When you’re envisioning your future deck, you’re likely thinking about all the fun memories you’ll make and all the decorations it will have.

There’s another important element to consider during the design process: what colour will you paint or stain your new deck? No matter what material you use to build your deck, there are many colour options available.

However, it can still be hard to determine the best deck colour. Here are some things to consider when making your colour selections.

What Colour is Your Home?

Ideally, your deck colours should match the aesthetic of your home. Look at the colours you’ve already used for the side of your home, the windows, the doors, or the roof. Use these elements as inspiration for choosing your deck colours.

If the exterior of your house is a neutral beige colour, a dark brown deck would work best. If your house is painted in grey shades, another shade of grey for your deck would complement these colours nicely. A grey deck also goes well with a red brick house or a house with a cobblestone exterior.

If your deck is located off the side of your home, you may want your interior flooring to match the deck. While this isn’t a requirement, it makes the design of your deck feel more cohesive. Rather than a completely separate structure, it feels more like an extension of your home.

If you’re not sure which deck colours would match, you can use a colour palette generator online. Once you have a palette, you can incorporate several different colours into the design of your deck. If you want to paint your deck in a completely different colour scheme, that’s fine too!

Is Your Deck Made of Real Timber or Composite Wood?

These are the two most common deck materials. How do you know which one is best for your lifestyle? Many people choose traditional tinder wood for its rustic charm and its low initial installation cost.

However, any kind of wood material is expensive to maintain over many years. After the installation, your wood deck will have to be finished and refinished each year. This is because its colour will fade faster over time compared to composite wood. Depending on the size of your deck, a refinish could cost anywhere between $450-$850.

Also, wood doesn’t last as long as composite decking material. Since timber wood is a natural material, it’s more susceptible to the elements, like rain and intense heat. A deck made from real wood is only expected to last 10-15 years.

Wooden decks can also easily splinter, which could be a problem if you like to walk around barefoot. It’s also a hazard for people who let their pets and small children walk around on their decks. Additionally, wooden decks are prone to rotting and termites, which means costly structural damage.

For all of these reasons, NexGEN recommends using capped composite decking. Composite decking is made from artificial wood, which means it won’t splinter or decay over time. It’s also easier to clean and maintain: with proper maintenance, a composite deck can last over 50 years. Our Select range is backed with a 50 year warranty against staining and fading.  Maintenance costs are also incredibly low, less than $20 per year.

Composite decking is already installed prefinished, so it never needs additional oiling or sanding. This means a more vibrant colour for your deck that won’t fade over the years. Even though it’s artificial, composite decking perfectly replicates the look of natural wood without all the hassle.

NexGEN capped composite decking is also made from exclusively recycled and eco-friendly materials, which means keeping more trees alive and healthy. It also comes with a 50-year warranty against fading.

What Type of Landscape do You Have?

If your deck is facing away from your home, choose deck colours that will match well with your environment. Greenery is complemented by red, while blue tones would complement a heavily wooded area. If your home is facing the sea, subtle greys will work excellently, or even lighter shades of blue.

Other types of landscaping you should take into consideration are paths, plants, or other lawn decorations. For example, say your deck is located away from your house, accessible from a cobblestone path. You may want to choose a deck colour that matches the path, like beige or tan.

Popular Deck Colours

Here are some popular shades that work well with any kind of home:

• Dark Brown or Chocolate Brown. These shades are neutral enough to complement most living spaces and it easily conceals dirty footprints. Black is also a popular option, but it can create a stark contrast against some homes.
• Tan. A tan deck is light enough to make your deck seem brighter while also concealing light dirt marks.
• Grey. One of the most popular colours among home designers in recent years. Since it comes in so many shades, a grey deck is a very versatile option.
• Dark Blue. While less commonplace than the other colours, it still works well with cream-coloured homes. It’s also a perfect colour for seaside dwellings because it complements the ocean and sand.