You’ve decided you want a custom deck for your home, and now comes the fun part: the design. Before building starts, you have the opportunity to visualize and plan out the perfect deck for your home. If you aren’t quite sure where to start, here’s a quick look at three of the most important factors to keep in mind as you design.  

3 Custom Deck Design Tips

1. Consider Size & Shape

A big deck for entertaining or relaxing sounds great, but how practical is it with your space? If your deck will be an outdoor extension of your indoor living space, it will play a big part in the size and shape. A popular guideline to take into consideration is that your deck should not be bigger than 20% of your home’s square footage. Remember, the goal is to have a house with a deck, not a deck with a house attached to it. 

There’s a lot of flexibility when it comes to the shape. A rectangular house doesn’t mean you have to have a rectangular deck. Curves, sharp or rounded angles, and even different levels can all give your deck a personalized look and feel. 

2. Sun vs. Shade

If dinner on the deck is one of the things you’re excited about, do a quick test first. Go outside in the evening and see where the sun is setting. How do the property’s trees come into play in terms of blocking or allowing sunlight? This is a factor that’s easy to overlook during the design process but becomes important later when you realize the space you deemed for sunbathing is shaded most of the day or the area intended for dining is always in direct sun on a hot July evening. The sun and weather may not always cooperate, so consider adding pergolas or gazebos into your custom deck’s design. 

3. Lifestyle Considerations

What are you most excited about? Is it evening BBQs with the family? Maybe it’s sipping a frosty beverage out in the sunshine. If you have a large family or network of friends, you’ll need to think about integrated seating and a dining area with a spot designated for a built-in cook center. You’ll get the most enjoyment from a deck that’s designed to accommodate the activities and lifestyle you enjoy.

Is it time to take your custom deck from design to reality? The expert craftsmen at Decks Unlimited in Ozark, AL, are here to help. They guarantee the highest quality of construction for every deck they build, and they keep this promise by only taking on one project at a time to ensure all their efforts are focused on you and only you. If you aren’t 100% satisfied with your new deck, they offer the best guarantee in the business: a lifetime warranty. Visit them online to learn more about their customer satisfaction guarantee or see pictures of their completed projects. Call them today for a free quote at (334) 774-1608.