Various Designs for Custom Decks

When planning out your new custom deck, there are a number of designs, patterns, and styles to choose from.  Below are a few of the more popular ideas.

  • 45-Degree Decking – the deck boards run at a 45-degree angle to the joists.
  • 90-Degree Decking – the deck boards run in the opposite direction to the joists.
  • Picture Frame Design – a single board runs around the perimeter of the deck.  Usually the perimeter boards are a different color than the decking boards to create a contrast.
  • Double Picture Frame Design – consists of two boards running around the perimeter of the deck.
  • End Boards – boards are placed at each end of the deck, running perpendicular to the decking.
  • Dividing Deck Boards – also known as Breaker Boards.  They are dividing boards that separate the length of the deck and are placed perpendicular to the decking boards.
  • Multiple Board Angles – utilizing boards in multiple angles results in striking designs, such as a herringbone pattern.

With such a wide range of choices in materials, color, stain, and design, Decks by Schmillen can help ensure you get the custom built deck design you wish to achieve.

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Different Decking Designs

The  following pictures all show decks that are laid at a 45 degree angle to the joists.  There are also additional features shown and noted below each photo.

This a composite deck with the boards laid at a 45 degree angle. We also built a vaulted deck cover with knotty pine tongue and groove ceiling and a custom stucco, wood-burning fireplace.

1 - This custom deck features composite material laid at 45-degrees, a gabled deck cover with vaulted ceiling in knotty pine tongue and groove, and custom built wood-burning fireplace. 

A custom Redwood deck with the boards at 45-degrees. the railing is wood components with metal panels and a ring top-accent panel.

2 - A Redwood deck with 45-degree angle boards, a railing with wood components and metal panels with a ring top accent panel, and a stone firepit. 

This Redwood deck features decking laid at 45-degrees and a quadruple picture frame stained in a contrasting color.

3 - Redwood decking laid at 45-degrees with a quadruple picture frame stained in a contrasting color. The railing has wood components with metal panels and a drink cap. 

A Redwood deck with boards laid at 45-degrees. The railing has wood posts with flat pyramid, solar light, post caps and metal panels between posts.

4 - This Redwood deck has the boards laid at 45-degrees and uses camo screws. The railing has wood posts with lighted flat pyramid post covers and metal panels between posts. 

This is a composite deck laid at 45-degrees with a double picture frame. We also installed a glass railing with wood posts.

5 - This 45-degree, composite deck was built with a double picture frame and a glass railing instead of the standard wood or metal. 

A composite deck with boards laid at 45-degrees and a double picture frame in a contrasting color. The railing has composite components and metal Vienna-style balusters and composite drink cap.

6 - Composite decking at 45-degrees with double picture frame in a different color. The railing has composite components and drink cap with Vienna style metal balusters. 

Composite decking laid at a 45-degree angle and a double picture frame. It has a metal panel railing system with basket design balusters.

7 - Composite decking with a double picture frame and a metal railing with twisted balusters that have basket designs on them. 

This is an unstained, B-grade Redwood deck with the boards at 45-degrees.

8 - This unstained, B-Grade Redwood deck is laid out in 45-degrees with camo screws. 

Composite decking laid at 45-degrees with a double picture frame and metal panel railing system.

9 - 45-degree composite decking material with a double picture frame and metal panel railing in matte black. 

Redwood deck with 45-degree angle design and a double picture frame stained in a contrasting color. The railing is a metal panel rail system with wood drink cap.

10 - Redwood decking with a double picture frame stained in a contrasting color. The railing is a metal panel system with Redwood drink cap. 

Composite decking laid at 45-degrees with a double picture frame in a contrasting color. The railing is composite components with metal rail panels and a drink cap.

11 - This deck was built with composite decking laid at 45-degrees and a double picture frame in a contrasting color. The railing is composite posts and drink cap with matte black metal panels. We also installed lights on the railing posts. 

The next set of pictures are decks that were laid at a 90 degree angle, and some of the many additional features that are available.

B-grade Redwood deck with cedar, tri-corner pergola. Railing has wood components and round metal balusters

12 - This custom, B-grade Redwood deck has the boards laid out at 90-degrees with a double divider board, and camo screws. The railing has wood components with round metal balusters. We also added a Cedar, tri-corner pergola. 

Redwood decking laid out at 90-degree angle. We added a Cedar pergola and metal panel railing.

13 - Redwood decking at 90-degrees with a double divider board to avoid butt seams. The railing is a black matte panel system. We also added a Cedar pergola so the homeowners would have a shaded area of their deck. 

Composite decking at 90-degree angle and a cedar pergola. The railing is custom designed and built wrought iron.

14 - Composite decking laid out at 90-degrees with single dividing boards. The railing is a custom wrought iron design attached to the stone columns that support the Cedar pergola. 

90-degree composite decking boards and a composite railing with round metal balusters and drink cap that matches the decking

15 - 90-degree composite decking boards and a railing with composite components, round metal balusters, and a drink cap. 

Custom composite deck with boards laid at 90-degrees. The railing is a custom design in wrought iron with stucco column posts,

16 - This custom deck features steel deck framing, Trex composite material laid at 90-degrees and single divider boards. The railing was a custom design by the homeowner, created in wrought iron, and attached to stucco columns. 

Composite decking laid at 90-degrees with double divider and end boards. The metal panel railing system also includes a gate at the top of the stairs.

17 - This deck features composite decking at 90-degrees with double end and dividing boards. The railing has 3x3 metal posts with panels. We also installed a matching gate so the stairs are closed off to children. 

This is a close of composite decking laid out at 90-degrees to the joists with double end boards.

18 - This picture shows a close-up of the 90-degree composite decking boards with double end boards. 

Redwood deck laid out at 90 degrees with a single divider board to avoid butt seams. The railing features wood components with metal, Vienna-style balusters.

19 - This beautiful Redwood was laid out at 90-degrees with a single divider board (no butt seams) and camo screws. The railing features wood components and drink cap with black matte, metal, Vienna-style balusters. 

This deck features B-grade Redwood laid out at 90-degrees. The railing has wood posts with posts caps and metal panels between.

20 - We built this deck using B-Grade Redwood at 90-degrees to the joists. The railing has wood posts with flat pyramid caps, and black matte, metal panels between the posts. 

Composite deck at 90 degree angle. The railing is white composite components with white balusters and a drink cap in the same material as the decking.

21 - These composite deck boards are at 90-degrees to the joists. The railing features composite components and drink cap, with white, round, metal balusters. 

Composite decking laid out at 90-degrees with no divider boards. The railing is a metal panel system attached to stucco columns.

22 - Composite, 90-degree decking boards (with no divider boards) and a metal panel railing attached to stucco columns. We also attached post lights to the stucco columns for night lighting. 

Herringbone design and multi-angled decks are shown below.

Redwood decking in a herringbone design with double picture frame stained in a contrasting color

23 - Redwood decking in a herringbone design with double picture frame in a contrasting color and camo screws. The railing is a black matte metal with drink cap. 

Ground level Cedar deck with the boards laid out in a herringbone design

24 - This ground level, Cedar deck is laid out in a herringbone pattern. 

A multi-level deck with each level laid out in an opposing 45 degree angle.

25 - This multi-level, Redwood deck has opposing 45-degree angles for a herringbone look. We used face screws on this deck. The railing is a Redwood, snowfence railing with a drink cap. 

Composite decking laid out in a herringbone pattern with double divider boards and a double picture frame in a contrasting color

26 - We laid the composite decking in a herringbone design with a double picture frame. The railing is composite posts and drink cap with metal panels between the posts. 

This composite deck has the boards laid out in multiple angles (45 degrees and 90 degrees) with a double picture frame in a contrasting color

27 - This composite decking is laid out in multiple angles with a double picture frame in a contrasting color. 

Composite decking in a herringbone pattern with double picture frame that results in quadruple divider boards.

28 - Composite decking in a herringbone design with a double board picture frame in a contrasting color. The railing is composite components and drink cap with round metal baluster featuring a basket design. 

Heart Redwood decking in a herringbone design with double picture frame in a contrasting stain color

29 - This Heart Redwood deck is built in a herringbone design with a double picture frame and camo screws. The custom metal railing has 2x2 posts and Vienna style balusters with a curl design at the top. 

Hardwood deck made from Tiger Wood) features the decking laid out in multiple angles.

30 - This Tiger Wood (hardwood) deck is laid out in multiple angled boards with face screws. The railing is wood with round metal balusters and a Tiger Wood drink cap. 

A composite deck with boards laid out in multiple angles.

31 - Composite decking laid out in multiple angles. The railing is a metal panel system with handrail on the stairs. 

Miscellaneous items to consider during the design phase of your deck.

This shows what the edge of a composite deck will look like with no end boards.

This shows what the edge of a composite deck will look like with no end boards. 

This shows how the framing will look for a deck with a picture frame added.

This shows how the framing will look for a deck with a picture frame added. 

Screws will match the color of composite decking material

With composite decking we will have screws that match the color of the decking. 

Composite divider board as seen from the edge of the deck

Composite divider board as seen from the edge of the deck. 

Framing for a deck with a picture frame and divider board

Framing for a deck with a picture frame and divider board 

Close up of screw color being matched to the composite decking material

Close up of screw color being matched to the composite decking material. 

Another example of why end should be used with composite deck material

Another example of why end boards should be used with composite deck material