Blended Spaces: A Guide to Outdoor Rooms and Living Areas

Combining indoor and outdoor areas creates open living areas that extend the footprint of your house in wonderful ways. Deck rooms and other outdoor rooms don’t just enhance your living space—they can enhance your property’s aesthetics and overall value.

By blending function, aesthetics, and comfort, these spaces can provide the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors without actually leaving your house, as they’re connected to your home anyway. In this guide, we’ll explore blended spaces, particularly deck rooms which are steadily gaining strong popularity. 

Current Trends in Outdoor Living 

Outdoor living has come a long way in recent years, with sustainable materials and multi-functional spaces taking center stage. In the modern era, many homeowners prefer to prioritize eco-friendly options like composite decking, which uses recycled materials.

Deck rooms also generally blend eco-friendliness and aesthetics without having to sacrifice one or the other. Multi-functional decks are also now common, serving as dedicated dining, relaxing, or even working spaces.

It’s a fact that whether it’s an outdoor lounge, work, dining area, or even an outdoor kitchen, modern deck rooms are gradually changing based on current needs, making them good for year-round use. 

Designing Your Outdoor Space 

Assessing Your Yard 

You’ll need to examine your yard before starting your deck room project. Check for spots with natural shade that drain well and are close to your house entrance. You’ll also need to account for and balance both privacy and the surrounding environment. When choosing a location, your deck room should connect easily to your home’s interior space.

Choosing Materials 

Decks come in multiple material choices for you to select from. Wood deck types like cedar and redwood feature a distinctive natural look but will need regular care through protective sealing.

Composite decking made from wood fibers and plastic needs less attention and lasts longer yet costs more than other materials upfront. Take note of your budget and consider your local climate when choosing. 

Design Ideas for Deck Rooms 

If you have limited space, a simple design you can follow is to get a platform deck that rests on the ground. But if you have more space, you can also place a freestanding deck anywhere across your yard. However, if you want an elevated look, a raised deck setup helps you achieve privacy and lets you enjoy scenic views both at the same time.

Creating a Functional Deck Room 

Functionality and Aesthetics 

When designing a deck room, you’ll need to blend both practicality and aesthetics. The first step to do that is to ask yourself what you want to do with the room—-will it serve as a dedicated dining area or just a simple relaxation spot?

Once you determine the purpose of the space, this is when you select furniture and account for weather and climate patterns. For example, if it rains frequently in your area, you’ll need to buy weather-resistant furniture. You might also want to add storage options like benches or cabinets, or even add a canopy to provide shade. 

Multi-Level Decks 

You can divide your deck into separate areas using multiple levels to design dedicated spaces for eating, relaxing, and hosting guests. On one level of the deck, you can put a dining area, and across different floors, you can set up spaces for relaxation, while a small fire pit area provides warmth in the evenings. However, multi-level decks only just make sense when you have a lot of extra space. 

Lighting and Landscaping 

A nicely illuminated and landscaped deck room will be like a timeless beauty—-both pretty at night and day. To make your deck room safe and aesthetic, consider using LED lights in railings and steps. You can also add string lights to a canopy or a pergola to supplement your existing light.

You can also add planters and flowers to enhance the daytime allure of your space. Apart from safety, illumination, and landscaping also make your space more enjoyable and relaxing both at night and day. 

Budgeting and Planning 

Your deck room planning should include all costs for materials and design features. Different types of decking materials including wood, composite, and PVC all have different price points you’ll need to factor into your budget.

Wood offers the lowest price but needs regular upkeep. Composite and PVC materials have higher initial costs but pay off through reduced maintenance expenses. When computing your budget, include expenses for workers, lighting fixtures, furniture items, and garden work so it’s accurate.

You’ll also need to contact several contractors for the best prices to stay within your budget. But if you plan to do the work yourself, you need to use the same budgeting method as with a contractor. You also should be ready if temporary setbacks occur, such as if you don’t have the necessary tools, your budget isn’t enough, or when you don’t know how to finish the project right in time. 

Always plan for future maintenance too, so factor in extra costs in your budget. Remember, investing in top-quality materials can save you money on repairs and subsequent headaches. 

DIY vs. Professional Installation 

Completing your own deck can be rewarding if you know basic carpentry and woodworking and how to use power tools. However, it’s an effort- and time-intensive task, and you’ll need to make the deck strong and secure; otherwise, it may collapse.

If that seems intimidating for you, you don’t have to DIY. Professional contractors have the right tools, knowledge, and manpower to complete the project, plus, they often offer warranty on their work.

Hiring them makes sense if you lack confidence and experience. It also makes sense if you want an intricate design or a complex added feature. The added cost is often worth the peace of mind knowing your deck is built with accuracy and long-term durability. 

Maintenance and Upkeep 

Any deck material, including composites, requires maintenance. Wood typically needs regular sealing and staining to protect it from moisture and weather, while composites and PVC are easier to maintain. You just need to remove dirt and debris by brushing or hosing them down.

Consider setting up regular cleaning schedules for your deck furniture to ensure a longer lifespan. Shading furniture, especially plastic tables and chairs, can also help prevent fading and cracking.

Seasonal maintenance runs are important as well; before winter, clean your deck and apply protective coating (if you have a wood deck), but if you have composites, you just need to clean dirt and debris to prevent them from sticking to the surface.

In spring, inspect your deck and check for any major signs of wear and tear and address them as needed. Doing these maintenance runs ensures your deck room will be functional, beautiful, and inviting all year round. 

Conclusion

Creating a deck room is a fun but often challenging way to transform and expand your outdoor space into a liveable area. By combining practical features, aesthetic design, and functional elements, you can essentially extend your home outdoors and dine, relax, chat, and just enjoy the view and the cool air with a deck room.

For high-quality decking material, consider Oakio—a top WPC innovator, producer, and worldwide distributor known for sustainably durable, aesthetic, and long-lasting WPC decking. Check out Oakio today and find out how our products can help you realize your deck room construction!