• Giving character to a deck can provide you with an outdoor oasis at home.Deck de madeira image by CarlosNeto from Fotolia.com
  
  Outdoor decks or patio areas can become a whole separate room in a home if given the same thought in terms of design and decor that most rooms in a house receive. With planning and the creation of a certain atmosphere, a deck can become an outdoor oasis for you and your family, as well as a favored destination of guests and a place for family gatherings and meals. Often, some simple changes can lead to drastic results for the livability and attractiveness of an outdoor deck.
  
  

Create A Separate Dining Area

• One of the best ways you and your family can really enjoy summer is by sharing meals together outside. If you are still in the designing stages of your deck, create a separate dining space off to the side of your deck. Differentiate it from the rest of the deck space by elevating it above the rest with a couple of steps leading up to it from the main deck. Make sure the dining space is large enough to fit a patio table and appropriate seating for the amount of people in your family or the number of guests you might entertain at a dinner party. Creating an outdoor dining area and keeping it separate from the rest of your deck will make the experience of dining outdoors with your family and friends feel special, right in the comfort of your own home.
  
  

Make It A Place to Entertain

• Create an inviting environment within your outdoor deck by decorating it with plants, flowers, and patio furniture to encourage friends to sit and chat. While you want this space to have your personal style infused in the decor, much like the other rooms in your home, it is important to keep deck decorating simple, too. With too much clutter, you won't be able to entertain as many friends and the space will inevitably become less inviting if it becomes more of a storage space. Keep the party going into the night with citronella candles to fend off bugs and outdoor lighting, which can come in the form of festive paper Chinese lanterns or simple strings of white Christmas lights.
  
  

Keep It To Yourself

• If you live close to your neighbors or in a high-traffic, urban area, you might want to consider investing in some sort of blockade to keep your special outdoor area private. Perhaps the most aesthetically pleasing manner of doing this would be through a wooden trellis, on which you could grow a climbing plant or flower, such as a vine or a morning glory. This can add to the greenery surrounding your outdoor oasis, and also keep prying eyes from observing you and your family or friends as you enjoy your deck. It is also easier to enjoy a meal without feeling that you are on display for the neighborhood!