Caroline Birdsall from Millboard describes the recent trends in including decking for outdoor areas, from entertainment to increasingly al fresco bars and dining in domestic and hospitality settings, post-pandemic
An overriding trend we have all seen in recent times is the importance and value being attached to the space we have around us. For a while, the outside was the only place you could legally connect with friends and family due to Covid restrictions, and more of us are working from home these days, spending more time together under one roof. The once taken for granted garden has become an extra ‘room’ of the house – or, more accurately, an extension. It has become a living room, office, gym, pub and cafe.
The bar at home
We have seen a huge increase in homeowners wanting high end, ‘show-stopping’ areas for dining and entertaining outside. Decking areas are being designed with lighting, heating and shade so that the space can be used year-round. It is often the finishing touches that take a deck to the ‘next level’ in the eyes of homeowners. For instance, adding edging allows easy incorporation of under-lip lighting for a really professional finish to entertaining spaces. Also, built-in seating using the same material can create a pared-back aesthetic giving the illusion of more space – very useful for smaller urban gardens.
Outdoor hospitality
One trend which started before lockdown is the use of composite decking for outdoor spaces in the hospitality industry. Composite decking looks like wood and feels pleasant underfoot but is easy to maintain, long-lasting and slip resistant – it’s hard to argue with those qualities when you’re running a busy hotel or bar. The space is also easy to clean up after the inevitable food and drink spills.
Different shades
For those who want their decking to be centre stage, different decking colours can be combined to create a diverse garden scheme which complements or contrasts with the surrounding hard materials such as fencing, a shed or outbuilding, or even the colour of the window frames or interior scheme. This helps to break up the space and injects a little brightness to a scheme that may heavily feature one colour. This is especially useful in public areas where slips and trips might take place.
Not only beautiful, but practical too; highlighting the edges of steps or drops from the side of decking can reduce the risk of visitors mis-stepping or losing balance. Picture framing your decking in this way also adds a formal feel, while choosing a contrasting step riser adds a fresh, contemporary look.
Biophilia
The increased emphasis on the importance of health and wellbeing and the positive impact that nature can have means that biophilia – our innate wish to connect with nature – is being regularly incorporated into designs, indoors and out, to add texture and soften edges. For example, we’ve seen our decking boards being used to great effect to make planters and living walls. Planters incorporated into decking designs also remain popular in low maintenance urban gardens, and also on a larger scale in hotels and public spaces.
Rustic authenticity
High-end supermarket chain Booths, and family restaurant chain Harvester, have both used composite decking for their branded front facades recently. Facades are fully exposed to all the elements, and the combination of rain and sun can make timber look tired and faded without regular treatment. The effect of the boarded facade in these instances is rustic and homely looking. This effect has also been used for serving facades in cafes and restaurants where the emphasis is on fresh farm produce and home-cooked food.
Looking after nature
The other major trend we have seen is customers in both the residential and commercial sectors seeking to invest in designs that will stand the test of time. Space is highly valued, but so too is sustainability, and we have seen a real move towards specifying products that will last, without the need for environmentally damaging chemical preservatives. For many customers, the desire to use the most planet-friendly products has moved right to the top of their criteria for selection. Being a long-term issue, the shift towards sustainability is one ‘trend’ that is here to stay.
Caroline Birdsall is director of marketing at Millboard