporate bridges and even secret hideaways.
A big key here is being honest about your space. A multi-tiered deck can take up your entire backyard. However, that's not necessarily a bad thing. You can develop destinations all throughout your yard with bridges leading from platform to platform. Some homeowners even have decks built around their trees.
If that's too ambitious for you, you can still utilize your space with multiple terraces. For instance, you can build up as well as out. A portion of the above deck can overshadow a deck below. Not only does such a layout increase your usable space, but it also affords the lower deck some shade.
4. Layout for Accommodating a Hot Tub
One of the most popular activities for enjoying your deck isn't an activity at all - it's the non-activity of lounging in a hot tub. The deck itself where the hot tub will be located must be flat and level. And it must be able to accommodate the weight of a hot tub filled with water and people.
A special consideration for a hot tub deck is space for disrobing. To that end, you'll want a structure that includes hooks for towels or robes as well as seating. You can design this as part of an installation for privacy, or you can keep the structure open to avoid restricting the views. Additionally, consider if you want a pergola to shade you while you're bathing.
Think about how you want to spend your outside time, and plan your deck layout accordingly. Consult with Keith's Construction & Painting Co., Inc.
about your layout goals.
Your outdoor space is an important part of the home. But in Southern California, it can be hard to enjoy your outside entertainment areas if they're too hot or too windy. The good news is that you have a number of options to mitigate the desert climate and make your patio more useful.
Here are the top five options and how they stack up to each other.
Here are the top five options and how they stack up to each other.
Have you updated rooms with new furnishings and carpet, but the ceilings are bogging down the refreshed look of your living spaces? Dull or out-of-style ceilings distract from an otherwise put-together space. It's easy to start resenting your outdated ceilings.
Change your feelings about your ceilings with an overhead renovation of your living spaces. Here are four ways to fall in love with the view above you.
Change your feelings about your ceilings with an overhead renovation of your living spaces. Here are four ways to fall in love with the view above you.
Everyone loves spending time outdoors, right? Well, outdoor living is a lot easier if you have a designated space — in this case, a deck. A deck can provide space for dining, entertaining, and even soaking in a hot tub. As you start planning for a new deck, keep the following six tips in mind.
When planning a remodel, you're undoubtedly interested in improving the value of your home while enjoying it more. But if you're not careful, some choices could have the opposite effect. To help you avoid money-wasting mistakes in your next renovation, here are five things not to do.
A coat of paint can do so much to update a room. It provides an instant makeover and sets the stage for your décor. However, when you go to choose a paint, you are presented with a seemingly endless array of color choices. Trying to pick from among those colors can feel daunting.
The key is to start out with a color scheme in mind. A color scheme typically consists of a base color and one or two accent colors. Your base color can be a neutral like beige or white - designers often recommend using a neutral to ground the palette. Concerning paint, you typically use the base for walls and either a neutral or an accent color for trim.
The key is to start out with a color scheme in mind. A color scheme typically consists of a base color and one or two accent colors. Your base color can be a neutral like beige or white - designers often recommend using a neutral to ground the palette. Concerning paint, you typically use the base for walls and either a neutral or an accent color for trim.
When your home needs some sprucing up, you probably look to new paint, new carpet or maybe new furniture. Set aside a weekend or two to visit some home improvement and furniture stores, and you are ready to transform your space.
However, if you are looking to make bigger changes, an addition or a complete remodel might be in your plans. Most structural changes require more preparation than your typical cosmetic changes. Before you get started, you’ll have to get in touch with a builder to ensure your design is structurally sound and meets the relevant building codes, as well as purchase a building permit from your city.
The following explores specific instances when obtaining a building permit is required and why.
However, if you are looking to make bigger changes, an addition or a complete remodel might be in your plans. Most structural changes require more preparation than your typical cosmetic changes. Before you get started, you’ll have to get in touch with a builder to ensure your design is structurally sound and meets the relevant building codes, as well as purchase a building permit from your city.
The following explores specific instances when obtaining a building permit is required and why.
If your house isn't as large as you'd like it to be, it can be frustrating. You may think that moving or doing large-scale renovations are your only options.
However, with a little cleverness, you can make rooms seem larger than they are. There are three methods for doing this, and you can combine techniques to suit your needs. Here's a rundown of how to use these three tricks.
However, with a little cleverness, you can make rooms seem larger than they are. There are three methods for doing this, and you can combine techniques to suit your needs. Here's a rundown of how to use these three tricks.
Remodeling your kitchen is always a worthwhile undertaking. It will increase the value of your home and you will love how much easier it is to cook your favorite meals. That said, whenever you decide to remodel, you want to keep universal appeal in mind.
Applying a new coat of paint to your house can be one of the more fun renovations to do. However, it is still generally a good idea to leave this work to professional paintersto ensure the best results.
