Side yard outdoor entertaining area

[buildwithroneth]

A side yard transformed with a covered timber deck festooned with lighting.

• The project
• Tools and materials
• Steps
• Before and after
• More inspiration for your side yard project

The project

We built an extended outdoor entertaining area. A warm space that connects our dining, garage and backyard. Somewhere where we can relax, read, sip wine, and or have cold drinks soaking up the sun during summer, and still be able to utilise the space in winter. 

We were only able to work on this during weekends, so it took about 25 weekends in total to build. We also had to wait after staining and oiling the deck (6-8 weeks) to let it weather and settle.  

Tools and materials

Materials used in the project:

• Specrite decking
  
  
• D.I.Y. black aluminium shutters
  
  
• Treated Pine timber (for structures)
  
  
• Treated Pine timber posts 100 x 100mm
  
  
• Cabot's natural decking oil
  
  
• Cabot's Merbau decking stain
  
  
• High strength concrete
  
  
• Wood brackets, bolts, nuts, post anchors full stirrups, bearers and joists
   
• Concrete dynabolt
  
  
• 75mm wood screws
  
  
• 65mm wood screws
  
  
• 100mm wood screws
  
  
• 35mm decking screws
  
  
• 65mm decking screws
  
  
• Decking nails
  
  
• Skylight roofing and roofing screws
  
  
• Concrete charcoal pavers
  
  
• Large Tuscan Path pebbles
  
  
• Lytworx party lights warm white
  
  
• Lytworx 240 warm white heavy duty fairy lights
  
  
• Deck lights
  
  
• Black twin head exterior wall lights
  
  
• Outdoor cable ties (black)
  
  
• Bamboo screens
  
  
• Pull handle rectangle matt black
  
  
• Mimosa Malibu daybed
  
  
• Mimosa Malibu rectangle coffee table
  
  
• 160cm oval jute rug (natural)
  
  

Tools used in the project:

• Hammer
  
  
• Pliers
  
  
• Side cutter
  
  
• Angle grinder
  
  
• Electric drill
  
  
• Impact driver/drill
  
  
• Battery drill
  
  
• Electric sander
  
  
• Shovel
  
  
• Wheelbarrow  
  
  
• Ladder
  
  
• Drop saw
  
  
• Handsaw
  
  
• Table saw
  
  
• Chisel crowbar
  
  
• Post leveller
  
  
• Levellers
  
  
• Levelling laser (green) / Line laser levels
  
  
• Measuring tape
  
  
• Pencil
  
  
• Sandpaper
  
  
• Paint equipment and accessories
  
  
• Decking stain equipment and accessories.

Steps

Step 1

 

Plan, design and draft drawings:

• Completed draft designs and measurements of the project for approval and permission requirements
  
  
• Dug required depth for posts and frames
  
  
• Used concrete to secure posts and frames
  
  
• Completed posts and frames.

Step 2

 

Decking and stain:

• Merbau decking and fence deck completed
  
  
• Bamboo screen completed
  
  
• First stain and oil applied

• Pebbles and pavers added

• Deck lights wired and installed.

Step 3

 

Roofing and D.I.Y. aluminium shutters:

• We decided to close off the side yard so it's also accessible in the rain
  
  
• Skylite roofing & D.I.Y. black aluminium shutters cut to required measurements, built, assembled and installed.

Step 4

 

Door installation:

• We bought the door secondhand from Gumtree to close off the side yard for safety purposes and to block the wind 
  
  
• Built frame around the door so that the door can fit as required with no spaces.

Step 5

 

Extension:

• To make the space bigger and to create a seamless look, we decided to also deck the paved pebbles area
  
  
• Built an extra deck seating area attached to the deck fence (built the deck seat to be removable and adjustable).

Step 6

 

Shelves and small cupboard:

• We wanted to create an outdoor bar shelf and cupboard with chevron style cabinet doors. This was built to also hide the outdoor wires and electrical plugs
  
  
• We reused wood from a previous hutch we built for our pet rabbits. Therefore, we made use of the hutch to lessen wastage and recycle wood where possible
  
  
• Previous shelves repositioned to extended area from Step 5.

 

Step 7

 

Stain and paint:

• Cleaned all the deck, as well as roof and structure posts
  
  
• Sanded the deck where required
  
  
• Painted posts, door and deck with Merbau stain and oiled all the deck
  
  
• The family all chipped in for this work.

Step 8

 

Lights:

• Added more lights to brighten the area at night and so the space can also look more warmer and inviting
  
  
• Fairy lights (heavy duty) also added to the extended deck area.

Step 9

 

Decor:

• Assembled all the decor and laid out jute rug.

We absolutely love looking at this during night time. Love these additional fairy lights we hung. The added additional fairy lights as supposed to just having the festoon lights has made such a huge difference in lighting. It feels like we’re always under a starry, starry night.

This project took a lot of time, effort and sweat to complete. We admire all the projects we see in this forum. We definitely know the efforts and hard work each D.I.Y. takes to complete and it's so amazing we have this community to share, get ideas, help and tips.

Before and after 

More inspiration for your side yard project

Community member Rufaro used new pavers, fencing, bench seats and fresh greenery when he did his side yard transformation. 

Workshop member homeinmelbourne completed a side yard revamp with artificial grass.

Check out our Top 10 most popular outdoor projects and Ideas to revamp your side yard for more inspiration for your home.