As UK homeowners put as much thought into the design of their outdoor spaces as their interiors, they’re turning the spotlight on the built foundation of the garden itself.
That means a bigger focus than ever on the deck, often the main stage for dining, hosting, relaxing and even working from home.
Key decking design trends for the coming year point to a keener eye on style details. But while they bring a creative touch to the garden, they’re more classic and timeless than you might think.
Simon Parry, part of the TrexPro Builder network for Trex UK, is dedicated to maintaining, developing and creating beautiful gardens for homeowners to enjoy, including bespoke outdoor spaces for entertaining and relaxing.
Here, Simon reveals the key decking trends for summer 2026.
Calming tones and natural palettes
“There’s been a big shift towards simple but contemporary layouts and gentle, natural colour palettes including warm neutrals and greys,” says Simon, who, as director of Simon Parry Gardening & Landscaping, works with clients to design bespoke outdoor spaces.
“The number-one requested colour in the UK right now is Biscayne, a light coastal tone featuring honey hues and a natural grain pattern, from the Trex® Transcend® Lineage collection.
“Grey composite decking is also very on-trend, evoking the shades of natural stone, seashore pebbles, a smooth rock face on an alpine hike.
“People are choosing calming tones and patterns. They make a statement that the garden is a place for tranquillity and wellbeing. Patterns don’t dominate – they’re cleverly designed to be subtle and complementary, often mimicking shapes in nature like ripples in water or shafts of sunlight through trees.”
Diagonal decking
“Diagonal decking boards have become very popular and this year the trend is definitely continuing. The boards are placed at 45-degree angles, creating a look that’s stylish and a little unexpected, without being too obvious. With the trend for herringbone interior flooring, the idea of diagonals has really caught on for outdoor spaces, too – which, as we all know, have become an extension of our homes.”
Picture frames and borders
“We put a picture frame border around the perimeter on every deck we build, concealing the cut ends of the boards and creating a satisfying, high-end finish.
“Most picture frames are in the same colour as the rest of the deck. Many clients, though, are now choosing to have a contrasting or complementary colour, often placed one board in from the edges, with the outer frame the same colour as the main deck.
“Wellness is a big lifestyle focus for many of my clients, and some say the contrasting picture frame feels comforting as it clearly defines the space as one for relaxation and downtime.”
Multi-zone and multi-level decks
“Zoning has become very much in vogue, especially for larger decks. We’re using simple inlays, or contrasting bands to mark out the areas – zones for dining and relaxing, for example – in a way that’s clean and unfussy. Another popular option is to divide these outdoor ‘rooms’ with planters built from decking boards, to create a living wall that works smoothly with the deck.
“For multi-level decks we’re increasingly using different colours and board directions to emphasise the separate levels and add visual interest.”
Integrated lighting
“Anyone using their deck after dusk will want some kind of lighting, and this year a lot of it is built-in – often in edges, steps or railing posts. There are no bulky lamps, fittings or ugly wires on show. The lighting sits flush with the decking and gives a really polished and high-end look, creating a pattern of its own and adding atmosphere as well as brightness.”
Motifs and inlays
“We’re creating more patterned inlays this year, usually in the centre of the deck and laid in mosaic patterns, stars, or geometric designs. Sometimes we use boards in different shades, precision-cut to create the motif, while others are in the same colour as the rest of the deck. If done well, it can look really appealing and it adds that touch of individuality to the deck.”
The anti-trend trend
“Most of the design and pattern trends right now are timeless. People are choosing nature-inspired tones and classic styles that will transcend fads and fashions – because they’re investing in decking built to last decades, not a few years. Trex composite decking, for example, has up to 50-year limited residential warranties, so it will long outlast any passing fashions.
“It matches up with the big lifestyle shift we’ve seen over the past year, towards maximum pleasure and minimum stress. Lots of people are working long hours, commuting and caring. They don’t want to spend their free time fixing and painting decking. They want to enjoy it.
“That’s why they’re investing more in one of the most important parts of their home – and any design choices they make now have to be ones that will stand the test of time.”
For decking style inspiration and ideas to transform outdoor living, visit Trex UK.
