Published: September 15, 2025
A guide to designing the perfect outdoor living space
Do you ever find yourself gazing longingly through your back window, imagining that weedy corner of the garden transformed into something… more? You’re not alone. Our homes have become our sanctuaries, offices, gyms and social hubs. It’s not surprising that we long to expand our living space beyond the traditional four walls.
There’s something fantastic happening in residential design right now. Walk through any upmarket neighbourhood and you’ll notice it immediately – the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living are dissolving. What used to be a simple deck or patio has evolved into something far more sophisticated: the outdoor room.
This isn’t just about putting some of your older furniture on a wooden deck anymore. Today’s homeowners are creating genuine extensions of their living spaces that flow seamlessly from kitchen to terrace, from lounge to garden. And at the heart of this transformation is Best Deck composite wood.
The outdoor room revolution: More than just a deck
So, what exactly is an outdoor room? Think of it as your living room, dining room, or entertainment space… but under the open sky. It’s a dedicated outdoor area that’s been thoughtfully designed with the same attention to detail that you’d give any interior space, complete with defined zones for cooking, dining, relaxing and entertaining.
The appeal is clear: We’re spending more time at home than ever and there’s only so much you can do with your indoor square metreage. An outdoor sanctuary effectively adds another “room” to your house without the expense and hassle of a major renovation. It’s an expansion, without the building permits or structural engineering.
What gets property developers and homeowners equally excited is that outdoor rooms add meaningful resale value. Independent benchmarks indicate that well-executed deck projects typically recoup a large share of their cost at resale. Research info about the SA market is not readily available, but in a recent US “Cost vs Value” study (source), average owners recouped about 68% for composite decks, while UK agent guidance points to up to 5 to 10% price uplift when quality decking expands usable living space. Pergolas commonly deliver around 50% cost recovery, with higher returns where design quality and integration with the home are strong (source).
The lifestyle benefits go even further. Outdoor entertaining just hits differently. Even a simple dinner becomes an occasion when you’re dining under the stars. Homeowners who invest in quality outdoor spaces find themselves using them far more than they ever imagined they would.
Why Best Deck composite wood changes everything
If you’ve ever owned a traditional wooden deck, you know the story. Tt looks gorgeous for the first season, decent for the second and, by year three, you’re staring at a maintenance nightmare. Sanding, staining, replacing warped and cracked boards… it becomes a part-time (costly) job.
This is where Best Deck composite wood completely rewrites the rules of outdoor living. Best Deck’s composite materials give you all the warmth and beauty of natural wood without any of the headaches. Our materials can handle whatever the African climate throws at them – from Gauteng’s afternoon thunderstorms to the Western Cape’s howling southeasters – and still look pristine, year after year.
The difference is in the engineering. While natural wood is constantly expanding, contracting, absorbing moisture and battling UV rays, composite wood is designed to stay stable. It won’t warp, crack, fade, or splinter. And most importantly, Best Deck’s products come with a 25-year guarantee. This industry-leading guarantee should be front of mind when making a long-term investment in your home’s outdoor living.
But it goes beyond durability. The aesthetic variety available in modern composite materials is impressive. Whether you’re after the rich, chocolate tones of mahogany, the silvered elegance of weathered teak, or something more contemporary like charcoal or slate grey, there’s a composite option that’ll nail the look you’re going for.
Then, in terms of maintenance, composite wood really shines. A quick hose-down or sweep is usually all it takes to keep things looking fresh. It requires no staining (which usually must be done every year), no replacing rotted boards, no constant checking for termites or decay. Your weekend is yours again.
Design versatility: Beyond the basic deck
One of the most exciting things about working with Best Deck’s quality composite materials is the sheer versatility they offer. This isn’t just about decking boards anymore. It’s about a complete outdoor design system.
For example, a well-designed pergola and complementary cladding using Best Deck composite materials can define your outdoor dining area, create natural shade zones and add architectural interest that ties your outdoor room to your home’s design language. The clean lines and consistent colouring of composite wood make it perfect for these more structural applications.
Pool terraces are another area where composite really excels. The slip-resistant surfaces keep things safe around water, while the fade-resistant properties ensure that your poolside paradise doesn’t turn into a sun-bleached disappointment after a few summers. Composite wood also doesn’t absorb water.
Balconies present their own unique challenges. There are weight restrictions, wind and limited space. But Best Deck composite wood handles them all beautifully. It is lighter in weight than many natural alternatives, which means that you can create stunning elevated outdoor spaces without structural concerns, complete with flooring and beautiful cladding.
An outdoor room is perfect as an added entertainment area. Picture a seamless flow from your indoor kitchen to an outdoor prep area, all tied together with consistent Best Deck composite flooring and complementary cladding. You can create distinct zones (like a braai area, dining section and a lounge space) all tied together by the same beautiful, low-maintenance materials.
And because Best Deck products include cladding, decking, pergolas, panelling and more, they can be used together to create a gorgeous, cohesive space. Best Deck will create a sophisticated, intentional look.
Year-round living: Making it work in every season
The beauty of a properly designed outdoor room is that it doesn’t become redundant in winter. With some thoughtful planning, your outdoor space can be inviting and genuinely useful throughout the year.
In summer, use umbrellas or dense creepers over a pergola for shade and maybe include some outdoor fans to keep cooler. But winter is where great design really pays off. A pergola with a solid roof section (clear polycarbonate sheeting works well) can provide wind protection while still feeling open. Add some heating (like a gas heater or some strategically placed heat lamps) and suddenly your outdoor space is usable even when there’s a chill in the air.
Lighting plays a key role in year-round usability too. Create the ambience with LED strips under decking edges, uplighting in garden beds and some string lights.
The luxury lifestyle
There’s something undeniably luxurious about having a beautiful outdoor room. It changes how you think about your home and how you live in it. Suddenly, yours is the house where people want to gather for Friday sundowners, Saturday rugby and Sunday lunches.
But luxury isn’t just about the finished product; it’s also about the process. Choosing materials that will look gorgeous and perform flawlessly for decades? That’s a luxury. Not having to worry about annual maintenance schedules or weather damage? Even better.
Best Deck’s composite wood materials deliver both the immediate visual impact and the long-term peace of mind that define true luxury. You get the satisfaction of choosing the premium option, backed by the practical benefits that make your choice smart and stylish.
Outdoor living as a great investment
When you step back and look at the numbers, quality outdoor rooms just make financial sense. The combination of immediate lifestyle benefits, long-term durability and a solid increase in your property’s value creates what investment types call a “win-win-win” scenario.
For example, a traditional wooden deck might need major maintenance every two to three years, with potential replacement after eight to 10 years. Factor in your time, materials and labour costs and the “cheaper” option often isn’t cheap at all. Meanwhile, Best Deck composite wood materials with a 25-year guarantee just keep performing, year after year.
The lifestyle return on investment is harder to quantify but equally real. It’s impossible to put a price on being able to entertain effortlessly.
Creating your own outdoor room
The process of designing an exterior getaway like this starts with understanding how you live and entertain. Ask yourself:
- Do I want to host groups of friends and family, or do I prefer intimate gatherings?
- Am I a “morning coffee” person or an “evening wine” person? Or both?
- Do I want a space that’s primarily for relaxation or one that’s designed for active entertainment?
The answers will drive the design decisions.
Consider the flow between indoor and outdoor spaces in your design. The most successful outdoor rooms feel like natural extensions of the interior spaces rather than separate (disconnected) areas. This might mean working with the interior colour scheme, choosing furniture styles that work together and keeping the flooring complementary.
The Best Deck difference
What sets Best Deck apart in the outdoor room context is the combination of quality and design expertise. It’s not just about selling composite wood materials. It’s chiefly about understanding how to use them to create gorgeous outdoor spaces.
The 25-year guarantee demonstrates absolute confidence in our product. It also assures you that these outside spaces are long-term lifestyle investments. When you’re planning a space that you’ll use and enjoy for decades, you want materials that’ll keep pace with that vision.
The range of applications, including decking, pergolas, indoor flooring and cladding, means you can create cohesive designs that feel intentional and sophisticated.
Your outdoor room awaits
This trend isn’t going anywhere. It’s accelerating because more homeowners are discovering the significant lifestyle and property value benefits.
The choice of materials makes all the difference between a wise investment you’ll love and use for decades and one that becomes an expensive maintenance burden you’ll eventually regret.
Ready to explore what this could mean for your lifestyle and your property? The team at Best Deck combines expertise in decking, cladding, pergolas and complete outdoor solutions to help you create something special.
Talk to Best Deck about designing your own outdoor room today. Contact us at info@bestdeck.com.
