Sometimes it’s easy to get carried away and want to jump straight into the jump end of finishing off your brand-new deck. You want to pump up the BBQ and have your friends over, ready to flaunt and show off your new outdoor entertaining area – we get it. Unfortunately, it’s necessary to take your time to make sure you get the best result possible, and that means putting in the time and energy to consider the right colour for your overall end surface.

It all starts with staining

Staining a deck can be a huge task, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing. For those times, we recommend opting for professional services (like ours), as it can be finicky. However, if you’re okay with taking it on yourself, remember that choosing the right colour for your vision is the most important step. Redoing it is a mammoth job, so you’re better off making sure you’ve ticked all boxes, to begin with.

The steps to choosing a decking colour

Step 1: Think about how you want the finished look to come off. There’s more than meets the eye here; for starters, coloured decks are harder to sand back to the original state, if you decide to redo it. They’re also more likely to date quickly – e.g. consider a bright blue deck that then fades over time through sun exposure.

Step 2: Even though it is outside, consider how it will coincide with your interior aesthetics. Get a small chip of paint from your wall and take this with you when choosing a stain. You want this colour to still look like it blends or complements the stain itself, so it’s better to have all options with you at the time of making a decision.

Step 3: Think about how transparent you want the final result can be. Clear coats can still come in variants that allow the natural grain of the wood to come through. You might want to emphasise this feature or minimise it.

Step 4: Look around your backyard at the colours you have laying around. These should all tie in with your decking and shouldn’t look out of place. Use rocks and ground as the inspiration for your stain hue.

A few side notes

Beyond the above obvious points, there are a few other tips that might come in handy when making your decision. For example:

  • If you have a home that is tan, beige or yellow in colour, and brown stains should do the trick.
  • Oils and stains are different and have their own pros and cons. If you’re not sure which is best, get expert advice. We can always help you with this aspect.
  • Some products last longer than others so make sure you do your research first.

Need help with your deck? Addon Pergolas are the experts in installing and upkeeping these Aussie staples.