When you think of a deck, you might tend to imagine the back of a home.  Often a deck is designed to enhance a private back garden.  However there are plenty of benefits of bringing a deck out of hiding and right to the front of your house.  An outdoor deck can be used to create a one-of-a-kind entrance to your house that will leave even the Joneses green with envy.

December is just around the corner and, with it, the official start of Deck Season.  Maybe you found yourself indoors a bit too often over the winter (although we’ve got some great ideas on how to maximise your Eva-tech outdoor deck in all seasons).  But by now you’ve put away your sweaters, stocked up on sunscreen and are ready to spend glorious summer day after glorious summer day outdoors on your own, private deck.  Let the good times begin!

Knowing that you will want to make the most of the warm weather, we’ve put together a list of tips for whiling away the hours in your own outdoor sundeck.

Read a Good Book

Not a ‘book person’?   That just means you haven’t found the right book, yet.  Once you’ve got a good one, a book will keep you enthralled for hours.  And there’s no better place to lay out a towel and flip pages than on your outdoor deck.  Here are a few suggestions:

• · Jock of the Bushveld (Sir James Percy Fitzpatrick) - Have you hugged your dog today?

• · Heart of Redness (Zakes Mda) – Tradition clashes with modern development in more than just Isidingo

• · City of Thieves (David Benioff) – Eggs, Humour and the Siege of Leningrad

• · Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging (Louise Rennison) – You don’t have to be 14 to laugh at tales of snogging lessons and wild cats

• · Cry, the Beloved Country (Alan Paton) – Reading it for pleasure is much better than when you had to read it in school

• · Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim (David Sedaris) – Spend as much time laughing out loud as wondering why there’s  a naked Barbie doll on the cover

• · Oh the Places You’ll Go! (Dr. Seuss) – Inspire yourself or pass it along to the little ones in your life

Write a Good Book

Don’t like the book suggestions?  Write one yourself!  Spend lazy summer days putting your most imaginative stories to paper.  You may be just one book away from a Pulitzer!  Or start a journal to record personal thoughts.  Helps clear your head and gives you one more reason to relax on your deck.

Back to Basics Board Games

You know you’ve got them stored away somewhere.  Now it’s time to pull out your old checkers board and Monopoly game and put them to work.  Invite over friends to play some Pictionary or encourage family time with a game of Uno.  Your Eva-tech deck is the perfect place to play.

Drink Up

Keep hydrated when you’re out on your sundeck.  Drink a little extra water to let you enjoy a classic summer cocktail or two as the sun sets.  And don’t forget the lemonade!  Nothing says summer like sipping freshly squeezed juice outside on your deck.

Act Shady

A sundeck is great for getting that tan you’ve been dreaming of all year.  But give yourself some shade to retreat to during hot afternoons.  Consider adding a tree to make your deck unique, or pop up a sun umbrella to avoid sunburn.  Add a bit of drama and shade by including an Eva-tech pergola in your deck design.

You don’t have to be a pyromaniac to love fire.  There’s something mesmerising about watching flames turn from orange to blue that grabs your attention whether you’re 5 or 95.

Now wait, decking and fire seem like a bad combination.  If it were a wooden deck we were talking about, I’d have to agree.   But Eva-tech decking is less flammable than timber (although you still need to use common sense when flames are near), and it’s low-maintenance decking, so it's easier to clean away the soot afterwards.  Just a quick sweep, maybe some soapy water and you erase the traces of the campfire ash from your Eva-tech deck.   So why not consider incorporating a bit of fire into the ambience of your outdoor space?

Campfire

Wish the party would come to you?  Add a fire pit to your Eva-tech deck and see how quickly people line up to come over for a campfire.  Watch as even the biggest club rat you know decides to take a night away from the bar to come roast marshmallows at your place.  A campfire is the perfect way to keep your kids home with you on Friday night – and meet their friends while they exchange spooky stories on your deck.  It adds light and warmth for cooler nights and makes your parties unique.  It’s a centre for family time or an excuse to sit around and laugh with friends.

Candles

Ok, maybe they’re a bit cliché, but candles are still romantic.  Don’t be shy about putting out lots of them out on the deck to set the mood for a dinner for two.  See how beautiful your lover looks in the light of the flames.  Ok, that was cliché – and a lame line.  But really, you might be surprised just how much a few candles can transform your garden into the perfect date setting.

Candles add sophistication to your deck, as well.  Announce to your guests that they’re about to have a fantastic, grown up evening by setting candles around your deck.

Torches

If you can’t stick it to the man, then stick it to bugs.  Light up a bug repellent torch that looks cool and keeps the bugs at bay.  Forget disgusting insect strips that leave hundreds of dead flies out in full view.  Citronella torches do your dirty work for you, and still manage to look good on your deck.

Tiki Time

Speaking of torches, tiki torches are the perfect detail for fun evenings on your deck.   Use them as decorations for full tiki-themed parties, or just to add a touch of the exotic to your outside oasis.  So what if you can’t make it to the South Pacific this December?  Your deck can be your own private tiki paradise.

Not Just Child’s Play

Sure, roasting hot dogs over the campfire may leave you thinking of childhood, but adding a fire source to your deck is not for kids.  Always be responsible with keeping fire under control.   Even one pretty little candle can lead to trouble if left unattended.

• · Keep an eye on your torches and candles.

• · Make sure there’s a water source nearby.

• · Teach your children about fire safety.

• · Never leave a fire unattended

• · Don’t stress.  Just use common sense.

Now that the disclaimer is over, go out there and enjoy your deck.  Whether it’s a festive bonfire or just a single flame, fire becomes a focal point to a great night.

What are other ways to make your deck special?