An upper deck can be exactly what a family needs to foster closer connections, build deeper bonds, and create lasting memories. It can be the place where you watch your children grow up and where they can bring their friends to build fun memories that they can look back on fondly as adults. However, it needs to come with the right design and be built the right way to ensure that it lasts for a long time. If your new property comes with an upper deck, here are some design pointers and ideas to inspire you.
Weatherproof it
If your new house comes with an upper deck, the first order of business is to ensure that it is weather-proof and protected from the elements. Here are some things you need to cross off this checklist:
- Hire a waterproof ceiling expert or contractor to help ensure that the deck is prepared to withstand heavy rainstorms, especially if you live in an area that’s prone to storms. This will help ensure that the porch ceiling or the under deck’s drainage system is ready to collect rainwater and channel it away from your deck. The last thing you want is an upper deck that’s prone to flooding.
- Consider buying some stylish table patio umbrellas, especially if you plan on having breakfast or lunch on the upper deck. Another option is retractable canopies which can help shield your furniture from the elements in the event of a storm.
- Choose furniture pieces that are waterproof or can withstand harsh weather.
Your ability to maintain your upper deck is only as good as how you built and decorated it. So before you even think of a design, make sure that you choose elements that can withstand rainy, sunny, windy, and even snow days.
Identify your priorities
If your upper deck is on the bigger side of the square footage scale, you might be tempted to make it functional for the needs of everyone who sets foot on it. But at the end of the day, it’s you and your family who will use it the most, which is why you must consider what your family’s priorities are. What do you want to use the deck for? Is it for dining out? How about watching movies? It could also be both. Identifying the main purpose of the deck will ultimately help you make choices in terms of furniture, design, layout, and other factors. If you don’t know what you want, you will end up not having clear goals and an upper deck that serves no real purpose other than seating, probably.
Complement the architecture of the house
If you have a say in how the deck will be designed, ensure that the materials, colors, and design of the deck are complementary to the entire property’s look and feel. A wooden upper deck on a mostly industrial home can be jarring, so make sure you add touches and accents that suit the main house’s atmosphere and design.
Incorporate a canopy day bed
One way to make your upper deck feel like something straight out of a page from Architectural Digest is a canopy bed. It can help you and your family feel even more relaxed while star-gazing, and it will add warmth and coziness to your deck, especially since most decks use wooden materials. A canopy day bed will be perfect for an upper deck with a built-in bar.
Add more plants
Potted plants will look even more lovely alongside fluffy couches with cozy throws and textured outdoor rugs. If your deck is on the smaller side, you can opt to have a vertical garden instead of inundating the space with smaller potted plants. When done right, your deck will be the most ideal place for a cup of coffee, a good book, or even to have serious talks with a family member or a guest.
Consider adding a swimming pool
Just because your property does not have a backyard, it doesn’t mean you need to let go of the idea of having a swimming pool. A pool on your roof deck will be a peaceful escape—the most ideal place for sunning and lounging. Make sure to add throw pillows to your pool chairs to add a splash of color and to break the monotony.
How our homes are designed and maintained can make or break our children’s physical, emotional, social, and cognitive outcomes. A roof deck might just be what you and your family need to bond and build beautiful memories together.