Decking Ideas: 10 Designs for UK Gardens, With the Practical Detail

The best decking ideas solve a problem in the garden: a slope that's hard to use, a spot that catches the evening sun, or a patio door that opens onto nothing much. Here are ten designs that work well, with the practical note that decides whether each one works in a UK garden.

1. A split-level deck on a slope

Decking is one of the easiest ways to make a sloping garden usable. Two or three levels, stepped down the slope, give you distinct areas for dining and lounging, and keeping each level low avoids the height limit that brings planning into play.

Builder's note: under permitted development, no part of a deck should be more than 30cm above the ground. On a slope, stepping the levels down keeps you within that. Our post on decking planning permission explains the rules.

2. A deck straight off the kitchen doors

A deck set just below the level of a kitchen or living room door extends the room outside. Running the boards in the same direction as the internal floor makes the two feel connected.

Builder's note: the deck must sit below the house's damp proof course, with a gap at the wall, so it doesn't hold water against the brickwork.

3. A deck at the bottom of the garden

If the house end of the garden is shaded in the evening, a deck at the far end often gets far more use. Add a pergola and it becomes an outdoor room.

4. Built-in seating

Benches built into the edge of the deck provide seating without cluttering it with furniture, and double as a boundary. A seat height of around 450mm with a slight back angle is comfortable; storage lids underneath hide cushions over winter.

5. Planters built into the frame

Raised planters at the corners or along the sides soften a large deck and give climbing plants something to grow on. Line them properly so wet soil isn't sitting against the deck frame.

6. Mixing decking and paving

A deck for lounging next to a paved area for the barbecue and dining works well, because each material does what it's best at. Stone is better where there's heat and grease; timber or composite is warmer underfoot. Our patios team often builds the two together so the levels line up.

7. Lighting in the steps and edges

Low-voltage LED lights set into step risers and fascia boards make a deck safe and usable after dark. Plan the cabling before the boards go down; retrofitting means lifting boards. External lighting circuits should be installed by a qualified electrician.

8. Glass or cable balustrades

On a raised deck, a glass or stainless cable balustrade keeps the view open while making the edge safe. Timber spindles suit a more traditional house. Any balustrade needs posts fixed securely into the frame, not just screwed onto the boards.

9. Picture-frame edging

A border board running around the edge of the deck (the "picture frame") hides cut board ends and gives a neat, finished look. It also protects the end grain on timber decks, which is where rot usually starts.

10. Non-slip decking for shady spots

In a shaded or north-facing garden, decking can get slippery once algae builds up. Grooved composite boards, or timber boards with anti-slip inserts or a gritted surface, give much better grip in the wet. Keeping the deck clean matters too: see our guide on how to build decking for the frame and board details that help decks drain and dry out.

Small decking ideas

In a small garden, a single low deck with boards running away from the house makes the space look longer. Lighter composite colours keep it feeling open. Built-in benches along one side save the floor space that loose chairs would take. Keep the edge simple: in a small space, a fussy balustrade or too many levels makes it feel crowded.

Decking around a hot tub or pool

A deck built around a hot tub makes it look finished and hides the cabinet, but the frame has to be designed for the weight. A filled hot tub, with people in it, is far heavier than anything else a garden deck normally carries, so it usually sits on its own concrete base with the deck built around it rather than on top. Boards around water need to be slip-resistant, and access panels should be left so the tub can be serviced.

Decking with a pergola

A pergola over part of a deck gives shade in summer, somewhere to hang lights and a frame for climbing plants. Posts can be fixed into the deck frame on a low deck with the right brackets, but on a larger or raised deck they're better taken down to their own footings. A louvred or fabric roof turns the deck into a space you can use in light rain.

What to think about before choosing a design

Before settling on a design, check four things:

• Sun and shade: where the sun is at the times you'll use the deck

• Levels: how the deck meets the house, the lawn and any patio, and whether any part would sit more than 30cm above the ground

• Drainage: whether water can get away from under the deck, especially on clay

• Access: how you'll get to the deck from the house and how you'll clean under it

Composite or timber?

Composite boards cost more up front but need far less maintenance and last longer; timber is cheaper, natural and repairable. Either suits most of these ideas. The choice usually comes down to how much time you want to spend maintaining the deck.

We design and build decking in Kettering and across Northamptonshire, and we're always happy to come and look at your garden and sketch out which of these ideas would suit it. Get in touch to arrange a visit.