How to style my Composite Decking all year round?

Creating a composite deck not only adds visual appeal to your outside area, it is a great way to tidy up garden zones, adding practicality to any living space.

Composite decking is also a fantastic way to expand your living space to the outdoors. Providing an extra living area to relax, dine, entertain and so much more!

At Cladco, we specialise in manufacturing composite products that are high-quality, versatile, and environmentally friendly. With a range of choices, colours and designs; we are one of the leading UK composite decking providers with a passion for helping you find the perfect fit for your needs.

Once you have installed your new composite decking, it can be challenging to know exactly how to style it. You want the area to be in keeping with the rest of your garden whilst reflecting your personality and design preferences.

Naturally, you want to get the most out of your new decking. This may be by adding furniture, such as tables and chairs, plants or even lighting. Below we will outline design elements and add-ons that you can include to ensure your new deck space is everything you dreamed of.

An effective way of adding interest and practicality to your composite decking area is to feature a dining table and chairs.

In the UK, the warmer months and longer evenings are few and far between, with many homeowners making the most of the extra sun exposure by eating alfresco and spending time on their composite deck long into the evenings.

Whether you sip your morning coffee alone, entertain family and friends or cook up a feast of a barbeque, a good set of chairs and a sturdy table is a surefire way to make the most of your deck - with a south facing garden being an added bonus.

The above example showcases our Signature composite decking boards, featuring our light grey boards as the main decking colour as well as our stone grey bullnose composite boards. The effect is a subtle bordering of the area that has been modified into an eating and social dining set-up.

Unlike natural wood decking, our range of composite decking boards are splinter, rot and warp resistant. The mix of recycled wood fibres and recycled plastics that makes up our composite decking helps to increase the resistance - ideal for heavy footfall areas. Whether small children or pets use the decking area, or you wish to host garden parties, your composite decking will be ready for the challenge.

Our Signature composite boards have been used here in a woodgrain stone grey finish, complementing the black metal chairs and table elements. 

For a more seamless look between the decking itself and the dining furniture can also be seen above. Here, teak boards blend effortlessly with the existing brown timber chairs and table.

So, you have selected the dining furniture for your deck. What about those additional composite decking accessories that will elevate your new outdoor living space?

Plants of course! And lots of them! Potted plants are a great way to style up your composite decking area, adding instant natural beauty. The upside is that they can be easily moved around when needed or can be strategically positioned to cover up joins and imperfections that you would rather not have on show.

You can mix colours, sizes and types to create a mini jungle, or just simply add a pot or two to match with the aesthetic of the decking boards and garden furniture. 

Potted plants make an easy addition to any garden space, especially those that are not blessed with a lawn or natural flower beds.

When potted plants are kept on top of our Signature composite boards, this can mark the boards. This is due to the natural elements in the boards. To avoid this, check on the area after heavy rain and clean if necessary. Our ProDeck composite decking boards have a reduced risk of potential marking due to the capped surface that increases resistance.

How you want to enjoy your new decking area is paramount. If you are limited on space or do not want to opt for a full dining furniture set, creating comfortable seating in your new composite decking area is important to consider. It can add style and character as well as practical seating.

Colour, practicality and placement are all factors to take into consideration. A great example is the image below where the owner has chosen a large corner seating area. Crucially, they have included black and white cushions which tonally fit with both the dark seating and the light grey decking. The addition of the large, overhead pergola also adds a built-up feeling, creating the illusion that the entire deck is its own outdoor room.

Lounge chairs alongside the natural-looking wood deck below bring pops of colour into an otherwise neutral decking palette. Alongside the contrasting balustrade system, these sandstone-coloured ProDeck composite boards provide increased resistance along with its composite makeup.

The soft furnishings area of this composite deck features brightly coloured cushions that can be easily added or taken away to provide quick design updates to the space. Many cushions now come in waterproof materials meaning they are just as easy to maintain as the composite decking materials themself.

So the seating is sorted, but what about when the sun goes down? How can you ensure that your new decking area is just as warm, comfortable and suited to the evening as well as the daytime?

Including a central fire pit in the decking design provides warmth on chilly evenings and provides a focal point when entertaining guests.

Here are examples of how our customers have ingeniously added a fire pit system to their composite decking set-up. Importantly, protecting their deck boards in the process using small stones or gravel. Both fire pits here have been fitted with Signature composite bullnose boards around the edge to create a picture frame effect.

Important note: Always check the fire rating on composite decking and never leave flames unattended.

Cosy lighting is another great way to customise your new composite decking area. You can choose from integrated lighting systems within the deck itself, and the popular style of festoon lights, lanterns and more. Festoon lights have brought a contemporary feel to the below example, alongside the grey composite decking space.

Good lighting can provide a soft, warm glow and lift darker colours as night draws in. String lights have been used on the pergola pictured below, but lighting options are endless! With a range of styles available to complement your new space - from coloured to solar powered, there is no excuse not to spend time in your outdoor space, day or night.

Above all, your new composite decking area is a place to relax and enjoy. Whether you fill your deck with flowers and furniture or simply leave it bare, your composite decking should provide you with a minimal-maintenance and practical outside space for years to come. For instance our Signature composite decking comes with a 10-year warranty, while our ProDeck composite decking comes with a 15-year warranty.

Why not bring your home comforts from the inside out? Adding a rug to the outside space is a great way to add warmth and a cosy touch to an otherwise chilly deck. With so many colours and designs to choose from, you can choose soft neutrals or bold geometric prints to work with your colour scheme and tie elements of your outdoor living space together seamlessly.

These days, outdoor rugs and soft furnishings are extremely versatile and multifunctional. The colourful designs bring a refreshing variation to outside seating areas and durable materials can withstand most weather conditions.

Composite decking boards of a lighter colour can be easily styled with most accessories. Above, furnishings are a colour match to create a broad and bright decking area - even the dog blends in! Alternatively, ivory boards can be styled with bold patterns to create striking design exteriors.

Visit our image gallery for more inspiration and ideas that will help you design your perfect decking project. You can also take a look at our installation guides for more information, or give our friendly sales team a call on 01837 659901.

Please note: Fire pits should be used with caution, fire pits are used at your own risk and may not be suitable for use on the decking. Please refer to the decking fire rating certification here.