Skip to content

Top Navigation

Midwest Living Midwest Living
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Home
  • Garden
  • Holidays
  • Videos
  • current issue
  • Sweepstakes
  • Road Rally

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Win Your Dream Getaway!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Magazine Issues
  • Destinations
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Midwest Living

Midwest Living Midwest Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 14 Fresh Places to Eat, Drink, Play & Stay This Summer

      14 Fresh Places to Eat, Drink, Play & Stay This Summer

      Hot off the minds of Midwest travel writers: a fresh look at where to eat, drink, play and stay around the region. Read More
    • Out Now: Best of the Midwest 2022

      Out Now: Best of the Midwest 2022

      Find your summer adventure with our new bookazine, available now in the magazine store! Read More
    • This Family's Garden Farm is a Nature-Filled Paradise

      This Family's Garden Farm is a Nature-Filled Paradise

      On land passed down through generations, a Wisconsin family experiences—and shares—the glory of gardening. Read More
  • Travel

    Travel

    See All Travel
    Urban-Pop Art, a New Boutique Hotel and More—Here's What to See and Do in Fort Wayne Right Now

    Urban-Pop Art, a New Boutique Hotel and More—Here's What to See and Do in Fort Wayne Right Now

    On a trip to Fort Wayne, Indiana, catch a colorful wave of fresh development, plus a new hotel from the cofounder of Vera Bradley.
    • Weekend Getaways
    • Family Travel
    • Around the Region
    • Beyond the Region
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Missouri
    • Nebraska
    • North Dakota
    • Ohio
    • South Dakota
    • Wisconsin
    • Free Travel Info
  • Food

    Food

    See All Food
    Mango Toast with Prosciutto

    Mango Toast with Prosciutto

    • Comfort Foods
    • Desserts & Baking
    • Breakfast
    • Quick & Easy
    • Chicken
    • Soups & Stews
    • Midwest Favorites
    • Fruits & Vegetables
    • Fish
    • Grilling
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home
    5 Clever Tips for Repurposing a Potting Bench as a Bar Cart 

    5 Clever Tips for Repurposing a Potting Bench as a Bar Cart 

    With smart accessorizing, a potting bench becomes a celebration station for summer soirees.
    • Quick Decorating
    • Featured Homes
    • Organizing & Storage
    • Outdoor Living
    • Seasonal Decorating
    • Room Decorating
  • Garden

    Garden

    See All Garden
    Expert Tips for Growing a Window Box Garden

    Expert Tips for Growing a Window Box Garden

    Casey Lawrence’s lush window boxes were a revelation to her online followers. Use her tips to grow your own.
    • Container Gardens
    • Flowers
    • Featured Gardens
    • Midwest Gardening Calendar
    • Garden Ideas & Inspiration
  • Holidays

    Holidays

    See All Holidays
    Festive 4th of July Dessert Recipes

    Festive 4th of July Dessert Recipes

    Get out your red, white and blue for these patriotic dessert recipes.
    • Easter
    • July 4th
    • Thanksgiving
    • Halloween
    • Christmas
    • Valentine's Day
  • Videos

    Videos

    See All Videos
    These DIY Orange Beeswax Candles Will Make Your Home Smell Amazing

    These DIY Orange Beeswax Candles Will Make Your Home Smell Amazing

    Don't toss those orange peels! Instead, use them as vessels for our super-simple and fragrant candles.
    • Brighten Your Front Door with This Colorful Easter Egg Wreath
    • These DIY Orange Beeswax Candles Will Make Your Home Smell Amazing
    • Ring in the New Year with This Glam Star Garland
    • How to Make a Modern Fruit Cake Box
    • An Eye-Catching Oval Treat Box You Can Make
    • Make a Colorful Paper Raffia Wreath to Welcome Fall
    • How to Make a Dried Floral Arrangement
    • How to Make an Easy Pina Colada
    • How to Make an Amazing Pavlova
    • How to Make Pumpkin-Spice Icebox Cake
    • How to Make an All-Butter Pie Crust
  • current issue

    current issue

    See All current issue
    Midwest Living's Best of the Midwest Winners 2022

    Midwest Living's Best of the Midwest Winners 2022

    • March/April 2022 Issue
    • January/February 2022 Issue
    • November/December 2021 Issue
    • September/October 2021 Issue
    • July/August 2021 Issue
    • May/June 2021 Issue
    • Summer 2022 Issue
  • Sweepstakes
  • Road Rally

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Win Your Dream Getaway!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Magazine Issues
  • Destinations
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Midwest Living
  2. Homes
  3. Outdoor Living
  4. 30 Ideas to Dress Up Your Deck

30 Ideas to Dress Up Your Deck

By The editors of MidwestLiving.com Updated September 09, 2021
Skip gallery slides
Pin
Make it comfy

Furnish your deck or patio with accessories and designs that add comfort and style to outdoor living. Here are 30 suggestions to get you started.

Start Slideshow

1 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Make it comfy

Make it comfy

Outdoor furniture should look-and feel-comfortable! Here, neutral waterproof fabric on pretty wicker furniture harmonizes with the outdoors and allows accent pillows to pop.

1 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Step it up

Step it up

Three wide steps transition from the yard to a wide deck featuring an area for conversation and one for dining. Note how accessories pull the house color onto the deck.

2 of 30

3 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Deck to impress

Deck to impress

A slightly elevated deck adds dimension to a yard that would otherwise be completely flat. It gives the appearance of having two different rooms in your yard and adds flexibility for entertaining.

3 of 30

Advertisement

4 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Create privacy

Create privacy

A row of evergreens forms a privacy wall for this deck. A couple of green accessories pop in the neutral scene.

4 of 30

5 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Lattice up

Lattice up

Add a wooden square lattice wall to one side of your deck to create the illusion of a wall. Plants like clematis and climbing roses will grow up a lattice, and after a few years, they'll form a fragrant wall of blooms.

5 of 30

6 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Unify with color

Unify with color

Focusing on one or two colors adds a unifying feel to your decor. Punchy blue and green furnishings brighten the deck while not distracting from the view.

6 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Add water

Add water

Bring the tranquil sounds of water to your deck with a water feature, such as a fountain powered by a recirculating pump. Or create a soothing water garden in a pot or nearby raised bed. Make a tabletop water garden

7 of 30

8 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Use space under decks

Use space under decks

Making use of the area under a deck doubles your space for relaxation. 

8 of 30

9 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Focus on furniture

Focus on furniture

Select one special piece of furniture and place it where it achieves focal point status. Even one high-impact piece will make the rest of your deck furnishings feel less utilitarian. This set blends sleek, sophisticated lines with relaxation and stands up to heavy use and weather.

9 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Have plenty of pillows

Have plenty of pillows

A collection of bright and cushy pillows will give your deck indoor-worthy style. Whether you add pillows to outdoor chairs or provide them for guests who prefer to lounge along the edge of the deck, they'll help you reiterate your deck's decorating scheme. Choose outdoor fabrics in cheery coordinating colors for easy-to-sew pillow covers; spray with a washable protectant to help them shrug off moisture and stains.

10 of 30

11 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Edge with green

Edge with green

Form a living privacy screen with a trio of head-high planters. Start with classy pots (ours are lightweight resin) and add a lush arborvitae to each. Stand the matching plantings side by side along an edge of your deck to gain privacy and put lush greenery within reach.

11 of 30

12 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Hang wall art

Hang wall art

Think of your outside walls just like you would think of walls in your house. Filling blank spots with colorful or conversation-starting art pieces helps your deck feel more personal. This bright and beautiful kite, for instance, adds a colorful note to this stone wall. Hung within easy reach, it's also available for play whenever a breeze stirs. Architectural salvage pieces also make intriguing outdoor art that's weather-hardy.

12 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Plant a container garden

Plant a container garden

Enhance any outdoor setting with a container garden that combines interesting colors and textures. To make the garden portable, put your pot on a rolling stand. See our container garden ideas

13 of 30

14 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Make a fire bowl

Make a fire bowl

Give your deck the flickering warmth of a personal fire bowl for cozy ambience as twilight approaches. To make the bowl, place a 13-ounce can of clean-burning gel-alcohol fuel in a 10-inch-diameter terra-cotta container. Surround the can's bottom and sides with tumbled recycled glass.

14 of 30

15 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Add texture

Add texture

Wood and stone add texture and character to this outdoor dining space. A timber-frame loggia featuring columns banded with hammered wrought-iron shades metal farm-style chairs and a teak table. A stone fireplace and brick pavers complete the welcoming dining area.

15 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Personalize pots

Personalize pots

Personalize terra-cotta pots by dry-brushing them with layers of acrylic paints. Using a variety of colors in similar hues will give each pot depth and character. Fill each container with potting mix, tuck in seasonal bedding plants, and water.

3 DIY ways to age garden pots

Make mosaic flower pots and other projects

16 of 30

17 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Add punch

Add punch

Pillows, paint and paper lanterns coordinate with the bright colors of the fabric streamers creating privacy for this tiny deck. 

17 of 30

18 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Unify the look

Unify the look

The weave of this furniture echoes the lines in the rustic wood fencing beyond. Shots of red in the plants connect with the reddish fabrics. 

18 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Add a rug

Add a rug

The zebra-look rug adds spark to an otherwise tradtional look. The rug also visually separates the eating area from conversation area. 

19 of 30

20 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Cover with canvas

Cover with canvas

Canvas creates airy shade for a concrete pad in the corner of a narrow side yard that might otherwise go unused.

20 of 30

21 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Dramatize the scene

Dramatize the scene

A just-big-enough circle of bricks stuns with its position under a dramatic arch of roses.

21 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Keep it simple

Keep it simple

A simple brick patio and a small raised area call for other simple pleasures: a basic table, retro-style chairs and a hammock. 

22 of 30

23 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Line steps

Line steps

Dress up the stairs leading to your deck by lining the edges with potted plants. Vary the size and type of plant to add visual interest. Choose plants that will remain relatively small so they don't overtake your deck.

23 of 30

24 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Revitalize with color

Revitalize with color

A bright pop of color is the fastest way to enliven your deck. Add a firepit in the middle for cool summer nights and you won't be able to leave the deck all season.

24 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Get on my level

Get on my level

A two-level deck maximizes the space in your backyard. The table and chairs on the top level are shaded by a weatherproof fabric shade sail while the chairs on the patio below are sheltered by the deck.

25 of 30

26 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Go white (really!)

Go white (really!)

Are you avoiding whites because you're concerned about dirt? If you use waterproof and stain-resistant fabrics, white can look great on your deck. White brings out the honey hues of lighter woods such as maple.

26 of 30

27 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Connect walkways

Connect walkways

Not all yards are suited for a large, flat deck. If your yard is on an incline, consider a wooden walkway connecting a series of smaller decks.

27 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Try a pergola

Try a pergola

Dress up your deck by adding color-coordinated window baskets and a pergola to deflect the sun. 

28 of 30

29 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Continue colors

Continue colors

Chairs around the table and the fire pit all wear the same color cushions to connect spaces. 

29 of 30

30 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Install mood lighting

Install mood lighting

Decks aren't just for daytime. Add strategically placed lights around your deck to set the mood with illumination as the sun sets.

30 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By The editors of MidwestLiving.com

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 30 Make it comfy
    2 of 30 Step it up
    3 of 30 Deck to impress
    4 of 30 Create privacy
    5 of 30 Lattice up
    6 of 30 Unify with color
    7 of 30 Add water
    8 of 30 Use space under decks
    9 of 30 Focus on furniture
    10 of 30 Have plenty of pillows
    11 of 30 Edge with green
    12 of 30 Hang wall art
    13 of 30 Plant a container garden
    14 of 30 Make a fire bowl
    15 of 30 Add texture
    16 of 30 Personalize pots
    17 of 30 Add punch
    18 of 30 Unify the look
    19 of 30 Add a rug
    20 of 30 Cover with canvas
    21 of 30 Dramatize the scene
    22 of 30 Keep it simple
    23 of 30 Line steps
    24 of 30 Revitalize with color
    25 of 30 Get on my level
    26 of 30 Go white (really!)
    27 of 30 Connect walkways
    28 of 30 Try a pergola
    29 of 30 Continue colors
    30 of 30 Install mood lighting

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Midwest Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • Free Newsletters this link opens in a new tab
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Customer Service this link opens in a new tab
    • Renew this link opens in a new tab
    • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Affiliate Program
    • Free Travel Info this link opens in a new tab
    • Special Promotions this link opens in a new tab
    • Sweepstakes this link opens in a new tab
    • Video
    • Home Advisor this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithMidwest Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Midwest Living. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.midwestliving.com

    Sign in

    View image

    30 Ideas to Dress Up Your Deck
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.