The best wooden deck is one you don’t notice: It creates outdoor living space without distracting you from the outdoors.
Here are 15 of our favorite wood decks—built of cedar, redwood, or tropical hardwoods such as ipe—that disappear, quietly receding into their surroundings to showcase the natural landscape:
Featured photograph by Joe Fletcher courtesy of Sagan Piechota Architecture, from The California Life, Outdoor Living Room Included.
Los Angeles, California

Cape Cod, Massachusetts

London, England

Carmel Valley, California

Wellfleet, Massachusetts

Groningen, Netherlands

Shelter Island, New York

Puget Sound, Washington

Menorca, Spain

Honfleur, France

Prague, Czech Republic

Hooe, England

Hudson Valley, New York

Paia, Maui

West Dorset, England

For more ideas about designing and building decks, see:
- Garden Design 101: Guide to Decks & Patios.
- Hardscaping 101: Wood Decks.
- The New Outdoor Living Room: Built-In Sofas for Decks and Patios.
Finally, learn how to successfully design a deck for any landscape or exterior home project with our Hardscaping 101: Decks & Patios guide.
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