Are you searching for covered deck ideas that offer beauty, functionality, and comfort? You are not alone. No matter how inviting an outdoor deck is, people will hunt for shade when the temperatures rise. Luckily, a gorgeous covered deck, complete with well-designed built-ins and architectural enhancements that reflect and complement your home\u2019s style, can be yours with some patience and planning. If the weather has inspired you to take hosting and relaxation out of doors, read on as we reveal some of our favorite covered deck designs.<\/p>\n
In most cases, you want to create an outdoor space that acts as a visual extension of your home\u2019s design \u2013 this is particularly true when you are building a deck for a stylistically distinct Mid-Century Modern home. The best covered deck ideas offer a smooth blend of decorative and architectural elements and will leave your guests convinced that this elegant upgrade was always part of your home.<\/p>\n
Builder Corbin Moore, architect Dale Parks, and designer Magida Diouri recently created a stunning covered deck for a Mid-Century Modern home outside of Tampa Bay, Florida. The result? The Spruce<\/i><\/a> applauds: \u201cThe deck flooring is constructed of concrete and Cumaru (an exotic hardwood), while the kitchen and deck\u2019s ceiling is cypress. Repurposed terrazzo pavers lead from the water to the deck, which is also made of Cumaru.\u201d Each element of the deck plays off the interior design beautifully and offers the family a true indoor\/outdoor living option.<\/p>\n Typically, pergolas are crafted with four or more posts, enjoy flat roofs, and feature beams or slats across the top of the structure. From there, you have a whole world of design options available \u2013 from adding cross beams to draped fabric or thick vines and hanging plants. This green approach is a key element in one of Southern Living<\/i><\/a>\u2019s favorite outdoor space transformations. In that design, the Magazine<\/a> reports, a \u201c10-foot-wide by 30-foot-long iron pergola\u201d was installed, and vibrant, flowering wisteria was planted at the base of the columns for easy vining. In time, this stunning design yielded \u201ca leafy canopy overhead\u201d and a fragrant retreat when the plants are in bloom. This approach is remarkably versatile, working wonderfully to produce fairytale hideaways, rustic outdoor dining rooms, and private entertaining spots for a wide variety of home styles.<\/p>\n Open arbors can also take advantage of the beauty of thriving plants while offering a classic look and a relatively quicker construction period than many other covered deck ideas. Arbors are essentially smaller pergolas that feature simple slat roofs and, often, lattices. Open designs allow more sunlight to filter onto the deck, making it appealing for sunbathing and container gardening. The clean, classic look of open arbors appeals to the editors at My Domaine<\/i><\/a>, who love that the \u201cdesign is prime real estate for trailing plants, from classic grapevines to more tropical varieties that will add lush greenery with time.\u201d<\/p>\n Do you want to transform your terrace into an urban oasis? This was a task assigned to New Eco Landscapes of Brooklyn by a Manhattan high-rise property owner. Their answer, reported by The Spruce<\/i><\/a>, was to \u201c[create] an urban perch with warm wood decking and an angled sail that shades the outdoor dining area.\u201d Moving from concrete to wood decking was an inspired choice for creating a more inviting, upscale atmosphere. The ample, perfectly designed shade sail covers diners while still leaving a section of terrace open to the sun. A mix of large and small containers filled with \u201clow-maintenance, drought-tolerant plants and annuals\u201d finish the look while providing vital natural elements and an added sense of privacy.<\/p>\n Classic farmhouse designs are timeless for a reason. The covered decks inspired by this type of architecture will instantly upgrade your outdoor space with a look that is both modern and traditional. You\u2019ll love the results of building an open-rafter deck, particularly if you are hoping to create an entertaining space that includes an outdoor kitchen, plentiful seating, and impressive views of nature. Why an open-rafter farmhouse frame? My Domaine<\/i><\/a> reveals why this look is perfect, particularly during the warm weather months: \u201cThe open rafter area is ideal for letting the season\u2019s breezes wisp through, and overhead fans can be added to help facilitate some flow when there\u2019s no breeze to be found.\u201d<\/p>\n Does your beach house deck need an upgrade? Whether you are right on the sand or have an elevated view of the ocean, it makes sense to consider covered deck ideas that make the most of your view and work with the upscale beach atmosphere. Designers at The Spruce<\/i><\/a> loved Villa and Villa\u2019s redesign of a rustic-chic, greyed-out hardwood deck for a client in Sydney. There, designers worked with the hardwood color scheme and created a \u201cwood-frame pergola [featuring] a thatch-style roof for a casual, tropical look\u201d that \u201creflects the homeowners\u2019 lifestyle in Sydney, Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n Designers at Cape Reed considered numerous ideas for a sustainable, elegant, and dramatic covered deck outside of a stunning home in Los Monteros, Marbella, Spain. The final structure, according to The Spruce<\/i><\/a>, included \u201c200 pressure-treated poles and more than 1,000 nuts and bolts,\u201d as well as \u201cthatching from the southern tip of Africa\u201d used for the roof, which was \u201cgrown under strict, sustainable farming practices.\u201d\u00a0The look is exquisite and perfectly in keeping with the home\u2019s style and the owners\u2019 desire to create a space that would be ideal for entertaining all year long.<\/p>\n Multi-level raised decks offer homeowners with steep lots the opportunity to house several outdoor entertaining and living areas. One of Better Homes & Gardens<\/i><\/a>\u2019 favorite multi-level deck ideas features a deck that \u201cconnects a gazebo, kitchen, and spa\u201d with steps leading to various platforms. The charming gazebo at one end of the deck provides a perfectly appointed covered perch with \u201ca view of birch, blue spruce, and aspen trees, with the Rocky Mountains in the distance.\u201d Ample built-in seating is supplemented with occasional chairs so that the views can be admired comfortably. And while a large dining table by the outdoor kitchen serves large gatherings well, a cozy table in the gazebo is perfect for date nights and more intimate dinners.<\/p>\n Webber + Studio Inc. was recently tasked with recreating the romance of a homeowners\u2019 adventures in Bali when designing three pavilions outside of their home in Austin, Texas. The builders explained to The Spruce<\/i><\/a> that the \u201cthree pavilions [were] unified by a large roof that creates an exotic regionalism yet keeps an understated presence within the neighborhood.\u201d The Magazine<\/a> also revealed: \u201cOne of the pavilions shelters a covered porch and uses Texas limestone, river rock, oak millwork, and mahogany finishes. The deck is made of ipe with birch plywood soffits.\u201d The luxury redesign of this covered deck was an extraordinary success and created an exquisite outdoor living space that is irresistible any time of year.<\/p>\nLeafy Pergolas<\/h2>\n
Open Arbors<\/h2>\n
Urban Perches<\/h2>\n
Farmhouse Framing<\/h2>\n
Tropical Beach Vibes<\/h2>\n
Multi-Level Covered Deck<\/h2>\n
Hints of Adventure<\/h2>\n