Build the Bay's Best Deck (Sponsored)

Spring and summer are best when spent al fresco. A great way to spend more time outdoors is to extend your home by adding a backyard retreat.

 Makeover the entire space with the right deck materials and design that creates a functional outdoor living room. As the lines continue to blur between indoor and outdoor living space, the deck will be your new favorite room year-round.

Building your dream deck in the Bay Area takes some careful decision making up front to ensure the new deck's style and required maintenance matches with your home and lifestyle. Take these expert tips from The Home Depot into consideration to help you build a space your neighbors will envy:

•  Select your decking: In San Francisco, decks are typically made of natural woods like redwood or cedar or composite materials. When thinking about what type of deck is right for you, consider the look you want to create, available budget and the time you're willing to invest on maintenance and upkeep.
• Natural woods are beautiful, durable and native to the region. All redwood in the California Home Depot stores is also Forest Stewardship Council certified. Redwood is naturally flat-laying, accepting to stain, and resistant to warping, twisting, rot and termites. Use redwood as the decking boards and railing, and then use a pressure-treated wood for the deck's understructure. Mixing the woods is cost effective, and the pressure-treated understructure is already stained with a chocolate brown tone to help it blend in with the surrounding environment.
• Composite decking is low on maintenance and high on style. These man-made deck boards never splinter, rot or need to be painted or stained. Brands like Veranda and Trex feature a wide range of color choices and with the addition of polyethylene caps on the deck boards, there is no color fade or staining for 20 years. The initial investment in composite decking is higher than pressure-treated or redwood lumber, but the reduced maintenance can offset the cost in as little as five years.
• Use eco-friendly lighting options: Keep in mind that installing lighting doesn't necessarily mean higher power bills. It's a quick weekend DIY project to install solar post caps. If you want another energy-efficient option, drill a hole in the deck boards and install LEDs or low-voltage lights to illuminate the space from below.
• Accessorize to personalize: Railing is an easy, inexpensive way to make your deck stand out. Trending mix and match decking and railing materials includes wood with glass, composite with aluminum and wood with metal. These options, and especially black metal balusters, keep the eye looking at your view versus just the decking.
• Maximize the space: A new deck means a new space to decorate and make functional year-round. Focus on three things to complete the space: plants, furniture and accessories. Start by bringing in the greenery— the right plants can help bring everything together indoors and outdoors. Add functionality with a dining table and grill to turn the deck into a second kitchen and entertaining area. Finish with small design touches to make your deck feel like a room – with an indoor/outdoor rug, throw pillows and lanterns.

Kick-off your project by visiting The Home Depot's online decking tool or talk with an associate at your local store to get inspiration, general pricing options and more recommendations specific to building a deck in the Bay Area.