When we moved in the deck was a blank slate, albeit a dirty and neglected blank slate. I desperately wanted to power wash it, set up an outdoor table and call it a day.
We had never had a proper deck and rarely sat outdoors for enjoyment. However, due to several factors (Covid quarantine, a beautiful view, and lots of neighborhood friends) we quickly realized we would use the deck all the time! Once we realized the value of the deck space I started dreaming about deck design. It’s not a large space, but I somehow wanted to incorporate both a lounging and eating space. Kyle and I designed an L-shaped bench that would serve as storage, a sofa and a banquette for the table. I whipped up a design board and once we had a design direction it was time for the dirty work.
I started with my beloved power washer. It was oh so satisfying to watch the dirt and grime from the past 15 years slide right off. Unfortunately, it wasn’t just the dirt that slid away, but also the deck stain. The project quickly went from cleaning and decorating to a full blown DIY project. After power washing it became evident that the wood was dry and sun damaged in some spots, so I repaired those areas, cleaned everything really well and then re-stained the deck.
Don’t let that last sentence fool you into thinking this was a simple DIY! It was very labor intensive. Probably my most time consuming DIY yet! It wasn’t difficult, but it took a lot of time and patience. We purchased 1 gallon of Behr Semi-Transparent Waterproofing Stain & Sealer in Chocolate. In the end we needed 4 gallons to complete 2 full coats of the deck. This wasn’t my 1st choice of stain, but we were under a time crunch and Home Depot had it in stock so we went for it.
The next step was building the bench. We designed it to look like an extension of the deck. We stained it using the same stain. However, it looks a few shades different since this wood was new.
Then it was time to style the space. We added cushions and pillows to the bench. Kyle built a wood table top using leftover oak planks from our interior flooring. We bought the metal legs and attached them to the tabletop. Then we finished it off with some plants, a rug, a citronella candle, bistro lights, a new ceiling fan and some wall planters.
We LOVE our new outdoor space! We use it everyday! And I envision having many girl nights chatting around the table!
Here’s a glimps of the deck in all her glory at dusk. This is my favorite time to sit on the deck, enjoy the view and watch the kids run around. And below is our view from the deck.
