A bright, well-appointed backyard deck makes spending time outside so much more enjoyable. Mallory Fitzsimmons of the blog Charming in Charlotte used a Home Depot patio dining set as the starting point for her new backyard deck idea that’s full of bright and bold color and clever ways to ensure a little bit of privacy. This is Mallory’s contribution to our Patio Style Challenge series here on The Home Depot Blog. We sent Mallory the patio dining set, and let her take it from there. Read on for her gorgeous decorating ideas to inspire your own backyard deck makeover. If there ever were a truly blank (and ugly) canvas to paint on it would be our backyard deck. It’s one of the spaces of our home that has been truly neglected and for no good reason other than we just haven’t gotten around to it. I jumped for joy when Home Depot asked me to participate in this Patio Style Challenge, and knew that it was the perfect time to capitalize on this outdoor space. It may not look like it from the before photo below (cringing that I even have to show you guys!), but we actually really like our deck.

Our home backs up to a beautiful tree line and our backyard faces southwest, so we catch some really beautiful Carolina sunsets. It’s a large space and the perfect size for entertaining, so we just needed to define it and make it functional. The backyard deck had become a mish-mosh of hand-me-down furniture, and it just didn’t feel like our own, thus making us never have any desire to be out there.wholesale christmas decor for retailers As you can see the deck is long and fairly narrow, so I chose the Hampton Bay Barnsdale Teak Dining Set  for its modern, clean lines that would compliment the space. decorate my room with christmas lightsI love that it’s made of powder-coated aluminum and certified teak wood, so this is truly is a patio dining set that we will have and enjoy for many many years to come.christmas decorations to make for table

Along the far side of the backyard deck, we also added adjustable window boxes (painted white) and filled them with our favorite seasonal flowers. It’s a great way to add in pops of color throughout. One thing that I wanted to do was to define the space and make it a cozy and inviting area to entertain. christmas table decorating ideas for cheapWe do live in a neighborhood, so sometimes it feels like you’re on a stage and not in the privacy of your own home when you’re out on the backyard deck. christmas decorations outdoor treesAt the same time, I wanted to also add ambient lighting and not completely block the view of our pretty tree line.beach house decor diy

Keep in mind we have a pretty strict HOA that doesn’t allow for permanent additions or structures to be added to your deck without formal approval. Since we didn’t have the time to go through that process, our idea for the backyard deck was to add a completely removable system (with the exception of the support beams, which are simply screwed in) that gave us everything we needed…lighting, privacy, and definition. We took 2-in. x 6-in. pieces of untreated wood, cut 90-degree angles in them on one end and drilled 1½-ft. holes in the other, painted them with a protective and weather resistant paint + primer by Behr, and then screwed them into the existing decking with 90-degree hinges. Through the top, we threaded through PVC pipe (simply primed + painted gold), from them we also hung Martha Stewart Living sheers, and finally attached screw hooks to the front of the supports, which is how we strung the outdoor string lights. The entire thing can be assembled and taken down within five minutes, so it’s perfect to throw together for last-minute guests.

On the other side we wanted to create a functional feature wall that also added some additional privacy. We came up with this vertical herb garden that was so easy to create. We used a pre-fab trellis (primed and painted), cut it down to size and screwed it into the existing decking. I then found some cool metal pails, painted them gold, lined them with plastic sheeting, and planted my favorite herbs in them. I attached some cup hooks into the trellis and was able to simply hang the herb buckets there for a great vertical herb garden and privacy feature. It’s also perfect over the new grill as we are able to simply pick our favorite herbs to throw on the grill with fresh veggies! The left side of the backyard deck became a sweet little sitting area, flanked by two hanging ferns. The bench was a hand-me-down from my parents, so I decided to freshen it up with some bright blue spray paint. Our daughter loves to come sit out on the bench and admire “her flowers.”

It’s only been a few weeks since we’ve completed our backyard deck idea, and it’s truly amazing how many times we’ve already entertained our friends in the space and dined alfresco with just our little family. It’s truly become a space that’s our own, reflects our personality and is one we are proud of. Thanks to The Home Depot for allowing us to take part in this challenge, it was a total blast! See more photos of Mallory’s Patio Style Challenge on her blog. Mallory Fitzsimmons lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband and young daughter. She started Charming in Charlotte as a way to document their cross-country move. It’s now her creative outlet where she shares DIY, design, decor and style tips, tricks and inspiration. For more patio decorating ideas, see other Patio Style Challenge articles as well as our Patio Style Challenge pinboard on Pinterest. Create your own patio collection by choosing from 16 frames and 15 color options at our Patio Collections webpage, and browse our Outdoor Living Department for everything you need to enhance your outdoor space.