Decks can be expensive to build and decorate. Sometimes, it can feel like you will never have a deck simply because you can’t afford to have someone come out and build you one. Or, because your deck is impractical, you can’t use the one that you do have.
Thankfully, there are some inexpensive deck ideas out there that allow you to improve upon your pre-existing deck, or build one from scratch without emptying your wallet. Check out these 9 ideas below to get inspired on fixing up your deck and potential improvements you can make.
9 Inexpensive Deck Ideas
1. Rail Bar Top
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If you are looking to add something to your deck to make it unique and more functional, a great option is to add a rail bar top. It is both easy and inexpensive. If you do it yourself, you will likely spend less than $100, while if you hire someone, you will still likely stay well under $1,000 unless you want some pretty pricey components like a granite top.
Adding a rail bar top can easily add four or five more seats to your deck without taking up that much space like a table and seats would do. Additionally, it can be a fun way to look out in the direction of the yard so people can keep an easy eye on the children or wildlife that come out in the quiet morning.
2. Pallet Deck
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If you want to keep your deck somewhat simple, consider just throwing a few pallets together. Those cheap pallet boards can make for a fun deck full of various colors and shapes.
You will want to seal the pallets to avoid them rotting out. Make sure to seal all sides, even the nooks, and crannies, or you will risk them rotting and falling apart when you least want them to.
Another note is that you might want to connect all the pallets. While you could just lay them all side-by-side and hope for the best, using nails, screws, or clamps to hold them together makes the whole deck sturdier, keeps everything in place, and stops gaps where people could hurt themselves from occurring.
If you want to be able to rearrange them, you can use clamps to hold them together without them being permanent.
While you can leave the pallets as-is, using a cheap siding and surface can make the deck all one solid piece. This prevents your chairs and tables from falling into the gaps between the boards and makes them look a little nicer.
3. Wood Plastic Composite Flooring
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One example of how you could top your pallet boards to make the deck look a little nicer and be one solid level is wood plastic composite flooring tiles.
There are all sorts of options, from ones that are thin and long like traditional wood panels to square-shaped ones that are more like tile. These are great on top of cheaper decking bases like pallets, but can also work on traditional decks.
They tend to last a lot longer than traditional wood and need minimal upkeep. For the most part, you can expect them to last between 25 and 30 years before they need to be replaced.
Most of them are easy to install as well, fitting together like a puzzle or with wooden dowels instead of needing screws, and nails. Not only does this make them easy to put together in just an afternoon, but it also means that you don’t have to worry about anyone or anything getting caught on nails that are sticking slightly out of the surface of the wood.
4. Low-Budget Shading Options
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If you live in an area that gets a little too hot and bright during the summer, considering shading options may be a necessity. There are some pretty expensive and fancy ones out there that can follow the movement of the sun or unroll with just a push of a button, or wooden covers that stay above your deck permanently.
However, if you want something a little cheaper that still protects you from the sun, there are options as well. For example, a standard outdoor umbrella or a shade sail can be pretty cheap while still providing protection. You can also store them during the winter when not in use to increase their longevity.
Shade sails and umbrellas are also good options if you are going to want flexibility with where the shade is. For example, if you like sitting somewhere sunny, but your partner enjoys sitting in the shade, you can easily move or adjust where the umbrella and sunshade are so you can both get what you want.
If you want something a little more stylish, but still not too expensive, you can consider building yourself a gazebo or pergola. If you make them yourself, you only have to pay for wood, nails, sealant, and maybe some paint.
Pergolas are fun because they can provide partial shade, or you can grow vining plants along them for a more permanent but prettier shading option.
5. Add Lights
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If you are planning to use your deck to relax late on summer evenings, a great way to make the space feel nicer and more inviting is to add lights.
There are hundreds of different kinds of lights out there. You can find simple chain lights that let off a low yellow glow, or you can find twinkling fairy lights that go through every color of the rainbow.
There are also solar light options that get power from the sun. They won’t stay charged throughout the full night, but will often last four or five hours before they will need to be recharged by the sun again.
In addition to string lights, there are ones that look similar to windchimes, animals, torches, lanterns, and more. These can be dug into the ground around the deck, placed on tables, strung up between trees and the deck, placed on a roof, or anywhere else.
As long as your neighbors don’t mind, you can have enough lights to make it look like a bright and sunny day, or just bright enough to make the deck steps visible.
6. Wooden Wall
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If you want to add a little privacy or depth to your deck, you could consider adding a wooden wall. You can buy them for cheap using lattices, or make your own out of stones or wood. If you are building it yourself, you have the freedom to choose how open the wall is, and how tall it is.
The wall can serve multiple purposes as well. While it can block you from view a bit or give you a place to have some decorations, it can also double as a climbing wall for taller plants. On the other side of the wall than where the deck is, you can add some vining plants to make it look nicer and add a bit more privacy.
Having a deck wall or multiple walls can also create a direction to allow people in. If you don’t want someone standing or walking behind you while you are sitting in a deck chair, adding walls so people can only enter from the front can help. It also makes your deck feel more enclosed and homey.
If you don’t want to lose the views, you don’t have to do a full wall either. Consider doing just a half wall. These can double as planters if you want some extra space for gardening.
7. Deck Outlines
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Do you want a deck but aren’t sure exactly how you want it to look or how to set it up? These outlines provide you with a few common options for inspiration. Having a plan or an idea of how you want your deck to look can be helpful for a few reasons.
One, it means you aren’t wasting time and resources to build a deck only to realize you don’t like it and have to scrap it before trying again.
Two, if you were completely lost on what deck to build, having these outlines still enables you to do it yourself without having to hire a company. The website for the outlines provides you with 3D rendering, framing plans, the estimated cost for materials, what materials you may need, where to put the feet for structural integrity, and more.
So if you were worried about building the deck properly, you can now feel confident in your abilities. Even if you end up having to pay for a layout, it is still cheaper than hiring a company to do it for you.
8. Deck Tabl
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You can’t have a deck without a table. Unfortunately, a lot of the outdoor sets you find online or in stores are ridiculously expensive, easily costing several hundred dollars for some uncomfortable chairs, a table, and an umbrella that won’t last long in the sun.
To save money and have something that will last a lot longer, you can make your own table and bench set. This table, for example, just needs some metal for framing and wood. If you want it to be even cheaper and easier, you can consider going all wood as well, like a picnic bench.
You can see in the comments that all wood is what a few people have decided to do. Some, to keep the more industrial look, have gone with all wood, but painted parts to look like metal. While it won’t stand up to scrutiny up close, it does look quite nice from a distance.
Even with the cost of wood, making the table yourself is easier and cheaper than buying a premade set. If you want it to be a bit more colorful and unique, look at decorations instead. Getting fun pillows, blankets, planters, and centerpieces for your outdoor deck can add that fun summer vibe that most outdoor sets come with, but for a fraction of the cost.
9. Underneath Storage
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If you have a lot of stuff for your yard or deck and don’t want them just lying around when they aren’t in use, consider outdoor storage. Now, of course, you could always get a little shed or outdoor cabinetry set. But if you want to save space and have your storage somewhat hidden, storage underneath your deck can be ideal.
If you live with pets that like to crawl under decks and dig, or you live near wildlife where you have to potentially worry about animals like snakes, bears, and mountain lions crawling underneath, you may be considering closing up the underside of your deck anyway.
Take advantage of the space by closing off the sides, and adding storage drawers as well. Most of the time, you can make them look a lot like the rest of your siding by just adding panels to the front so it looks nicer, or you can buy cabinetry and siding together.
Many of them even lock, so you don’t have to worry about anyone stealing anything or the children getting into items they shouldn’t be, like pool chemicals.
