Decking is made from planks of wood or composite materials which are easy to cut to size. This makes it a versatile component in garden design, and as garden decking costs between £3 and £20 per square metre, it’s also very affordable.
Because of this, decking a great way to landscape your garden beyond the conventional patio area. Although you may not have thought about it before, it can be used in many differentand creative ways around the garden. Here’s a few fresh ideas to inspire you.
Make an outdoor dining space
Typically, outdoor dining spaces are limited to the patio area by the house. But they don’t have to be. If your patio is already being used as a relaxed seating area or isn’t big enough to accommodate everyone, why not use decking toextend the patio or to create a dedicated dining space? Patios can be overshadowed by the house, so by positioning your dining area at the other end of the garden, you could make the most of the sunny weather.
Create a raised platform
Decking is usually laid on a flat surface, but unlike paving, it doesn’t have to be. With the right foundations and support, you can lay a deck over a sloping area of garden, creating a raised platform. This not only gives you a flat surface to use for seating but it can also give you a better outlook over your garden. If your decked platform extends over a steep slope, you will need to install safety rails but you can use the sides of the platform as extra growing space for climbers.
Tier a sloping garden
That’s not the only way decking can be useful in sloping gardens. It can also be handy for creating tiers or multiple levels. You can use decking planks to make platforms,retaining walls, raised beds and steps, so you end up with attractive terracing that’s customised to the shape and size of your garden.
Lay a boardwalk through your garden
If you’re creating a garden for wildlife and plan to install features such as ponds and meadows with tall grasses and flowers, why not use decking to make a boardwalk that snakesthrough your garden? It can be used to create a path overponds and bog gardens, helping you to get up close without harming the plants or getting your feet wet. Plus, it will make a wander through your outside space feel more like an adventure.
Surround a pond
Decking is also really handy for using around a pond. Not only does it provide a safe surface to walk on but it enables you to create a relaxing seating area beside it. Surrounding a small pond with a deck can also help to make it more of a central feature, especially if you lay the decking planks so they radiate outwards or in a decorative chevron pattern.
Take outdoor living to the max
You don’t need to limit decking to a small area or a standard shape. A wraparound deck is a good example of this. It hugs the walls of your house on multiple sides and works well with homes that feature a wraparound extension, multiple doors orlarge sections of glazing. This type of deck can accommodate different functions including cooking, dining and seating. And it works well to join different areas of your garden, such as side and rear spaces, together.
Zone your garden
Using different surfaces and textures in your garden can help zone the space. So, you could use decking alongside paving and lawns to map out and separate sections of your garden. This can be handy if you want to create a grown-up area that’s free from kids’ toys. Using decking to add in more colour and texture can also help to make your garden look more interesting.
Design a play area
Decking might not be your first thought for creating a play area but its versatility makes it ideal for building an activity station with incorporated storage and kids’ seating. Because it’s a slightly raised surface, it gives you to opportunity toinstall a recessed sand pit, helping to contain mess and keep the garden tidy. One of the great things about decking is that you can add in safety features such as handrails and anti-slip surfaces.
Fashion some planters
When you’re installing decking, you can be left with lots of cut-offs. Rather than throw these away, you could use them for smaller garden projects such as building raised beds and planters. One of the benefits of doing this is they’ll automatically blend in with your decking, so your garden will look cohesive.
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