Looking for inspiration for your garden decking project? Or want to discover a new way to add flair to your existing outdoor living space?
Take a look at our decking ideas round-up below for exciting ways to add flair and practicality to your decking area and outdoor space. From contemporary garden design ideas to outdoor dining spaces and creative ways to recycle any leftover decking boards, the perfect garden deck is easier to create than you might think.
We've sourced the below inspirational decking projects by Cladco customers who have used various ways to update and improve their decking areas and gardens to inspire you along the way.
Article Contents:
Experiment with raised decks
Make uneven ground level
Decking can help to conceal and level out the uneven ground in your outdoor space and provide a flat, decked seating area.
Cladco composite decking products provide the best material for this, owing to their rot-resistant properties. Laying Cladco weed mat and pins underneath the decking will also help to prevent unwanted plants or weeds from growing up through the gaps in your boards over time.
Try an elevated deck to match other areas
To reduce the risk of tripping over steps, try a raised deck. A high-decked terrace makes for the perfect spot to add outdoor dining furniture.
This will allow you to enjoy your garden while relaxing, eating and drinking with family and friends - all on comfortable and stylish garden furniture that is in keeping with the rest of your outdoor space.
The below composite decking area has been installed as a raised platform, complete with glass balustrades and Cladco composite fence posts. Stone Grey and Teak composite decking create a contemporary contrast.
Plan your decking shape for the space
Arrange decking around smaller spaces
Making the most of small garden spaces can be done with a minimalistic approach. Deck boards are a versatile way to define distinct zones in your outdoor area, allowing you to create multiple levels and make the most of every inch of available space.
Consider the addition of tall potted plants, which you can position easily to cover any joins or the odd decking stain.
Adding compact furniture can make better use of tighter spaces. A simple colour scheme throughout keeps the space light and airy, plus makes potted plants and furniture colour schemes pop.
ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO LAY DECKING BOARDS
Modular deck layout
When planning your decking design, for added interest consider building a modular layout consisting of multiple, alternating segments. This type of layout looks great with varying colours of decking boards and is best for working around difficult or small garden spaces.
Framed deck layout
If you like the look of 'picture framing' as part of your deck design, create a dual-coloured deck using two different coloured deck boards - one as the base colour and one to use around the edges.
Cladco’s composite bullnose boards have a rounded edge along one side of the board, with the other edge easily fitting within your Cladco Decking® layout, creating a neat, framed effect. When installing decking boards from our Signature range, you will need to use our Signature solid bullnose composite decking boards. For ProDeck installations, you will require the matching ProDeck bullnose composite decking board.
Chevron deck layout
Consider a chevron design as part of your garden decking layout. This is a great way to create the illusion of movement, with adjoining diagonal lines meeting at different angles for a multi-dimensional look.
Make sure the supporting joists for your deck are doubled up where the diagonal boards meet around the central design.
Herringbone deck layout
The herringbone design is the most intricate design of the four listed here, with a step pattern running throughout the centre of the deck. It's important to give the design enough support where the boards meet, using two supporting joists linked to singular joists.
Try Different Decking Materials
Combine decking boards with stones or paving
You might want to get creative with the look and feel of your garden design by introducing flagstones or similarly coloured paving stones around your decking installation.
This can create a neat surrounding area for your deck and the contrasting textures add interest and a contemporary feel.
Use Composite Decking to change the Colour of your Garden
Be creative with colour schemes
When it comes to decking, choosing the right colour can completely transform a space, especially in small garden spaces.The colours available within the Cladco composite decking range will allow you to be creative with the colour scheme of your outdoor area. We have two types of composite decking board: Signature and ProDeck. Our Signature composite decking boards are available in eight colours and our ProDeck composite decking has a choice of seven beautiful shades, including Onyx and Sandstone.
The warm wood tones of Cladco composite Teak decking boards below, combined with the bright tropical plants, make for an exotic and fun outdoor space to entertain guests and enjoy time with the family.
Try adding Decking Accessories
Complement your decking area with a balustrade system
Decking areas that aren't surrounded by exterior walls, a fence or hedges can greatly benefit from having a metal balustrade system in place.
This not only gives something for people to hold onto but gives the decking area more prominence, especially if grass or fencing does not surround it.
Railing systems can also add an extra element of style to your deck design, transforming the look. A low-maintenance, powder-coated aluminium balustrade system doesn't require painting and will mean that, with low upkeep, this will last for years to come.
Add matching steps
Matching steps and stairways can be built into your decking design with matching composite decking boards that have been cut to size. See our decking steps ideas blog post for a more detailed discussion.
In the image above the colour scheme runs throughout the design, whilst composite corner trims create a neat edge along the way.
Stone Grey Signature composite decking boards are used in the first of the images below and make for an attractive step-up design that blends into the natural surroundings and gabion wall in the background.
Cladco’s premium Nordeck decking boards are also a great way to create seamless steps. The solid ASA resin shell provides a highly weather and scratch-resistant surface, which is ideal for areas with high footfall on your decked area.
The below project has used Cladco Nordeck boards in the colour Cedar Wood. This replicates the look of wood decking without the ongoing maintenance required of real timber.
Create a shelter on Nordeck or solid decking boards
Quality decking boards, such as Nordeck or Signature solid composite boards, make for a firm, level area that's perfect for outdoor dining.
These are also ideal for heavier decking furniture or for adding a semi-covered area, such as a pergola, allowing you to enjoy your deck in sun, shade and shelter.
This is down to their increased strength and durability, owing to their solid core and robust ASA resin coating (Nordeck boards only).
Build a practical BBQ shelter on your ultra-durable Nordeck decking boards—just like in the project below—to create a dedicated cooking and dining space that doubles as a covered deck when the weather isn’t on your side.
Combine a bar area with decking
The project below features our Signature composite decking boards in Charcoal which, when paired with the bar's painted white walls, creates a striking contrast that clearly defines the host and guest spaces.
The example below shows how leftover composite boards can be repurposed to create your very own bar and bar stools! Unlike natural materials, composite is split- and splinter-resistant, making it a comfortable and practical choice for outdoor furniture.
Experiment with Spare Boards
Design a walkway made from composite decking boards
Incorporate a low-maintenance garden path into your decking design using the same colour boards as used in the decking, to make a low-slip, high-quality walkway from one outdoor space to the next.
The durable, hardwearing properties of wood-plastic composite decking mean you won't be replacing the boards as often as you would with traditional timber walkways.
Integrate Plants into your Decking
Raised beds created from matching decking
Line your decking space with natural foliage and plant pots to bring some colour and life into your garden.
Composite Decking can make for the perfect raised flower beds in your garden space. Boards will not only provide insect and rot-resistant properties, but will also look fantastic in your garden.
Make use of excess decking materials
Building furniture and accessories is a great way to use up any excess decking boards and offcuts while adding simple creative decorative touches to your garden.
Cladco composite decking boards are rot and insect-resistant, thanks to being manufactured from 60% recycled wood fibres and 40% recycled plastic. This makes them the perfect material to create seating areas, plant pot containers or even outdoor armchairs.
Set the mood with evening lighting
Nothing completes a deck design quite like warm mood lighting to relax with under the stars.
Fix your lighting to a marquee, or surrounding fencing, and soak up the atmosphere while spending the evening hours enjoying your deck. There are many cost-effective lighting options available to complement your decking space - from solar lights to fairy lights or even hanging lanterns.
CONCLUSION:
Whether you're looking to level out uneven ground, design a space for cooking and entertaining, or get creative with a unique decking layout, the possibilities are endless.
The look and feel of your decking needn't be generic and it's easy to make your space unique with customisation.
Once you've chosen your decking material, and have found the best design for your space, work with additional furniture and accessories to establish a personalised look. You'll want a decking area that will last and can be easily updated for years to come.
Not quite had your fill of decking inspiration? For composite decking-related ideas check out our composite decking ideas and inspiration blog post.
If you want to quickly estimate the cost of your decking project and bring your outdoor vision to life, be sure to use our helpful, easy-to-use decking calculator.
Alternatively, please contact our friendly Sales Team on 01837 659901 for a quote or further assistance.
