A bunch of readers asked for a deck mood board so they can picture the finished space. We’re excited too, but since funds are limited and we haven’t even finished furnishing the patio we built last year, this deck won’t come together overnight. That means some items on the board might sell out before we can get them — but here’s the look we’re dreaming about so you can imagine it with us.
1. A colorful indoor/outdoor pillow from World Market catches my eye. It’s a practical accent for outdoor seating and currently marked down, which makes it tempting.
2. I love the idea of yellow metal chairs at the heads of the table. They could be purchased ready-made or DIYed with primer and spray paint for a budget-friendly pop of color.
3. An outdoor rug, like the Dash & Albert option, placed by the sliding doors would define the entrance and help trap dirt before people come inside.
4. Large-bulb string lights draped end-to-end across the deck would create soft, inviting ambiance for evening dinners outdoors.
5. A cluster of colorful planters down the center of the table would add life and charm — herbs could be a useful and fragrant choice for summer meals.
6. We ended up buying the table shown. When I spotted the price while assembling this mood board, we measured it to make sure it fit, ran to the store, and brought it home. It was a great deal locally, and the white finish should complement the deck’s wood tones and pair nicely with the yellow metal chairs and some simple wood chairs.
7. Hanging tea light holders mounted along the house exterior would help the walls feel cozier and more integrated with the deck lighting.
8. We scored a set of wood chairs from Joss & Main at a great price, which we plan to use around the table, with the yellow metal chairs taking the head positions.
For the deck layout, we made a rough overhead rendering of the space. The deck measures about 20 feet long by 8 feet wide, so it’s long and narrow — but workable.
You can see a small welcome mat at the sliding door, flanked by planters (wherever there’s a green dot, imagine a leafy planter). We plan to place the table in the middle section of the deck, roughly where the zipper seams will be, which should seat six to eight people depending on how the chairs fit. At the far end of the deck there’s space for a second use — maybe a sand-and-water table for Clara (that’s the blue rectangle with a chair in the sketch) or a compact lounge area for adults.
If you’re nervous about fitting a table and chairs in a narrow 8-foot-wide space, we taped the footprint out before buying. With the chairs in place there’s still room to walk on both sides, so circulation won’t be a problem. Our first house had a similarly narrow den, so we’re used to arranging furniture in long, skinny areas.
We’ll share updates as the project progresses. For now I’m just excited at the thought of sitting on those deck boards with something cold to drink and enjoying the evening lights.
Quick note on the mood board process: I used Photoshop to cut out, size, and arrange the items and to add the numbering. There are free alternatives that work well too — check the FAQ if you want more details on how to make your own.