Weeks

Home Hardware

​For many people, summer time is deck time! They can’t wait to get outdoors to entertain friends or host a family get-together. Having a gorgeous deck makes an outdoor soirée even more enjoyable. So, what do you do to make your deck the best place to be this summer? Here are just a few ideas and some great stain colour ideas to make your deck look its best.

Coat It to Perfection

​​Decks are a perennial favorite with homeowners—despite the maintenance commitments—because nothing beats the beauty of natural wood. A semi-transparent stain will allow the natural grain to show through.

On the other hand, an opaque coating will allow you see the beautiful texture of the wood. You just need to decide what you like best. In both cases, deck stains come in a variety of colours —everything from subtle greys and browns to dark greens and greys. Wood Shield stain comes in 36 premixed solid and semi-transparent colours. Solid colour stains can also be tinted to over 1000 colours so the sky’s the limit.

Create an Eye-Catching Colour Scheme

​Decks can really come alive if you select an eye-catching colour scheme. As an example, you can do your deck floor boards in a Bark Chip (WST28-9) or Cedar (WST10) and do the railings and balusters in Elm (WSC56-9) or Pine Forest (WSC57-9). White railings and balusters also work nicely in contrast with the darker colors you may choose for your deck’s floor. Another popular choice is to do the railings and floor boards in the same colour such as walnut or cedar.

Dark colours such as Black Spruce and Ebony have become quite popular in recent years with a lighter colour outdoor area rug to accessorize. Solid colours such as Cape Cod Grey (WSC40-0), Granite Ridge (WSC41-9), Beach Wood (WSC58-0), Clay Stone (WSC60-9) are among the top deck colours in recent years. These often are paired with soft neutrals for the trim, such as white, cream or grey, as opposed to the more colourful hues of the past.

A major decorating decision that you’ll need to consider is if you should stain your deck to blend in or contrast with the colour of your home’s siding. There’s no hard-and-fast rule on that. However, contrasting colours often work best—i.e., light siding against the dark wood of your deck. This allows your deck to stand out as a separate living space. In some cases, you may want the deck’s floor boards to contrast with the siding but have the railings and balusters be close in colour to the siding to tie the look together.

Furnish and Accessorize

Once you have the coatings and colour scheme chosen, you’re still not done. You need to complete your outdoor space with fashionable furnishings and accessories. Furnish your deck with outdoor chairs, chaises and sofas that provide comfort to friends and families. Tables accentuated with a colourful patio umbrella is another way to provide fashion.

Among the accessories that work well on a deck are potted plants and flowers. The greenery of summer flora will likely look great in contrast to the earthy tones of your deck. Additionally, there are a variety of flowers that will add color nice color to your deck décor, including pansies, geraniums, impatiens and petunias.

Last but not least, don’t forget the lighting. Overhead string lighting and lanterns add a nice finishing touch. Overhead lighting provides a nice ambience and also allows your deck to be seen in all its glory even after the sun goes down.