A deck shouldn’t be an appendage to a home. It should be an extension, a part of it. With the trend of seamless indoor-outdoor living, more homeowners are looking for ways to blend their indoor and outdoor spaces smoothly. Thanks to new advancements in decking products and décor, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor space is easier than ever!

It’s time to deck out your deck. Where do you start?

Often, it can be right under your nose. Take a moment to look around your home and notice the colors, styles, furnishings, wood tones, and metals that you love the most. Use this “real life” mood board as your deck design inspiration.

Thankfully, with the growing outdoor living industry, you have more options than ever before to create a deck that matches your inside aesthetic.

Making the Right Connection

To create a seamless transition from indoor to outdoor living, it starts with the connecting point. Typically, decks are built off a living room or kitchen. This provides the best flow and usage of space since decks are where you and your guests go to relax, eat, and entertain, which also happens in living rooms and kitchens. But this alone doesn’t mean your connection is seamless.

• Most homeowners today are selecting French doors, sliding doors, and bi-fold doors as entry points to their decks.

These options create larger openings than a traditional, single door. They also let in more natural light, allow your eyeline to continue uninterrupted from inside to outside, and provide better views of your backyard and natural surroundings.

Another important step is making sure there are no steps.

• A level threshold from the inside out really makes the deck feel like an extension of your living space.

But you don’t have to keep your deck to one level.

• Multi-tiered decks or creating an underdeck space are great ways to extend outdoor living options and create additional value in your home.

Choosing the Right Materials

At no other time has there been more options for outdoor flooring. This is good because the same can be said for indoor flooring! Matching or complementary flooring is essential to achieve design continuity.

• You can easily find similar stains, colors, and wood-grain patterns in your indoor hardwood or laminate flooring, which can also be found in composite decking.

You don’t have to match its tone for tone, but similar shades and styles can work very well together in creating a cohesive look.

You can also create some variety by laying the deck boards in a different direction or pattern.

Other materials from inside can be inspiration for your deck.

• If you have stone around a fireplace, you can use stone planters on your deck.

• Wood floors inside could be wood (or wood-like) furniture outside.

Look at the metals – lights, fixtures or appliances – in your home and use those as options for outdoor lighting or railings for your deck.

Deck lighting is essential in setting the right mood, but one type of lighting usually isn’t enough.

Tip: When decorating, whether inside or out, you should use a mix of ambient or overall lighting (wall-mounted or string lights), task lighting (for grilling or reading), or accent lighting (around architectural details or landscaping).

Cohesive outdoor lighting helps as you, your guests, and even your party move from inside to outside and back again!

Creating the Right Style

Probably the most fun part of helping make two spaces feel like one is in the decorating. If the inside of your home has a light, clean, organic look, then your deck should have the same vibe. It would be shocking to stand in a white kitchen and see a tropical burst of colors and décor on your deck.

• Choose color schemes, textiles, patterns, and furnishings that have the same style as your indoor look and feel.

• Your selections should be durable for the climate of your location and the correct fit for the function you’re trying to achieve.

• If you want a place to cook and eat, create a zone on your deck with a grill and table.

• If you want a place to relax, create a sitting area with sofas, chairs, and a coffee table.

Tip: Accent pillows and outdoor rugs can bring in pops of color and personality mirrored inside your home while also helping to anchor and warm up your spaces.

Making the Right Finishing Touches

To truly maximize indoor-outdoor living, consider how you can use your space year-round.

• If heat and direct sunlight are an issue where you live, a pergola, awning, or sunshade can be great additions to your deck.

And what about those pesky insects?

• If you want to keep your beautiful sliding doors open, install retractable screens to keep the bugs out while the breezes come in.

Maybe you would spend more time on your deck if you could watch a movie or the big game while grilling a burger or lounging in a hammock.

• Mount an outdoor TV to create another space for entertaining and hanging out with friends and family.

• If it’s safe for your type and structure of deck, a firepit or outdoor fireplace are the perfect ways to enjoy cool nights under the stars.

Tip: Like making a house a home, you can make your deck homier with plants, windchimes, sculptures, outdoor artwork, or lanterns. A budget-friendly tip is to “shop” the inside of your home, garage, or attic and pull excess pieces suitable for the outside. Voila!

Getting it Right

Details do matter when creating design continuity between your indoor and outdoor living.

• The color palette, materials, patterns, and vibe in both spaces should feel similar and all work together.

You aren’t trying to create carbon copies but want harmony.

With today’s decking and outdoor living options, you can create the function and aesthetic you want to extend your space and enhance your everyday life.

In a nutshell, here are the key takeaways:

• Create a deck that feels like a natural extension of your home

• Find your inspo from the colors, styles, and materials you already love inside your home.

• Go for French or sliding doors for a stylish and level transition from inside to outside.

• Your floors don’t have to match from inside to out. Instead, they should complement one another. Use stone, wood, and metal from your interior to tie in and complement your exterior.

• Finally, use lighting and zoning for different activities to enhance your outdoor living space.

Keep in mind that it’s all about harmony, not replication. Use these 5 tips to blend your indoor and outdoor styles, so you too can create a seamless, functional deck space!

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Michael is Principal designer and blogger at Michael Helwig Interiors in beautiful Buffalo, New York. Since 2011, he’s a space planning expert, offering online interior e-design services for folks living in small homes, or for those with awkward and tricky layouts. He’s a frequent expert contributor to many National media publications and news outlets on topics related to decorating, interior design, diy projects, and more. Michael happily shares his experience to help folks avoid expensive mistakes and decorating disappointments. You can follow him on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook @interiorsmh.