A once-overlooked backyard became the home’s best outdoor room.
An Underused Backyard Without a Purpose
Lafayette homeowners had a modest backyard area that felt unfinished and disconnected from how they wanted to use their outdoor space. With no defined surface, no overhead shelter, and no clear destination, the yard had plenty of potential but very little everyday use.
A Deck and Pergola to Define the Space
One coordinated plan. A new deck would provide this backyard with a surface for dining and lounging, and a custom Douglas Fir pergola would add overhead structure and filtered shade. The lattice in one backyard provided privacy, and warm string lighting extended the use into the evening hours.
The Deck
- Wood-toned decking runs from backyard to backyard, creating a continuous surface sized for dining and lounging.
- Dark railing creates a clean edge along each perimeter, keeping the pergola above as the visual focus.
- Raised over grade, decking levels an uneven stretch of ground, so furniture sits flat.
Douglas Fir Pergola, Lattice, and Lighting
- Strong, straight-grained softwood, chosen for overhead structural work, holds its shape in Colorado’s dry climate with minimal warping or twisting.
- Honey-amber tone deepens under sun exposure, silvers if left unsealed.
- A lattice privacy panel along one side of the backyard filters light and blocks nearby sightlines without closing off the space.
- Warm string lighting runs along every beam, so this pergola stays usable after dark as well as during the day.
Built in the Right Order
With limited room between the house and the property line, everything had to move in one direction. Tools and materials entered from one end, debris left from the other, and work was staged to avoid crossing areas already completed.
Deck framing and installation came first, with posts plumbed, beams set, and deck boards laid. A Douglas Fir pergola then went up on top of completed framing, rafters notched to sit cleanly against one another. String lighting and final finish work were wrapped up last.
A backyard Yard That Now Functions as an Outdoor Room
This project replaced an unused backyard with a defined outdoor living area. Decking added a durable, level surface for dining and lounging, while Douglas Fir framing added shade and structure overhead. String lighting extended use into evening hours.
What had been an unfinished margin between house and property line now functions as a proper outdoor room.
Inspired by the Lafayette Project?
Start a project with 10 years of local authority to create a custom composite deck or covered porch. Connect today to discuss your outdoor goals.
