A deck can be a great addition to your home, providing a space to enjoy the outdoors with your friends and family. However, the weather can change randomly, so having a roof to cover the deck would also make the space more comfortable, especially during a hot or rainy day. A roof can add more room to get creative, so we researched some ideas for you.
If you have a deck with a roof, but you're not sure what you can do with it, you can try the following ideas:
- String lights
- Step lights
- Ceiling fans
- Curtains
- Hanging plants
- Carpet
- Outdoor furniture
- Benches
- Swing set
- Griller
- Dining area
With all these ideas, you can pick out one that works best for you and makes sense for your deck. Keep reading this guide to learn more about these ideas and how you can implement them in your covered deck.
Things You Can Add To Your Roofed Deck
A covered deck is located somewhere that's private, like at the back of your house. Apart from having a place to share when guests visit, it's also an area where you can relax and be yourself. As such, there are a lot of things that you can add to the space to make it uniquely yours.
String Lights
Having a light or two sounds standard, especially if you want to light your deck, but it might seem a little too gloomy once it gets dark. You also don't want to overdo it with the lights, or your deck would seem less cozy. The best solution is to add string lights to the ceiling of your covered deck.
String lights add a cozy vibe to your deck and act as decorations to make your space look festive. These lights also don't consume much electric power, making them cost-effective. These can provide enough light to enjoy a late-night barbecue with your family and friends.
Step Lights
Speaking of lighting up your deck at night, you may want to install some step lights to avoid accidents. Even if the lights overhead are turned on, some people might miss a step or two if they're not being careful.
Installing step lights can avoid that problem. You can see in this photo that the stairs to the covered deck have the lights installed at a certain distance to cover the entirety of each step.
Ceiling Fans
On hot, sweltering days, you would want a breeze to feel refreshed. While you can go back inside your home to cool off, this prevents you from enjoying an otherwise perfect day out on your deck.
An electric fan can easily do the trick, but it won't look as aesthetically pleasing as a ceiling fan. It can circulate air within the vicinity without occupying any floor space and potentially clashing with your intended theme for your deck.
Curtains
If you need a bit of privacy without making the space too stuffy, you can put in some curtains around your covered deck. The curtains can also add a soft, light touch to the area, especially when it billows against a gentle wind.
In this photo, you can see how the white curtains still allow some light to pass through them while providing privacy in the space. With these, you can add a curtain tie back to hold it down while not in use but still provide an aesthetic feel.
Hanging Plants
Generally, people use decks for hosting a nice eat-out and get-together with their loved ones. However, consider also that your covered deck can be a transition space from your home to the outdoor environment. One way to make that connection is to add hanging plants in the vicinity.
You can hang a few plants around the frame or on the ceiling of your deck. Having greenery around the area not only gives life to your deck, but the roof also protects your plants from any extreme weather conditions.
With a little bit of care for your hanging plants, you can potentially enjoy them all year long.
Carpet
The deck is something like an extension of the living room. That said, you can take in a lot of elements that you usually find in your living room and put them out in your covered deck, such as a carpet.
For this example, the designer chose a textured carpet with the same hues as the pillows. Aside from adding a new dynamic to the space, the colors blend well with the table and ceiling's wooden elements.
Outdoor Furniture
Keeping to the cozy vibe, you'll want to add a sofa that you and your guests can feel comfortable on, especially if you're planning to spend a long while outside. However, you'd also want it to fit as an outdoor piece.
If you're planning to keep your covered deck simple and rustic, having something like rattan sofas may do the trick. However, furniture made with natural rattan is not the best outdoor furniture since it can break if it's too cold or wet.
Even if your deck has a roof, you may want to opt for synthetic or other materials that can withstand environmental elements. The designer used wicker furniture to keep that rustic look in this particular photo.
Benches
Another type of furniture that you can include in your roofed deck is a bench. Benches are an excellent addition for those with big families or who have frequent company. Benches provide a cozy space for you and your company to hang out on your deck while having a good dinner.
Here, you'll see that the designer made the bench for this covered deck to fit the edges of the space. It also has cushions and pillows to make it more welcoming and perfect for an intimate gathering.
Swingset
If you want to add a bit of fun to your roofed deck, try hanging a swing on the ceiling. This swing can be a couch or bed type of swing. Even without company, this can be a relaxing piece for your deck.
For this photo, the swing is hanging from the ceiling of the covered deck. Although the cover for the swing bed is just white, its other elements like the thick ropes, the wooden base, and the throw pillows are more than enough to give this piece a fun look.
Griller
You use your deck to have a nice barbecue or outdoor cooking session with your guests. That said, you would want to add a grill to the setup.
Since the deck may be located near the kitchen for easy access when you're having a cookout, having the grill on your deck would make an easier trek for you to walk from inside your home to your grilling station.
Dining Area
Finally, you can't forget about the dining area. If you're planning to eat out on your deck, having a designated dining area will make it more comfortable for everyone to eat. You can have a simple setup with a dining table and chairs, so everyone has a place to sit.
This setup has a long wooden dining table decorated with some plants in the middle as centerpieces. While it seems simple, the touch of black chairs gives the covered deck's dining area a touch of sophistication.
Designs Of Roof For Decks
A roof over your deck can be beneficial for protecting yourself and the things around your deck against certain weather conditions. If you're looking to change or have a roof built for your deck, here are the most common designs you'll find on the market.
Pergola
The pergola design is perfect for those who want a rustic design. It typically uses timber for the material on the posts, beams, and rafters, but if you're worried about its longevity, you may opt to use steel instead. This design will allow you to hang light items like plants or string lights.
Here's a cedar pergola available on Amazon.
Gazebo
As the name suggests, this design is mainly for a deck with a gazebo structure. The gazebo is usually a separate structure from the house. While you might have more control over the roof's shape, it can also be pricey to have it done.
Check out this cedar gazebo on Amazon.
Retractable Awnings
This type of roofing can be convenient as you can retract it whenever you feel like you want some sunshine while hanging out on the deck. However, that also means that you won't be able to customize the ceiling as much. The deck will only have shade where the awning can reach.
Louvered Roof System
The louvered roof system is a modern take on the deck's roof. This design has slats you can operate, giving you control over how much sunlight can pass through the roof.
However, you will need professionals to install it for you, making it the costliest of all the roof options for a deck.
Final Thoughts
A deck with a roof is a great space for having a nice barbecue with friends and family. Adding string lights, step lights, ceiling fans, curtains, hanging plants, or a carpet can give your deck more personality.
You can also put outdoor furniture, benches, swings, and a grill for your friends to enjoy.
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