6 Innovative Deck Features to Enhance Your Backyard
Decks are perfect for parties, picnics, relaxing, and taking in the summer sun. Whether you already have a deck or are considering building a new one, there are plenty of innovative ways to enhance its functionality and entertainment value. If you’re looking for ways to incorporate other features for your deck, look no further.
Outdoor Innovations Landscaping has the best designers on staff to help you create the best outdoor space for your home. We know what is new, trendy, and how to incorporate innovative technology, lighting, and entertainment to match your needs. Whatever you dream, we can make a reality!
1. Complete Your Deck With an Outdoor Kitchen
The best way to take advantage of a beautiful Minnesota summer is to your usual tasks and bring them outside. What better way to entertain and enjoy some sun than to cook outside? Having a complete outdoor kitchen on your deck is the perfect way to prepare a meal and never miss a moment of fun with your family and guests. While enjoying the amazing weather!
Your first thought might be, Isn’t an outdoor kitchen too heavy for a deck? Most decks are built to be sturdy enough to withstand a lot of weight. However, if you want to add some really heavy materials like stone, you may want to add some reinforcements. Whether you have a deck currently built or you’re planning to build one in the upcoming months, make sure you speak to your builder to find the best design for your deck that aligns with your needs. Even if you don’t add an outdoor kitchen now, it’s always helpful for later.
If you decide to add an outdoor kitchen, the best part is that they are extremely customizable to your needs, and they keep the heat of cooking outside rather than in your perfectly cooled home. On top of that, an outdoor kitchen ensures you can skip the FOMO (fear of missing out) and join the fun. Instead of watching everyone have fun without you from your kitchen window, you can be in the middle of everything and enjoy the weather. No more being jealous of your partner mowing the lawn or grilling while getting to hang out with the kids or your friends.
The best way to make your kitchen useful for all your cooking needs is to include a fridge, sink, oven, stove, and/or grill. By having all these staples, you won’t need to run in and out for things. Instead, everything is all in one place, making it easier than ever to enjoy a sunny summer day in Minnesota.
If you want to go even further, you can also add a gorgeous outdoor pizza oven for wood-fired magic. Or maybe you can add the high-tech smoker you and your partner have been eyeing up. Whatever you add, just make sure you love it. The possibilities are endless for your dream outdoor kitchen.
2. Include Audio, Video, and Entertainment Options
The best way to make your deck the center of attention (and entertainment) for your outdoor fun is to add audio and video options. While you might not be drawn to the idea of bringing entertainment outside since you’re trying to get your family outdoors and having fun in the first place, it’s a great way to enjoy your time outside—especially after the sun goes down.
Incorporating audio and video options like outdoor speakers, TVs, and even giant projectors can help you crank up the entertainment factor right from the comfort of your own home.
Whether you want to have a movie night or a dance party, Outdoor Innovations Landscaping can help you create the vibe you are looking for! Whether it’s an outdoor TV or a projection screen, we can make these things the focal point of your space or make them unseen until you want to use them. That way, when you pull out all the stops, you’ll get to see the shock and awe in real-time.
With hidden projector screens, subtly hung TVs, or Bluetooth speakers that blend with the background, you can have any vibe you want for your space. Just let us know whether you want your entertainment on display or want to blend it with the background, and we’ll ensure your space has the aesthetic you’ve been dreaming of.
3. Add a Cozy Fire Pit or Heating Elements
If you want a fire pit or other heating element on your deck, there are many things to consider when choosing the style you want. You want to ensure that the fire pit is far enough away from your house while also having the proper tools in place to keep it safe. With the right professionals (*cough* Outdoor Innovations! *cough*), they’ll ensure every precaution is taken, your deck is reinforced, and your dream design is attained.
With fire pits, there are some precautions you should take, like ensuring there is nothing flammable above the pit and using a protective surface between the fire pit and your deck, such as stone or metal. If your fire pit doesn’t already have one, invest in a spark screen to protect your home and deck from flying sparks. Additionally, you can choose smokeless fire pits or gas-powered heating elements. These look great and are less dangerous than wood-burning fire pits.
Overall, though, adding a cozy fire pit or heating element is just what your space needs to make it feel homey. Our team at Outdoor Innovations can help you bring your ideas to life.
4. Increase Shading Options for Your Deck Space
While trees are often a staple in Minnesota, not everyone has an abundance of them in their yard. Which means that you are going to be a magnet for the heat on hot summer days. The best way to counteract that is to increase shading options for your deck space using pergolas, gazebos, and more.
If you already know your deck (or the space where you’d like to build one) gets a lot of sun, you’ll want to mentally list ideas for shade to provide some extra protection. Some of our favorite options for shade that also look great include:
- Pergolas
- Gazebos
- Retractable awnings
- Sun shade sails
- Umbrellas
- Open or 3-season porches
- Lanais
Adequate shade is important for protecting your skin from sunburns and for cooling off during the high heat of summer, but making your backyard look beautiful is great, too.
5. Add Practical, Decorative Lighting Features
Don’t let the party end when the sun goes down! Use a collection of lighting features to brighten your deck at night. LED color-changing strip lights or warm string lights are popular for decks and patios, in addition to sleek deck lamps that blend in seamlessly with the rest of your space. Our designers will help you pick the perfect lighting for your dream backyard preferences.
Not only do lights look great on a deck, but they are also extremely practical, both for seeing at night If you already know mosquitoes are a problem, consider a mosquito repellent system or include some tiki torches in your design. Let’s keep your night without a single bite, plus light up your night with the perfect level of brightness.
6. Build an Outdoor Bar
If you enjoy adult beverages (or any beverages), consider building an outdoor bar on your deck. Smaller than an outdoor kitchen but just as valuable, an outdoor bar will help keep both you and your friends entertained and enjoying the outdoors. Add a fridge, sink, or ice maker to your bar to keep the cocktails flowing while you become the bartender or a sode dispenser gun (or hand off the role to someone else). We’ve even helped homeowners get a kegerator installed—that way, you always have your favorite beer on tap! Or mixer
Make sure you have outlets too so people can bring crockpots and other things to share! Also you can’t make a magarita without a blender. And that needs power!!
When you are entertaining friends and family in your own private pub, you truly are where everybody knows your name. Cheers!
Related Blog: Creative Outdoor Bar Ideas
Enhance Your Deck With Outdoor Innovations
For over 15 years, Outdoor Innovations has supplied Minnesota and Wisconsin residents with beautiful, luxurious backyard designs and builds. From concrete garden edging, retaining walls, and Koi Ponds to swimming pools, water fountains, and waterfalls, we do it all!
Patios, fire features - If you dream it we can build it!
We’ll help you design and build a high-end deck full of your favorite entertainment features, complete with all the necessary reinforcements, lighting, and more. You’ll love relaxing or entertaining family and friends on your new deck!
Are you ready to start building your deck today for memories that will last a lifetime?
Outdoor Innovations Landscaping creates elevated backyards for homeowners in Minnesota. From in-ground pools to luxurious grilling stations to outdoor living rooms, we do it all. Explore our past projects and get a quote online to make your dream backyard a reality.
