Before installing composite decking at your home, one of the most important decisions to make is what colour you’re going to choose. The colour of your composite deck will have a big impact on the look of your garden and home.
Fortunately, composite decking is very versatile and comes in a wide range of colours. So, it’s not usually difficult to find a colour that you love.
In this guide, we’re going to take a look at the best composite decking colours available. We’ll also give you some helpful advice about how to choose the right colour for you.
Choosing The Right Composite Decking Colour For You
When you’re choosing anything that is going to be a firm fixture in your outdoor space, it can be difficult to make a decision as it will be there for many years. You want to avoid paying for something to be installed and then deciding you want it to be replaced shortly after.
Installing a composite deck is a big commitment as it’s designed to last for a very long time. This means that you need to think long-term and make sure that you choose the right composite decking colour for you.
Our range of composite decking colours gives you the freedom to choose a composite decking colour that will sit perfectly within your outdoor space and add character to your home for years to come.
There are many different things to consider before choosing a composite decking colour. For instance, you’ll need to take into account the existing colour scheme of your home and garden, including any fixtures and furniture you already have.
Depending on the look you’re going for, you may choose to create a seamless blend with the current aesthetics of your garden. Or, you may want to create a bold colour contrast that truly draws the eye.
Let’s take a look at some of the most important things to consider when you’re choosing your composite decking colour.
1. Colour Contrasting & Complimenting
Before choosing the colour of your decking material, take some time to examine your home and garden. Take note of the colour groups you tend to choose and what themes you already have going on.
Consider the colours you’ve used for fixtures and features such as window frames. Do you tend to favour natural and neutral colours? Or do you prefer bold and striking colours?
Whatever different colours you’re drawn to, you’ll need to decide how you want your composite decking to sit in your outdoor space. You could choose the same colour that is already dominant in your garden so that your decking space blends into its surroundings.
Or, you may want your composite decking colour to create a vivid contrast with the colour scheme you already have.
Remember, your composite deck is built to last. So, you need to be confident with the colours that you choose.
2. Composite Decking Location
Another important factor to consider when choosing your composite decking colour is the location where you plan to install it. All decking products, including natural wood, treated wood, and composite, will get warm when exposed to the sun.
Dark colours absorb heat more significantly than lighter colours. So, if your composite deck is going to be in an area that will be in direct sunlight for long periods of time, it may be better to choose a light colour.
If your composite decking is going to be in a shaded area, then it naturally won’t absorb as much heat, so it won’t matter as much whether you choose a light or dark colour.
You may also want to consider installing shade nets or sun umbrellas to provide protection and shade for your decking areas.
Composite decking is very low-maintenance. However, if your decking is going to be in an area that receives a high amount of footfall, then it’s worth remembering that dark colours will show marks and footprints more than light colours.
If you spend a lot of time outdoors and will be walking across your deck a lot, then it may be best to choose a light colour.
3. Surrounding Colours
When choosing your composite decking colour, you’ll also need to think about the colours that will surround it. Is there a lot of greenery? Painted walls? Real wood ornaments?
For example, if you have a traditional brown fence in your garden, then you may want to choose a decking material with a brown hue, such as Spiced Oak. This kind of choice can accentuate the colour scheme of your garden and help to maintain its character.
You should also consider the colour of the exterior of your home. This will be visible from most angles in your garden, and so it will impact what decking colours work best.
For newly built contemporary homes, grey colours often work very well and provide a fresh, crisp look. For homes in more traditional colours such as white, brown or black colour will often work best.
4. Symmetry
The right choice of colour can also help to create symmetry between different areas of your home and garden. If your decking is laid directly outside a back door, you will want to consider the colour transition from your indoor space to your outdoor space.
Choosing a composite decking colour that matches the floor of your interior will create a seamless transition as you step outside onto your deck.
Doing this will limit the visual disconnect between your indoor and outdoor spaces and create a seemingly connected, free-flowing area. This can give your home a more expansive feel and make it appear more spacious.
5. Contrasting Composite Decking Boards
You can also create a unique and stylish look by combining decking boards that are different colours. This could be as simple as using one colour for the main decking area and a different colour for the border.
Or, you could get even more creative and try more complicated decking patterns such as diagonal laying, a herringbone design and much more. Sometimes it’s best to view decking boards simply as the raw materials for creating whatever exciting look you desire.
Composite Decking Colour Guide – Our Clarity Range
Once you’ve considered all of these factors and have an idea of the look you’re trying to achieve, it’s time to decide which composite decking colour you’re going to choose.
Our Clarity range of composite decking boards comes in five contemporary colours, which have been inspired by real wood. All of the boards are reversible with narrow grooves on one side and wide grooves on the other.
This means that whichever colour you choose, you’ll have plenty of options to create a look that’s right for your home and garden.
Charcoal Composite Decking
Charcoal is the darkest colour in our Clarity range and works well with many different colour schemes. It can provide a dark backdrop against which vibrant greenery and trees will stand out boldly.
It has a natural wood finish that gives it a similar appearance to treated wood. However, it’s made from 45% recycled HDPE and 55% reclaimed wood fibres.
Although it’s a dark colour and will absorb more heat than light colours, these boards are UV-resistant and won’t warp after heat exposure.
Graphite Composite Decking
Our Graphite composite decking boards are a neutral colour which makes them ideal as a blank canvas to which you can add a whole host of other bold colours. You could try adorning your deck with burnt orange furniture or deep blue accessories.
Using different coloured decking trims is also a nice way to create contrast and add a splash of personality to your decking area.
Graphite offers lots of versatility and complements both new and older homes perfectly. It’s a safe option for most outdoor spaces and gives you the freedom to experiment in other areas.
Autumn Composite Decking
If you’re looking for a lighter colour that resembles traditional timber decking, then our Autumn boards would be a good choice for you. This colour can add a classic, homely feel to your garden and will gently contrast with any greenery that’s close by.
Autumn tends to pair well with more neutral colours such as creams and light greys. If you have treated wood furniture or fixtures in your outdoor space, then Autumn decking will help to anchor them into the rest of your garden.
Walnut Composite Decking
Walnut is a darker brown than Autumn and can add deep, satisfying hues to your home and garden. All shades of brown bring a warm and classic ambience to any outdoor space, and darker shades like this contrast beautifully against creams and whites.
This timeless colour can also be offset by the use of more vibrant colours. You could consider something simple such as orange cushions or bright red plant pots, to add a splash of vitality to your decking area.
Ash Composite Decking
Ash is the lightest colour in our range of composite decking, and only a small amount of dye is used in its production. This means that the colour is mostly the result of its wood fibres which gives our Ash boards an incredibly natural look.
All of our decking products are very UV-resistant, but our Ash boards are more prone to colour changes after prolonged exposure to UV light. This is due to their makeup and will result in them having a lighter appearance over time.
Composite Decking Colour Guide – Our Forma Range
The decking boards in our Forma range come in seven distinctive colours with options to suit any outdoor space. They’re manufactured using advanced co-extrusion technology, which makes their outer layers incredibly durable.
This gives them exceptional longevity and means they require even less maintenance than other composite decking boards. The boards in this range are also reversible with a natural, wood-grain finish on one side and wide grooves on the other side.
The versatile nature of these boards means that all our customers should be able to find a style that suits them.
Midnight Composite Decking
Midnight is the darkest colour in our Forma range of boards and will make a striking addition to your outdoor space. This colour looks great when contrasted with metallic greys and will complement any metal garden features or fixtures.
It can be the ideal choice for newer homes with grey exteriors and can accentuate the contemporary look and feel of your home. As with all dark colours, it can benefit from splashes of bold colours such as deep blues and dark reds.
Argent Composite Decking
The Argent boards in our Forma range are coloured with a mixture of greys and dark blues, which results in a contemporary Anthracite finish with multi tones. They can add a sleek and modern look to your garden and give you plenty of room to experiment with other colours.
You could try combining Argent boards with lighter grey boards to create a subtle border around your decking area. Or, you could incorporate neutral-coloured furniture such as cream deck chairs into your decking space to create a clean and contemporary look.
Flint Composite Decking
Flint is similar to the industrial grey of concrete, which makes it perfect for homes with slate-coloured tiles. It’s a lighter grey than Argent which gives it a brighter feel, and it has a more traditional appeal.
If you have a large decking area, then you can try breaking it up with greenery planters which will contrast nicely with your Flint decking boards. This is a simple way to add a touch more vibrancy to this charming colour.
Silver Birch Composite Decking
The lightest colour in our Forma range is Silver Birch. It’s an attractive blend of oak tones and greys that’s ideal for both modern, urban homes and more rural properties.
Silver Birch will add brightness to your garden in the summer months and bring an element of cosiness in the winter months. Its oak tones mean it can complement treated wood furniture well, and it provides a subtle touch to your garden that won’t distract from other features.
Spiced Oak Composite Decking
If you’re looking for composite decking that’s imbued with the rich and vibrant tones of red cedar, then Spiced Oak could be the perfect choice for you. Its multi-toned finish can give your garden the feel of a countryside retreat with its classic, timber appearance.
This colour is ideal for those who want a more traditional look in their outdoor space but with all the modern benefits that composite decking has to offer.
Imagine having deck boards with the look of real wood but with the amazing properties of composite such as slip-resistance, fade-resistance, durability and much more.
Havana Composite Decking
Our Havana composite decking has a similar appearance to hardwood decking once it’s been installed. It’s a darker shade of brown than Spiced Oak but still has the same traditional feel.
One way of emphasising the rich tones of this decking is to pair it with deck furniture in lighter shades of brown. This will offset the dark hues of the Havana decking nicely and give a warm, homely feel to your outdoor space.
Choosing Composite Deck Railing Colours
Once you’ve chosen the colour of your composite decking, you’ll most likely be considering which colours any other features or fixtures should be.
If you’re planning to install deck railings, then it’s important that you also take the time to decide on which colour is right for you. Like composite decking, composite railings are also designed to last for a long time, so you need to ensure that you’re happy with your choice.
The deck railing colour that you choose will depend on a number of factors, such as your own personal taste and the style of your home. You could opt to maintain a cohesive look to your decking area by choosing railings that are the same colour as your deck.
Or, you could choose deck railings that are a different colour to create a bold contrast. You could even consider matching the colour of the railings with your home’s colour scheme but not the colour of the deck itself.
There are almost limitless options for you to explore.
FAQs
Can I paint my composite decking?
There is no need to paint composite decking, and we wouldn’t recommend it. However, if you choose to do so, it’s best to use a primer and latex paint.
Doing this will detract from one of the main benefits of having composite decking in the first place, which is its low need for maintenance. If you paint your decking you will have to re-paint it fairly regularly.
Will the colour of my composite decking fade?
Composite decking boards are made with a mixture of reclaimed wood and plastic polymers, which makes them very resistant to UV light and fading. This means that the boards will retain most of their colour over the course of their service life.
However, composite boards will experience some level of fading during the first few months after installation. This is a natural process that occurs after exposure to sunlight, and the boards will only fade slightly. If you want to go with a UV stable composite decking board then please choose Forma or Grande.
What’s the best way to clean my composite decking?
Composite decking requires very little maintenance and doesn’t need to be sealed, stained or treated. It does need to be cleaned occasionally, though, to keep it looking its best. You should aim to clean it once every 3 to 6 months, depending on how dirty it gets.
There are two main ways of cleaning your composite decking. You can use a power washer to blast away any debris and to give the deck a deep clean. Or, you can use warm, soapy water and a soft-bristle brush to gently remove any dirt from the surface.
Why should I choose composite decking?
Composite decking has many benefits when compared to other decking materials such as wood. It’s incredibly durable and usually lasts for between 25 and 30 years. It’s also eco-friendly, slip-resistant, UV-resistant, scratch-resistant, and easy to fit.
Although the upfront costs may be slightly higher than other materials, it will save you money in the long term as you won’t have the extra costs of maintaining it during its lifespan.
Our range of composite decking starts from just £41.55 per square metre making it one of the most affordable options on the market.
Sample The Amazing Variety Of Colours In Our Composite Decking Range Today
With 11 traditional and contemporary colours, our range of composite decking truly has something for everyone. The colours in our range are carefully crafted to complement a wide variety of homes and gardens. We’re certain that you’ll find the perfect colour for you.
Adding a new composite deck to your garden is the perfect way to revitalise your outdoor space, and it will even add value to your property. So, find the right colour for you by ordering a free sample today!
