If your deck will have several uses (a play area for the kids, space for dining, an area for sunning) you may be tempted to make it as big as possible. But multiple functions don't always call for more deck. Sometimes a small design element, such as a level change, can better isolate functional zones. However, if you plan to have a one-level deck, use the high end of your size estimate. Adding more space now is less expensive than adding it later, and the last thing you want is a cramped deck. If your budget is tight, plan a deck that you can build in stages, adding elements as you can afford them, but keeping the overall design intact. The chart on the right shows rough estimates of the space required for different activities. Use these estimates as a guide to sizing your deck. A breezy boardwalk If you're designing a single level deck large enough for both small and large gatherings but you want to dress up the platform inexpensively add a perimeter boardwalk. This narrow extension gives you a little more room at a fraction of the cost of an additional platform. And it gives guests a way to move to the far end of the deck without passing through the main activity sections. Define spaces casually with moveable furnishings. Cut down on mowing A wraparound redwood deck with a wrought-iron railing transforms a narrow, unused side yard from lawn space into an open-air veranda. It's small but still has plenty of room for casual conversation. Such a deck can expand your living area with style and will reduce your lawn-mowing time.
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