The deck is an open-air interior courtyard, generally square, whose origin dates back to Roman Antiquity. This deck was then called the “atrium”. In traditional Mediterranean architecture, in Spain and North Africa in particular, it is (and was) not uncommon for houses to have no windows to the outside, and for all openings to be turned inward … and therefore towards the famous deck. Therefore, he had a very important role, since it was in a way he who lit the house and brought in light.
This central courtyard generally has a fountain or a basin. The traditional deck is sometimes also decorated with columns and colorful ceramics. It has a central place in the building but also in domestic life.
What does the deck look like in Western countries?
Unlike Spanish or North African houses, Western houses are almost always turned outwards. The deck, therefore, has a different function: it then takes more the form of intermediate living space between the interior of the accommodation and the garden.
However, old houses and more and more contemporary houses have an interior courtyard that takes up the Hispano-Moorish principle. In our regions – colder – we do not hesitate to close the courtyard with a glass roof, thus creating a deck that can be enjoyed all year round, even during the colder seasons!
How to green your deck?
By definition, the deck is enclosed, and it takes advantage of the heat released by the accommodation, which must be taken into account in the choice of plants. As such, you can opt for:
- Exotic plants, which will find an ideal space in a deck. But pay attention to their light needs.
- Shade or partial shade plants, especially if your deck is small and lacks a bit of sunlight. Indeed, plants accustomed to the sun would risk withering and / or would be attacked by parasites.
- In particular, tree ferns and aralias thrive enormously in these closed and semi-shaded environments.
The ideal is to have a thickness of soil of 30 to 50 cm (one-third of topsoil and two-thirds of good quality potting soil, all enriched with good compost). Unless you prefer container planting, but the effect will not be the same. Think of automatic watering, which will be very useful to you, especially when you go on vacation. It is also possible to grow lights and foggers to optimize the development of your plants in your deck.
What about decorating the deck?
Good news: when it comes to decorating a deck, anything goes. Here are some great ideas that may inspire you:
- You can vegetate part of the deck and cover the rest with the hard ground (wood, stone, pebbles, tiles, etc.).
- You can also make a small Asian garden by playing on the differences in materials.
- If you have space, you can install a fountain in the middle of the deck, just like in Andalusian decks: the water’s sound will be a pleasant palliative to stress!
- If your deck is very sunny, install a shade sail using three hooks, which will be easy to put on as well as remove, depending on the sunshine.
- As for the furniture, choose chairs, armchairs, and tables with a nice design (don’t forget that you will see them permanently from inside your home) and stay outside all year round if you don’t have room to store them in winter.