When we first moved into our home almost three years ago (which is insane by the way…time is FLYING) Here is what the deck looked like when we first moved in. What I want you to remember is that the beauty of designing any space is in the way it evolves over time. Our outdoor patio/deck has certainly evolved over the years so let’s take a look back down memory lane of what it looked like when we first moved in.
Often times I always recommend to anyone I work with that even though it is SO incredibly tempting to want to buy so many furniture pieces for your home and space right away don’t trust me you will end up buying a chair or side table you thought you loved in the moment & then regret it after a couple months. The key is living in your space for a little while to see what you really think you will use regularly and most importantly remembering and keeping track of how you live in the space. Do you need a basket to take your shoes off? Do you have an area for all of the sunscreen? Or what about the beach towels? These are the type of things that will help keep you on the right path when configuring furniture whether it is for indoor or outdoor use.
This was what our deck looked like back in 2018 when we first moved in!
Below are some photos of how our back deck and patio have evolved since then. We upgraded to new patio furniture from Target last year and I LOVE the sectional set, table umbrella, and café chairs that we selected. Having a larger sectional now allows for a lot more seating options and the cushions are a lot more substantial as well.
I absolutely love the way the furniture works with the way we entertain and like to live out here. Andy really wanted to have somewhere to eat outside comfortably so when I saw this table I knew it would be perfect for family dinners and hosting.
As much as I LOVED the way the layout and the furniture came out I realized that I wanted a little more privacy for all of us because our deck does sit high up and overlooks our neighbors yard. Below I have listed materials and tips and tricks we used to achieve this look!
Materials used to build the partition/privacy fence:
- We purchased eight 12 foot pressure treated shiplap boards at Home Depot that already came white washed when we purchased them. Andy then adhered them to the deck by using 2×4’s, and extra log zip ties
- (4) pressure treated 2×4’s or however many you think your deck will need we used two to brace the middle section and then one on each end
- White nails
- As I mentioned above we used extra long zip ties to attach the 2×4’s to the decking that already exists. You can get these at Home Depot get the largest ones you can find
- I would say the total all in cost for this was around $200
Some tips and tricks we learned from this DIY project:
- We built this privacy fence in two sections. It was easier to carry and handle up our stairs and easier to install and lift up the deck this way. Andy cut the 12 foot boards into 8 foot boards and then adhered them to the 2×4’s
- You are going to want to cut the 2×4’s so the boards start just above the railing or banister that you are starting from. This was you can gauge how high you want the fence to be for privacy
- When using the extra long zip ties make sure you use quite a few in different areas to really make sure that this is adhered to your existing deck or structure. You want to make sure it withstands any weather elements and also that it is secure enough so it does not fall over
- Make sure the wood that you purchase is pressure treated so you don’t have to worry about any rotting
THE BEFORE:
THE AFTER: TADA & here we are today. This space has truly evolved and I LOVE the way it looks and has turned out. The possibilities are endless and you really do not have to spend a lot of money in order to do so.
I hope this inspires you in your outdoor space and to remember that each space always starts somewhere and will evolve gradually overtime.
Next week I will be providing sourcing for some of my favorite patio and outdoor space essentials as well as what to spend more money on and invest in and where you can save!
