Composite deck board colors come in just about as many hues as real wood — from deeply saturated grays and browns to blonde-like tans. With all the options to choose from, how do you know which one is the right one for your deck and home? We’ve got you.
1.) Familiarize Yourself With Families of Color
When looking for the right composite deck board colors, you likely already have a color family in mind. Do you prefer contemporary grays, warm browns, or bright, sunny tans?
Grays
Gray composite decking is a cool, contemporary choice.
Grays range from light to deeply saturated.
Browns
Composite decking in brown hues gives you a classic look that pairs well with a variety of different styles of homes.
Tans
Tans and blondes range from almost white composite decking to rich golden hues. All give you an inviting outdoor living space.
2.) Align Composite Deck Board Colors to Your Personal Style
Whether you’re more of a classic traditionalist or a contemporary trendsetter, color plays a big role in how you bring your personal style to life. Various colors will not only give your space a different look but can contribute to a different feel as well.
Find the Right Color for You
From deeply saturated hues to light and bright tans, we have just the right color for your space.
Explore examples of different styles of composite decks and how the deck colors contribute to the overall space.
A High-Contrast, Modern Space
Recommended Color Family: Grays
For a modern look with lots of contrast, go with a dark deck surface and offset it with white elements for a striking look. The dark surface, made with Dark Hickory boards, gives this deck a contemporary, moody feel, while the white PVC trim and railing lighten the space, keeping it from feeling too dark or heavy.
A Bright, Sunny Resort
Recommended Color Family: Tans
Choose light-colored composite decking, like Brownstone (pictured), for an open, airy feel and sunny vibe you can’t get with darker colors. Contrast your light decking with hints of darker elements in your furniture and décor to create balance in your design.
A Quiet Woodland Retreat
Recommended Color Family: Browns
Embrace the earthy tones of the forest with rich brown decking like English Walnut™ (pictured). Choosing composite deck board colors that seamlessly integrate with the surrounding environment creates a cohesive, harmonious space.
3.) Consider Your Home’s Architecture & Color Scheme
When your deck complements your home, it gives your whole exterior a unified look and feel — so it’s important to consider your home’s style when choosing your deck colors.
Different architectural styles have different color palettes, so go with the composite deck board colors that pair best with your home’s style.
Coastal-Style Home
Coastal homes are known for their crisp white trim and light, fresh color palette.
Recommended Color Families: Light grays and tans
Mid-Century Modern Home
Mid-century modern homes champion angles, mixed materials, and a natural color palette.
Recommended Color Families: Saturated grays and browns
Craftsman-Style Home
Craftsman-style homes focus more on architectural details than a specific color palette, but typically benefit from cool hues.
Recommended Color Family: Grays
4.) Get Creative With Color Combinations
Your composite deck doesn’t have to just be one color. You can mix and match color choices for a look all your own. When thinking about color combinations, there are a couple different ways you can go:
Keep It Complementary
Recommended Color Families: All three
Create a complementary pairing by mixing colors with the same cool or warm undertones. Mix rich browns like Mocha and Pecan (pictured), for a warm, traditional feel for your deck. Combining light and dark grays will give you more of a contrasting, modern feel.
Go for Dynamic Contrast
Recommended Color Families: Grays and browns
Create a bold combination by choosing both a warm and cool tone.
Mixing two richly-hued, contrasting colors like Mahogany and Dark Hickory (pictured), give your deck a dynamic, head-turning look.
Choose More Than Two Colors
Recommended Color Families: All three
Create both complements and contrast in the same deck design by choosing three or more colors for your deck.
The mixture of Coastline®, Dark Hickory, and Mahogany gives this deck a unique, edgy look — and the cool curved design doesn’t hurt, either.
5.) Create a Seamless Transition From Indoors to Outdoors
Decks are ideal transitional spaces — they bridge the indoors and the outdoors, creating a comfortable place to enjoy indoor comforts with outdoor beauty. Include elements of your interior design in your deck design — such as the color scheme or flooring trend — for a seamless transition from indoors, out.
Create an Indoor Flooring Look Outdoors
Recommended Color Families: All three
Bring interior flooring trends, like a chic herringbone pattern, to your outdoor deck design to give your deck the look of hardwood flooring.
For a classic hardwood flooring look, use narrow-width (3.5”) boards. If you’re interested in a more modern look, try wide-width (7.25”) boards for your deck.
Bring Your Interior Color Scheme to Your Exterior
Recommended Color Families: All three
Pull a color or two from your interior design into your exterior to coordinate the two color schemes for a curated look. If you have a sturdy covered deck feature, such as a roof extension, you can even bring classically interior décor pieces outdoors. Just make sure any furniture items are outdoor rated.
6.) Think About Climate
Another important consideration when choosing composite deck board colors is the climate and sun exposure your deck will face. As you probably remember from school, darker colors soak up the sun and retain more heat than lighter colors.
If your deck gets full sun exposure, going for lighter colors will mean you deck stays cooler — and bare feet stay happy.
The Best Decking for Full Sun
Recommended Color Families: Light grays and tans
TimberTech AZEK® capped polymer decking is designed to stay up to 30° cooler* than competitive decking products, making it ideal for full sun decks and pool decks.
Choose light TimberTech AZEK decking colors for the coolest underfoot feel.
*Although TimberTech AZEK decking products are cooler to the touch than many other deck board products, all decking products will get hot in the sun. Additionally, the darker the decking color, the hotter it will feel. For hotter climates, consider choosing a lighter color.
7.) Don’t Forget About Railing
Your color journey isn’t over once you choose your composite deck board colors. Whether your deck requires a railing (meaning your deck surface is 30” off the ground or higher), or you’re adding one as a design element, you have options. Consider how your railing colors and materials can contrast or complement your deck and home.
Railing Materials
Various railing materials give your deck a different look and feel — and curating your desired look is about more than your top rail choice.
Railing infills can make a big impact on your design.
For instance, stainless steel cable railing infills will deliver a modern, industrial feel, while a crisp white composite railing may have a more traditional feel.
Railing Colors
In addition to customizing your railing materials, you can also customize your railing colors for your:
- Top and bottom rails
- Railing posts
- Balusters (aluminum or composite)
Your color choices can either complement your deck design and home, or create striking contrast.
Start With Popular Composite Deck Board Colors From TimberTech
With tips to help you choose the right composite deck board colors for your outdoor living space, you’re ready to start exploring your options.
And why not start with the most popular choices from TimberTech?
Mahogany
Slate Gray
Tigerwood
Find the inspiration you need to spark your creativity with our top three samples and the Outdoor Living Guide — all available in our convenient sample Starter Kit. Order one today to begin your color journey.
Kickstart Your Journey
With the Starter Kit
Compare easily with this mix of contemporary gray and brown samples, all while sparking your creativity thanks to our Outdoor Living guide.