DIY Backyard Makeover: Transforming an Old Deck into Four Dream Outdoor Living Spaces

Our DIY backyard makeover stands as one of the most rewarding improvements we’ve ever undertaken for our beloved cottage! We cherish and utilize these spaces throughout the warmer months, and their beauty brings us joy every single day. This project proved to be an exceptional investment of both our time and resources. I sincerely hope that seeing our dramatic before-and-after transformation will ignite your own passion for tackling outdoor projects. They truly offer an incredible return on investment – not just financially, but in terms of quality of life – and absolutely do not require a massive budget.

Hello friends! I’m absolutely thrilled and a little disbelieving that I can finally share the complete reveal of our DIY backyard makeover project. This ambitious endeavor to convert our old deck into a series of functional outdoor rooms began way back in February of 2011. It’s probably no surprise that large-scale DIY projects, especially outdoors, can take a significant amount of time. Working around unpredictable weather – rain, cold, and snow – meant we often had to pause, which I’m sure anyone with outdoor renovation experience can relate to.

We diligently worked on it whenever time and weather permitted, and despite the extended timeline, I am utterly *in love* with the final results! Every single moment spent planning, building, and dreaming was worth it. This space is everything I envisioned as I used to gaze out from our French doors, contemplating the scene before me:

Just look at all that wasted space! It was a sprawling, single expanse of wood, and I honestly couldn’t conceptualize how to make it feel inviting or practical. Should the dining table be by the doors? Near the kitchen window? Under that strange roof overhang? And then what about the vast empty areas remaining? It was truly perplexing. Even our potted plants looked lost and lonely, doing their best to fill the void. This overwhelming space lacked definition, purpose, and visual appeal, serving as a constant reminder of untapped potential.

Beyond the aesthetic and functional shortcomings, the upkeep and potential expense of replacing the entire deck were daunting. It was already showing significant signs of rot when we purchased the house, and we patched it up as best we could for safety, knowing a full-scale project would eventually be necessary. For houses situated high off the ground, a deck makes perfect sense. But our cottage’s backyard deck was less than two feet off the ground, making its existence feel somewhat illogical and inefficient. I was convinced there had to be a more beautiful and significantly more useful way to transform this area, and ideally, on a budget.

And transform it we did:

Now, instead of a monotonous wooden platform, we are greeted by a series of beautiful, interconnected outdoor spaces. This layout simply makes so much more sense, doesn’t it? The combination of lush greenery and natural gravel creates an atmosphere that is not only visually appealing but also physically cooler and more welcoming than that vast expanse of wood ever was. We now use this area infinitely more often, and it’s a genuine pleasure to admire from inside the house as well. The transformation has truly elevated our outdoor living experience.

To truly grasp the scope of this transformation and appreciate every detail, let’s dive into the fascinating before-and-after shots!

Our Comprehensive DIY Backyard Deck Transformation

One of the significant advantages of undertaking DIY projects like this after living in a house for a while is gaining an intimate understanding of how you actually use the space and identifying any inherent quirks. In our case, we discovered that for comfortable outdoor dining, especially during the peak warmth of summer evenings, we needed to position our dining set towards the far end of the deck to benefit from the shade provided against the intense western sun. This observation became a cornerstone of our new design.

With this insight, we strategically created a much smaller, more defined entry deck directly from the house, complete with a gracious step leading down to a spacious gravel dining patio. This new configuration eliminates the feeling that the dining area is randomly placed far from the house. Instead, the patio provides a natural, intentional setting, making the table and chairs feel perfectly at home and inviting for al fresco meals. It’s about designing for how you truly live, rather than simply adapting to an existing structure.

Years prior, during our major remodeling phase shortly after moving in – which notably included the conversion of our garage into a functional living space – we added an exterior French door to our master bedroom. We also installed a beautiful double set of French doors leading from the main living area onto what was then the deck (a truly significant improvement!). However, this master bedroom French door remained a ‘door to nowhere’ for a remarkable *seven years*. It opened directly onto the deck, but there was no natural flow or connection to the rest of the yard.

One of the primary objectives of this comprehensive backyard landscaping project was to finally connect this master bedroom door seamlessly with the surrounding yard. We achieved this by building a small, private deck and step, mirroring the design of the main entry deck. This step now leads gracefully to the gravel patio area, complete with its own dedicated gravel path that winds through the garden. Previously, the house and its vast deck seemed to impose themselves over the yard, creating a disconnect. Now, the carefully planned pathways, the charming small entry decks, and the thoughtfully designed planting areas work in harmony to integrate the house with the landscape, gently guiding you out and into the vibrant beauty of the surrounding garden.

Here’s a fantastic perspective from the other side of what was once our imposing deck. You can clearly see how the meticulously laid gravel pathway now elegantly connects everything. It begins subtly from the mudroom door (just out of frame to your left in the photo), gracefully guides you past our newly defined outdoor “rooms,” and extends all the way to the master bedroom door. I suppose this makes the pathway the central ‘hallway’ of our outdoor living space, or whatever charming name you wish to bestow upon it, ha! This thoughtful connectivity is key to the flow and functionality of our redesigned backyard.

So, to recap the incredible transformation, our single, expansive deck became these four distinct and inviting outdoor rooms:

1. The Al Fresco Dining Patio

Our designated dining area now rests on a beautifully defined gravel patio. This spacious layout comfortably accommodates our dining set and even provides ample room for a grill, perfect for summer barbecues. Adjacent to it, we’ve established a new, vibrant flower bed, which proudly showcases, among other delightful plantings, one of my absolute favorite shrubs, a ‘Little Lime’ hydrangea, alongside a charming concrete bird bath. The bird bath is a particular joy, as local birds truly do use it – sometimes even when we’re out enjoying the patio! It’s a small but significant delight that adds so much life to our outdoor space (a simple pleasure for us country dwellers!).

Opting for gravel for an area of this size proved to be incredibly cost-effective compared to more expensive alternatives like pavers or poured concrete. The savings weren’t just in the material cost; gravel installation is a wonderfully accessible DIY project that almost anyone can tackle. If you can manage a shovel and push a wheelbarrow, you can lay a gravel patio! Furthermore, the gravel integrates seamlessly, flowing beautifully from the connecting pathways, creating a cohesive and natural aesthetic throughout the backyard.

Oh, and I must mention a previous DIY success: the outdoor umbrella, which I spray painted back in the summer of 2011, still looks absolutely fantastic! I honestly thought I’d need to touch it up annually, but to my pleasant surprise, I haven’t needed to do a thing. Just regular, good quality outdoor spray paint. It’s truly amazing how well it has held up over the years, a testament to the power of a simple DIY refresh.

UPDATE: Since first publishing this transformation, I’ve received numerous inquiries about the specifics of how we laid the gravel in this area. Our method is tried and true, mirroring how we’ve created other gravel pathways around our property. The key steps involve: first, laying down a thick layer of landscape fabric or heavy-duty plastic as a weed barrier. Next, we defined the edges using this easy-to-find, inexpensive garden edging, which helps contain the gravel and provides a clean line. Finally, we spread the gravel evenly. Crucially, we used a 3/4 crushed gravel *without fines*. This distinction is incredibly important! If you opt for gravel *with* ‘fines’ (which is essentially sandy dirt), it creates a perfect soil-like layer for weeds to sprout and root in, a lesson we learned the hard way with our raised-bed paths. With the correct gravel, the only weeds we encounter are those that are airborne, blowing in from elsewhere, and these are typically easy to pull up by hand, especially in spring when they first emerge. The sharp edges of the crushed gravel, as it’s walked upon, naturally create tiny punctures in the underlying plastic, so we’ve never experienced any drainage issues, even here in rainy western Oregon!

Initially, we considered the possibility of eventually adding decorative pavers within the gravel, perhaps just under the main seating area, to create a more solid footing. However, after living with the gravel for so long, it has proven to be perfectly adequate and comfortable. We’ve never felt the need – or the desire to incur the extra expense! – to add anything further. Simplicity and functionality have truly won out.

2. The Culinary Kitchen Herb Garden

The dedicated herb garden, complete with a convenient gravel path leading directly to our back door and kitchen, is quite possibly my absolute favorite part of this entire backyard makeover. For years, I had harbored a dream of being able to simply step outside and snip fresh herbs for our meals from a vibrant, dedicated garden. While I had experimented with growing some herbs in pots, they never seemed to thrive for me quite as well as herbs grown directly in the ground. This garden now makes that long-held dream a daily reality, enhancing our cooking and bringing fresh aromas just steps away.

Oh, and take a closer look at the adorable finial atop our hose guard! This charming detail was another budget-friendly DIY creation. We fashioned it from a leftover piece of 4×4 lumber, and Brian cleverly cut down a smaller piece of wood to serve as the cap. To elevate its aesthetic, we then attached a standard wooden curtain finial – a fantastic find at just $6 for a pair (there’s a matching one on the opposite side of the garden). To ensure its durability outdoors, I coated it thoroughly with a water-repelling stain. This DIY solution was significantly more economical than any pre-made fence post caps we found, which were not only hard to find in a style we liked but also cost upwards of $10 each! It’s a perfect example of how a little creativity can lead to beautiful, personalized, and inexpensive results.

3. The Inviting Backyard Entry Deck

The newly designed entry deck to the backyard serves as a welcoming threshold, gently inviting you to step out and explore the various interconnected zones of our outdoor space. Strategically placed adjacent to the kitchen herb garden, it offers unparalleled convenience, allowing me to easily harvest fresh herbs from either of our back doors – a true luxury for any home cook! This thoughtful placement maximizes both functionality and accessibility within our garden layout.

One of the satisfying aspects of this part of the project was our ability to reuse existing materials. We salvaged the sturdy posts and 4×6 beams from the original, dilapidated deck, integrating them into the new structure. We then added fresh decking wood and constructed a wide, easy step down to the gravel pathway. Now, instead of looking out of place, our carefully chosen flower pots appear perfectly situated, adding bursts of color and life that truly belong, enhancing the sense of welcome and beauty at this important transition point.

4. The Relaxing Gazebo Living Room

And finally, we arrive at the gazebo, a truly cherished space that I affectionately refer to as our outdoor “living room.” If you haven’t seen its incredible transformation story, I highly recommend you read all about the gazebo makeover. That post delves into every detail of how this structure evolved from a rather peculiar, shed-like oddity tucked away in the corner of the old deck into the fantastic, inviting hangout spot it is today. It’s a testament to vision and persistence!

We absolutely adore having this dedicated, comfortable space where we can unwind and soak in the warm summer evenings. It’s also become our favorite spot for shaded afternoon reading sessions, providing a tranquil escape from the midday sun. The experience has been further elevated by our recent upgrade to much cushier and more comfortable outdoor furniture, making it an even more irresistible retreat for relaxation and family time.

So, I think it’s abundantly clear how much I adore our newly transformed outdoor space! And it’s not just me – Brian and the kids now actively use it too, whereas before, they hardly ventured into the backyard. One of the sweetest sights, and what truly warms this mama’s heart, is seeing our children relaxing in the gazebo with our dog, either engrossed in a book or simply chatting and enjoying each other’s company. These moments of connection and joy truly underscore the profound impact of this makeover on our family’s lifestyle.

What are your thoughts on this dramatic backyard transformation? Have you ever considered reimagining your own outdoor space as a series of distinct, functional “rooms”? We hope our journey inspires you to look at your backyard with fresh eyes and imagine the possibilities!