Deck, Patio, or Both?

Sunset magazine

In the quest for more living space, there's one spot we often overlook: outside. What better way to take the heat off interior traffic, bring the outdoors in, and frame dramatic views than to build or expand an outdoor hardscape? Your outdoor room might be classic and formal or fluid and naturalistic. You may be yearning for an inviting entertainment space, a remote private refuge, a restorative spa, or simply for a flat spot for sunbathing and stargazing. Or maybe you want it all. You needn't settle for

that boring patio slab. Interior design ideas are migrating outdoors and new shapes, colours, textures, and amenities abound.

First things first: would you prefer a patio or a deck? Sometimes it's simply a matter of site or style. Deck lumber is durable and resilient underfoot, and it won't store heat the way other materials can. Decks can tame sloping, bumpy, or poorly draining ground. Designs and materials are dancing new steps. Hardwoods add a furniture-like elegance; man-made and recycled products are also on the rise.

Patios, on the other hand, lend an unmatched sense of permanence and tradition to a formal garden or house design. You might choose unit masonry such as traditional brick, ceramic tile, or elegant stone. Concrete pavers are rising stars, and they're easy for the do-it-yourselfer to install. And don't rule out concrete; you'll discover there are lots of jazzy techniques for colouring, texturing, and softening the familiar slab. Loose materials are yet another option.

Or why not combine both patio and deck in one multifaceted design? A blend of masonry and wood allows great flexibility in space, texture, and finished height.

And since summer's always just around the corner, isn't now the time to get started?