Megan Brooke Handmade: Ask The Pro:: Decorating a Deck

Today I have Elizabeth from The Mustard Ceiling to help answer our third reader's question in the Ask The Pro series.

Elizabeth has a degree in interior design and has worked in model home design, high-end residential and vacation home design and staging. In other words, she knows her stuff!!

Elizabeth, we're dying to see what you have to say! Take it away!
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Hi, Megan Brooke Handmade readers! Megan asked me to stop by today to answer one of her reader's design dilemma's.

I have a big deck in my backyard, but it's seriously sparse. There's no shade or covering so it's basically just a big sunny square. It's a rental property, so I don't want to invest TOO much. How can I spruce it up on a budget?

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An umbrella will help bring in some shade and will add interest to the space,

and..when you move, pack it up and take it with you.

Go neutral with a simple white, or add a fun pattern and a pop of color for an extra punch

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Now that your deck is protected from the sun...

Thrift stores, end of the season sales, and hand me downs are excellent ways to find furniture for your patio.

Nicole, from Glam Granola posted earlier this summer about revitalizing some hand-me down patio furniture...check out these before and afters.

Before

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Now...add a little spray paint and...

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VOILA!

For more information on how Nicole did it, click here.

JandJ Home also created a fabulous patio space using garage store finds and re-purposing an old west elm piece for her patio

For more information on J and J's backyard transformation, click here.

Finally...

Plants planted in planters are an inexpensive way to add color and texture to your space.

Sprinkle a few large planters around your deck to add a sense of privacy, and cozy up the area.

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Groups of three work well when you're grouping planter's together.

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One more great thing about planters...you can take them with you as you go too.

Thanks again for having me today Megan!
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Thanks so much for some awesome suggestions Elizabeth. Makes me wish I had a bigger deck space to incorporate some of these ideas :)

Elizabeth and her husband have been renovating their 1954 brick rancher and have done an awesome job. Here are just a few pictures from some of the rooms they've completed.