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    Home » Home

    Tips for Creating an Outdoor Space Under a Deck

    Updated: Jul 6, 2021 by Melissa Mortenson · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 11 Comments

    Turn an often neglected space under your deck into a beautiful outdoor space. I’m sharing some of my best tips for creating a backyard outdoor living space that you’ll use all summer long!

    under deck space with rug and outdoor furniture

    Don’t you hate it when a home DIY project takes so much more time than you thought it would? Sometimes it seems like the simplest projects take the longest to finish!

    Table of Contents
    • Our Outdoor Room
    • Things to Do First
    • Photos of the Finished Outdoor Space
    • Sources

    We have a deck on the back of the house (which I shared on this post last year), underneath the deck is a concrete patio.  

    It seemed like such a good spot that I did not want to waste it. Yet it’s one of those “odd spaces,” and sometimes finding a purpose for spaces like that can be difficult.

    Our Outdoor Room

    I decided to take advantage of the shade provided by the deck and build a little “outdoor living room.”   I will tell you that this project has been completed in stages over the course of 3 summers. I’ve been slowly collecting the “pieces” of it.  Last summer, I purchased some patio furniture for space, making it feel like a room. This year I got the rug, drapes, and accessories and started to get all the pieces pulled together.

    Okay, I’m getting a little ahead of myself… before I could get the patio to this point, a few things needed to happen.

    brick wall and construction wood

    The before, I think my husband is thinking, “what are we going to do with this?”

    Things to Do First

    1- A thorough deep cleaning. Pressure wash the concrete and scrub it well.

    2- Stain the deck above the patio. There was no point in putting this together if it was just going to get stained later.

    3- Stain the concrete on the patio.  I don’t know if you can tell from the photo, but we stained the aggregate concrete patio a blue-gray, then sealed it.  I just used the translucent concrete stain from Lowe’s.  (this step will take 2 coats and a few days to finish).

    After it is stained, we seal it with a glossy sealer. I really like the sealer because it gives it a nice finished look without being slippery. I’m glad we decided to stain the concrete; I feel it gives it a more finished look.

    4- Installing the Drapery- info in this post. I was very excited about the creative (and cheap) solution I found for this! (even though I spent an hour arguing with my husband at Lowe’s about how to do it!)

    Photos of the Finished Outdoor Space

    Here are a few photos of the finished project, and next week I’ll have some fun follow-up posts! (like the decor I made for the brick wall,  outdoor pillows & how to hang those drapes).

    under deck space with rug and outdoor furniture

    This gives you a good view of the whole patio.  I added one drape to each post… the pots still need flowers…

    wicker rocking chair and pool

    The view when I’m lying on the couch reading a book.

    wicker rocking chair and pool
    pool with deck in foreground

    A view of the drapery rod.

    curtains on deck

    Curtains tied back.

    drapes hanging on deck

    Curtains open to block the sun from coming to the side of the patio.

    under deck space with rug and outdoor furniture
    metal snail on table

    Sources

    Outdoor Sofa (ours is discontinued, but this one is similar)

    Coffee Table

    Wicker Rocking Chairs (Similar here)

    Outdoor Drapes

    Large Lantern

    Outdoor Pillows

    Outdoor Rug

    Some of the finishing touches… — snail is a Yard Bird… it’s a local company, and they are way cool; I got to tour their warehouse last summer and loved it! I’ve got a couple more items on my “wish list” for this summer.

    Tips for creating an outdoor room from The Polka Dot Chair Blog

    More Home

    • Home of the Polkadot Chair part 2
    • The home of the Polkadot Chair…. part 1
    • Boys Bedroom Redo…
    • Vintage Valentine’s Postcard Pillow

    • Share
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    About Author

    Melissa Mortenson

    Melissa Mortenson is a blogger, designer, and content creator. She is the Polka Dot Chair blog founder and has been sharing fresh and creative ideas with readers since 2008. She is the author of “Project Teen, Handmade Gifts your Teen will Actually Love.” Her work and designs have been featured on HuffPost, TODAY, Pioneer Woman, HGTV, BuzzFeed, Better Homes & Gardens, and many other established publications. Her first fabric line, “Derby Style,” debuted in January 2015 through Riley Blake Designs.  Additional fabric collections have followed it in subsequent years. A mom of 3, she considers herself lucky to be living in Kentucky.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. andrea creates says

      May 26, 2011 at 7:06 am

      it all looks so beautiful!!

      Reply
    2. The Cranky Queen says

      May 26, 2011 at 9:34 am

      You have done a great job. I am wanting to hang outdoor curtains on my back porch…any suggestions appreciated! If you have not ventured over to enter the giveaway over at The Cranky Queen, deadline for entry is May 29th. Thanx for sharing a piece of your life! Tiffany

      Reply
    3. diane says

      May 26, 2011 at 10:26 am

      this looks so great. I also have an outdoor living room. I need to do the drapery thing, too. That really finishes it nicely.

      Reply
    4. Natalia from Piece N Quilt says

      May 26, 2011 at 11:26 am

      Can I come live with you! I love it! 🙂

      Reply
    5. Anna says

      May 26, 2011 at 11:38 am

      beautiful job melissa! looks right out of pottery barn. 🙂

      Reply
    6. taylorhw says

      May 26, 2011 at 1:01 pm

      I love it. You did a beautiful job. Congrats!

      Reply
    7. Jessica says

      May 26, 2011 at 1:11 pm

      Wow! This is fantastic. Looks like a picture out of Pottery Barn.

      Reply
    8. Sarah says

      May 26, 2011 at 2:19 pm

      This turned out gorgeous!

      Reply
    9. Rhonda says

      May 27, 2011 at 8:31 pm

      absolutely gorgeous!!

      Reply
    10. Sarah Marie says

      May 28, 2011 at 7:49 pm

      Did you do something to stop the rain from draining through the deck onto your outside room when it rains?

      Reply
    11. Lianne says

      July 02, 2013 at 9:41 am

      Love what you have done! Looks so comfortable & inviting!

      Reply

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