How big should your deck be? That will depend on a few different factors. A deck’s scale should reference the size of the house and yard proportionately. It’s all relative. It stands to reason that a large house is more capable of appropriately accepting a large deck than a very small house. A lot of this determination will be left up to your visual interpretation. A deck that is designed to an exaggerated scale will often appear overwhelming and out of place.

As a rule of thumb, try not to design any single section of deck to be larger than the largest room of the house. Also consider how the deck will be used. If you are planning on furnishing a space with a table and chairs you will need at least a 12’ x 12’ to comfortably accommodate this arrangement. Small spaces can make people feel closterphobic. As you begin to negotiate the dimensions of your deck design consider its context. What size would best compliment the house and surroundings? How much space do you really need? Remember a thoughtful design can increase your perception of space. Try to eliminate spaces that aren’t necessary. Like a sculptor, you can begin to massage the forms of your deck to streamline its design.