We set a goal to enjoy our deck by Labor Day and barely made it with a few days to spare. As you can probably tell, I’m thrilled. Don’t ask me what this pose is called — John pointed the camera at me and this happened. It’s a full-on Kids Incorporated moment.
We could have made do with a rickety card table and metal folding chairs, so we were excited to find end-of-season discounted furniture that feels solid enough to stay out long-term. We still have plans to finish the space (more on that below). We also need to let the wood dry before staining or sealing it, which will deepen the color and give the deck a more polished look.
To start arranging furniture, we placed our freshly sealed World Market table in the center of the deck, positioned between two seams in the boards. Once the wood shrinks a bit and gets its final coat of stain or sealer, those seams will be more obvious and the color will be richer. There’s not a ton of clearance on either side of the table in some photos, but we measured about three feet on each side — roughly 32 inches of usable space since each board is 6 inches wide — which is workable for our needs.
On the fun side, we brought out our acacia chairs from Joss & Main, which should match the deck nicely once it’s stained. I also added pillows, a runner, and a few accessories because I can’t resist those finishing touches. I have a serious pillow problem.
On the table we used a runner we’ve had for a few years and a yellow thrift-store dish for napkins and outdoor bits. The yellow gurgle pot, a woven decanter, and woven cups are HomeGoods finds from over the years. The ikat-style outdoor seat cushion is from Garden Ridge — they have aisles of outdoor cushions if you’re looking.
Some of the photos look tighter because I cropped them to highlight accessories. When chairs are pulled out a little, there’s roughly 16 inches behind them for slipping by — not enough space for a pirouette, but comfortable for passing. If we ever need extra clearance we could push the table against the house, but so far the current layout works well. If we change it, we’ll share updates.
Now for the important stuff: the yellow ceramic fish that makes my heart sing. We also still have those bird napkins from Ikea that we used for Clara’s party — they keep restocking them so I always grab more when I see them.
I created a temporary play corner mainly for Clara. Eventually we want a larger, plush seat and a few large planters to soften the wood-and-brick corner and discourage climbing. The woven toy basket is better suited indoors, so I bring it inside at the end of the evening. The green drum stool was borrowed from the guest room (HomeGoods find), and the little rabbit was a $12 Marshall’s find that fits right in. Clara’s cactus toy (by Plan Toys) doubles as grown-up entertainment, and the outdoor pillow in that corner is from Garden Ridge.
We set everything out while Clara napped and did a big reveal when she woke up. Her reaction was “ooh the pretty pretty deck!” and she ran for the toy basket. Burger followed her, eager for the giant orange ball — you can spot him lurking in photos waiting his turn.
The yellow chairs were part of the original mood board. I’d heard they sold at Menard’s for about $39, but the best option I found locally was $51 through Joss & Main with free shipping. They arrived painted with durable outdoor automotive paint and were sealed and ready to use, so they required no additional prep like some of the other pieces. I was worried they’d be too low for the table, but with cushions they’re the perfect height and the arms tuck under the table so they can be pushed in. They’ve become our favorite deck seats — Burger can attest to their comfy-factor.
We also added a bit of extra railing to meet county code, which turned out to be useful for Clara to hold on to. For safety, we set up her old baby gate at the stairs in the evenings to keep her and Burger from running up and down while we relax on the deck.
Future deck plans include:
- Stringing large bulb lights across the length of the deck.
- Adding more planters and plants to soften edges and angles.
- Replacing the makeshift play seat with a plush chair and adding play-friendly features like a sand & water table.
- Painting the electric meter to blend with the brick.
- Building a small paver patio at the bottom of the deck steps for the BBQ.
- Installing a more attractive gate to replace the baby gate we’re using now.
- Staining and sealing the deck once the wood has fully dried.
- Possibly painting the siding a medium gray tone that ties into the brick and mortar.
So that’s our newly furnished deck. The patio on the other side of the house is still feeling neglected, but someday we’ll turn our attention back there. One small victory: the awkward alley that came with the house is finally gone — ding dong, the alley’s dead.
That ugly electric meter near the deck is on my list to paint to match the brick, the same trick we used at our previous house. It won’t make the meter invisible, but paint can help it blend and become less of an eyesore. If you try this yourself, check with your county first — in our area the boxes are owned by the homeowner and it’s permitted.
Earlier, the view from the hallway off the living room and kitchen showed a rotting balcony with weeds and a direct line of sight to the air conditioner. Now it’s clean and usable — no more rot, weeds, or air-conditioner intrusion.
We’d like to replace the sliding doors with French doors sometime to upgrade the look, and we’re currently pricing options to see if it’s doable now or if it needs to wait. For our next big project we’re debating between finishing the basement or adding wainscoting/board & batten to the hallway that leads to Clara’s room. We’ll share what we decide once we pick a direction.
To wrap up, what’s your favorite part of the deck? I’m obsessed with the yellow chairs and the ikat cushions. John’s excited about the large table and filling it with food. Maybe you’re a gurgle pot fan, or like Clara, you could be most excited about a $2 ball from Target.
Psst — you can see how we planned, sourced, and built this deck and the mood board that inspired the furnishings in earlier posts.