Ready to transform your limited urban space into a stylish oasis with a thoughtfully designed deck? This guide will equip you with design hacks and expert tips to maximize your outdoor experience, even in the smallest backyard.

Unlocking Space in Your Urban Deck Design

First, let’s explore some space-saving layouts and features that can help maximize your square footage.

• • Deck Shapes: Avoid complex shapes that can fragment the area and make it feel smaller. Stick to simple square or rectangular configurations that efficiently utilize your available space. Or, choose an L-shaped design that offers additional deck space with distinct zones, like a grilling station separated from your living and dining space.
  • Second-Story Decks: Explore the possibility of a second-story deck to maximize outdoor space. This is a great way to gain square-footage and create a private haven above the hustle and bustle of the city. Below, you can retain your yard or garden—or add a cozy patio.
  • Stair Placement: Tuck your stairs along the side or in a corner of the deck. This frees up valuable deck space for furniture or activities that would otherwise become just a space-eating walkway.
  • Railings: Avoid railings with thick posts and balusters. Opt for slim railings or those that provide a feeling of openness, like cables, metal mesh, or glass.
  • Multi-Purpose Built-ins: Planters and pergolas serve triple duty, allowing you to add greenery, privacy, and shade. By carefully integrating them, you can also save space while creating an interesting, cohesive design.
  • Under-deck Storage: Benches with storage can help wrangle clutter on your small deck, but plan to take advantage of hidden under-deck storage to stash even more items out of sight.
    

Modern Material Pairings for Urban Decks

When it comes to decking materials, consider options that create a modern feel and complement your urban environment. Here are some decking-and-railing pairings to spark your imagination:

Stained Wood

Stained wood may sound traditional, but there are plenty of ways to achieve a new twist on this classic for your city deck.

• Dark and Bold: Consider wood decking with a charcoal or smoky gray stain for a contemporary feel—and the added advantage of hiding dirt. Pair this with sleek metal railings for a bold urban look.
• Light and Breezy: For an airy feel, consider stain colors like light gray, driftwood, and taupe to reflect light and make your small deck feel larger. Complement these with glass railings for a minimalist look that maximizes your view.
• Colors with Personality: Your deck can be a great canvas for modern tones. Deep teals, refreshing blues, and sunny golds all make unique statements. Complement these stain colors with bright aluminum railings or artistic custom panels with a modern flair.

Composite & PVC Decking

Both composite and PVC decking offer a modern aesthetic in a low-maintenance package. Consider these stylish options for your urban deck:

• Wood-Grains: These manufactured boards mimic the look of real wood. Choose a straight grain pattern for a clean and contemporary aesthetic, and check out newer offerings designed with the look of interior hardwoods for seamless transitions from the indoors to the outside. Complement your choice with horizontal cable railings for a clean look and clear views.
• Solid Colors: Solid color composite or PVC deck boards come in a variety of hues. Consider a deep navy, a Caribbean blue, or a bright citrus shade to spice up your deck. Solid colors make a statement and pair well with minimal décor. Sleek black metal railings with a matte finish offer a pleasing contrast to their richness, perfect for a unique, sophisticated vibe.

Decking Layouts to Maximize Visual Space

The orientation of your decking boards can significantly impact the overall look and feel of your deck. While traditional parallel installation is the most common, alternative orientations can create the illusion of more space for your small deck.

• Diagonal Decking: This is a classic trick for making a small space feel larger. Running the deck boards diagonally draws the eye across the deck, creating a sense of expansiveness.
• Perpendicular Decking: For attached decks, orienting the boards perpendicular to the home can visually extend the feeling of the deck space outward from the house. This works best on rectangular decks, where the long side runs parallel to the house. 

These installations are more complex than parallel layouts, so factor in additional labor costs if you’re hiring out. Alternative orientations can also affect weight-bearing capacity, so be sure to call in a professional to assess the specific requirements of your design as needed, and always adhere to local building codes.

Fast & Easy Deck Installation with CAMO

Now that you’re inspired to transform your urban space with a stylish new deck, it’s time to consider efficient building solutions. CAMO offers a variety of products and tools designed to streamline your installation process.

• CAMO MARKSMAN Pro Tools: These tools are specifically designed for edge-fastening deck boards with CAMO Edge deck screws, creating a beautiful fastener-free surface. They work with a variety of deck materials, including pressure treated lumber, cedar, redwood, hardwood, composites, and PVC decking.
• CAMO DRIVE Tools: Just attach the DRIVE or ClipDRIVE tool to your drill and comfortably install your decking twice as fast.
• CAMO WEDGECLIP: These pre-assembled deck clips eliminate the need for pre-drilling and ensure consistent spacing between your deck boards. WEDGECLIP’s are designed for grooved wood, composite, and PVC deck board installations in any deck pattern on your wood joists.
• CAMO LEVER: This helpful tool straightens warped boards and secures them for fastening, replacing the need for extra hands and making your urban deck an achievable DIY project you can tackle yourself.
• DECK IN A BOX: This convenient kit includes everything you need to install 500 square feet of grooved composite decking, offering flexibility for larger projects—or perfect for partnering up with your favorite neighbor on twin decks. It includes board benders, hidden deck clips, and a stand-up tool for clip fastening–perfect for taking on your urban deck with ease.

With careful planning and attention to detail, your urban oasis is well within reach. By leveraging CAMO’s innovative deck tools and clips, you can efficiently build a modern deck that makes a big impact in your small space. Enjoy your chic retreat as you relax, entertain, and create backyard memories in the heart of the city.

Keep your deck looking its best, and get it ready for next summer by following a few simple deck maintenance steps.

Summer is wrapping up, and winter is right around the corner, whether you like it or not. We all know that after months of cold ahead, that spring fever will set in, and nothing will be better than enjoying the fresh air on your deck.

However, many homeowners have to dedicate weekends in early spring to prepare their decks for the season—especially those with pressure treated decks that need to be cleaned and stained. If you want to skip right to enjoying your deck when the weather turns, there’s no better way to save time than to give your deck some TLC this fall by following these simple steps.

Thoroughly Clean Your Deck

By the end of summer, your deck has probably seen a fair share of meals, parties, and life in general, which means spills of food, drinks, and sunscreen. A great first deck maintenance step is to clean your deck.

Start by moving your furniture off the deck and sweeping your boards or using a leaf blower to remove any debris on the deck top, paying special attention to the gaps between boards where dirt can accumulate. After sweeping, lightly power-wash or scrub the boards with warm water and mild deck cleaning solution. For wood decks, you can use a harder bristle broom to get into the wood grain, but for composite boards, stick with a soft-bristled broom to do the job and prevent scratches. No matter your boards, always remember to sweep with the grain to reduce the potential for damage.

Inspect and Repair

After a good clean, you can examine the deck for any repairs you may need to make. If you see something wrong with a board now, colder temperatures and wet weather certainly won’t make it better by spring. Double-check the fasteners to see if there are any loose ones, check the security of the deck railings and the stairs, and even take a peek below the deck to evaluate the joists for any signs of rot.

If you have a wood deck, give your deck a barefoot walk-over to see if any spots may need to be sanded to prevent future splinters and slivers. Now is also an excellent time to check for any chips in the paint or stain and ensure any exposed wood is sealed and protected from wintry elements.

Get Your Deck Ready for Winter

If you plan on hanging out on your deck long into the fall, that’s great—just be sure to regularly sweep off leaves and debris so they don’t accumulate. Then, when it’s time to head inside for the winter, properly winterize your deck by covering your furniture or, ideally, storing it inside. If you notice some wear and tear on your furniture, like rust forming on chair legs, take the time now to clean, sand, and repaint them so they are set and ready come spring. Your future self will thank you.

Maintaining Your Deck Through Winter

If you live in an area that experiences heavy snowfall, be sure to clear the snow off of your deck promptly. Not only does snow add lots of moisture to your boards, but it can also put significant weight on your deck. Lighten the load by shoveling the top few layers of snow— don’t shovel your boards directly —then use a soft-bristled push broom to clear the rest of the snow from your boards if desired.

Deck maintenance doesn’t have to be a monumental chore. Following these simple steps will keep your deck in great shape and maximize your time to enjoy your outdoor living space.