5 Timber decking designs for your backyard

There’s no denying that Australia is a country made for timber decking. With so much of our lives spent enjoying the great outdoors, any chance to do the same in our own backyards is a chance we can’t pass up.

One of the best ways to connect your indoor and outdoor living areas is through clever decking design. The right design can help you create a space to relax in the sunshine and enjoy the company of friends and family. The trick, of course, is choosing the right timber.

Where you live, how you plan to use your deck, and your personal aesthetic will all determine the wood species and type of deck you choose. The rest is up to your imagination. To help spark some inspiration, here are five of our favourite timber decking designs for the backyard.

Getting the right decking timber types

To help you choose the right timber decking, no matter the application, every timber wood species in Australia is given a durability rating. This rating indicates how resistant a particular timber is to harsh weather conditions and termites. The durability scale runs from Class 1 (the most durable) to Class 4 (the least durable).

Class 1 timbers

Blackbutt

Blackbutt is a light brown hardwood grown in Queensland and New South Wales. Already a popular choice for indoor flooring, Blackbutt is gaining traction as a brilliant timber decking choice. Ideal if you want to create a seamless blend between your indoor and outdoor living spaces. The fact that it’s resistant to harsh weather conditions and rot only strengthens its case.

Grey Ironbark

A light grey or brown appearance with the occasional reddish tinge is Grey Ironbark’s signature look. It is one of Australia’s most durable hardwoods and suffers less bleeding than some imported hardwoods due to its low tannin content.

Spotted Gum

Spotted Gum is a durable hardwood that grows from the New South Wales and Victoria border to the Maryborough region of Queensland. This sturdy hardwood ranges from pale to dark brown, with green or orange tinges often present. Spotted Gum is similar to Grey Ironbark in that it is less likely to bleed.

Spotted Gum also has a high BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) rating, which makes it a must if you live somewhere that’s prone to bushfires.

Tallowwood

Like Spotted Gum, Tallowwood is a hardwood grown along many coastal areas from New South Wales to southeast Queensland. The heartwood found in Tallowwood is typically a yellowish-brown colour with a tinge of olive green; the sapwood is often much paler.

Tallowwood also has a low risk of moisture damage, which makes it a great choice if you live by the beach or plan to have poolside decking.

Class 3 timbers

Merbau

Merbau has an orange-brown hue when first cut that darkens as the timber ages. It also has a striking interlocked grain pattern that makes it an attractive choice for anyone wishing to create a design statement with their decking.

Compared with other hardwoods, Merbau is considered stable when it comes to expansion and contraction. It also has a natural oil content, making it brilliant for outdoor decking areas.

Stringybark

Stringybark is a hardwood grown across areas of New South Wales. It produces a broad palette of colours, from pale to gold yellows and light browns. The grain is consistent, making it well-suited to aesthetics that highlight straight lines.

The foolproof way to ensure you choose the perfect timber for your deck is to speak with our expert team. We can guide you, step by step, through the selection process so you end up with timber that is practical and pleasing to the eye.

Stunning yet simple timber decking designs

It’s difficult to overstate how versatile timber decking is. No matter the size or complexity of the space you’re working with, decking can enhance it. Here are five modern timber decking designs that illustrate this:

Garden beds

If your deck is a small, confined space, but you still want to add a splash of nature, raised garden beds made from matching timber are the perfect solution.

Matching walls

Want to take that blended effect even further? Consider building the surrounding walls with the same timber. It’ll look both stunning and soothing.

Built-in benches

Subtlety is the key here. Built-in benches introduce seating to your decking area without disturbing the overall aesthetic—a brilliant option if you want outdoor storage.

Level decking

A smooth transition from space to space is what makes for a functional outdoor living area. Building your timber decking level with the backyard is an effective way to achieve this.

Embrace lighting

Another subtle design idea that brings accessibility to the space without interrupting the overall appearance is to hang lighting. An excellent option if you want to play with the area’s mood.

Why choose Market Timbers as your timber decking experts?

At Market Timbers, nothing excites us more than the transformative effect of quality timber decking. Practical and pleasurable, the superlatives spill when you embrace the possibilities. With decades of industry experience behind us, we’re sensitive to each new project’s design nuances. If you’d like to learn more about how a deck can bring form and function to your home, get in touch with our team today.