If the past two years have shown us anything, it’s how adaptable we can be when faced with the unimaginable. Countless stories have been told about the ways businesses have shifted, families found creative ways to gather, kids found new ways of learning and how homeowners redefined the spaces in which they lived.
In the outdoor products industry, the greatest trend that emerged was a new way of embracing the outdoors as people pushed beyond the four walls of their homes to create unique outdoor living spaces. These spaces created new ways to cook, to entertain, to work, to play and to gather safely — helping boost moods, calm anxiety and providing solace to those who needed it. Leading the way on many outdoor expansions is composite decking — one of many products that are playing a role in helping bring homeowner’s outdoor dreams to life.
What’s Trending in Deck Designs?
Deck design trends are beginning to mirror trends in home-building more closely — moving toward more modern, contemporary styling that showcases clean lines and incorporates railing products that may offer modern mixed material options, such as glass, decorative screen panel or cable infills.
Homeowners are coordinating deck board colors, railing and outdoor décor to create a cohesive aesthetic that tends to blend more seamlessly with outdoor landscapes. A notable increase in color variegation and more realistic wood grain patterns also echo the desire to create a more natural-looking landing space for newly extended areas.
“We’ve noticed a dramatic increase in homeowners who are looking to expand their outdoor spaces to be more usable areas — some of which are really unique transformations that increase overall quality of life,” said Michael Gabso, Owner, MG Construction & Decks. “Installing a composite deck or expanding an existing one is a great way to achieve that extra square footage. We’ve found the variety of color and patterns found in Barrette Outdoor Living composite decking to be extremely popular amongst our clients.”
Framing Outdoor Space and Focal Features
In addition to increasing a home’s square footage by adding or extending a deck, unique ways of framing spaces and creating focal features have propelled deck design to a whole new level. For example, installing a pergola can create the illusion of an outdoor room by defining an area and adding height while also providing protection from the elements. Outdoor fire features — fireplaces, fire pits and fire tables — help extend the outdoor living season. And water features are a fun and often affordable way to help bring a sense of tranquility to an outdoor space — adding to an outdoor oasis. A grand staircase or outdoor entertainment center to watch the game or movies also make for great focal features.
Whatever outdoor vision a homeowner may have, Barrette Outdoor Living offers a multitude of outdoor products that can help people embrace their Outside Side, moving beyond the confines of their home’s four walls and bringing outdoor spaces to life. To learn more, visit barretteoutdoorliving.com.