subject: Deck Accessories: Completing Your Vision [print this page] When you build something as extensive as a deck, accessories are probably the last thing on your mind. You'll fill it out with extras once you've completed the main portion of the construction. And that's fine; that is where your primary focus should be in the early stages. Once you've finished, however, you can make the entire structure a true part of the home by adding little touches here and there. Whether it comes in the form of decoration, furniture, or lighting, these little extras can make the difference between a boring structure and an extension of your home. Here are some easy ways to enhance what you have.
Wicker Furniture
Even if you've never cared for the concept before, take a moment to consider how it would look on your new platform. You can get chairs, tables, and even lamps that use the material to give your home a rustic charm difficult to duplicate in other ways. It is also excellent from a pragmatic standpoint. It can be washes with water and soap, meaning you can simply clean it while you're cleaning the rest of the wood. Deck accessories don't get any more practical and charming than this.
Decoration
When it comes to decoration, the sky is the limit. Many homeowners like to put out bird feeders to attract the local wildlife. Squirrels will be attracted to your food as much so as the avian population, which may or may not be a good thing from where you're standing. Deck accessories can also include wind chimes. Some people love the sound of that chiming clink when a breeze blows and some people would rather go deaf. If you're in the latter category, you might consider wood chimes, which give you a pleasant, neutral clicking sound instead of the more insistent metallic sound you're used to.
Trellis
Talk to the contractors you've used to build the extension about installing a trellis. While this is something you can probably do on your own, they may know some tricks that will make it look a little better. The point of deck accessories, after all, is to complement the construction. Once you fill it with some lovely climbing plants, you'll get that connection to nature that an outdoor structure like this should really embrace.
Lighting
You may want to enjoy your new structure at night as well as during the day. Make it easy to do that by installing some tasteful lighting. You might want to include a dimmer switch so you can choose the level of brightness you want at any one time. Now when you're outside enjoying your backyard, you won't have to give up the peace and quiet when the sun goes down.
