The following page content was sponsored by Adelaide Barks Pet Resort and Spa.

There are a lot of renovation or remodeling projects you can do to your home to freshen it up a bit. You can remodel the kitchen by installing new flooring or custom built cabinets. You can update the look of your bathroom by putting in brand new bathroom vanity (see examples here). You could give the interior walls a faux paint finish or repave your driveway. There are a lot of home projects you can tackle either because you want to update the look of your home because you feel it's stale or you want to increase the value of your property.

Another home renovation project you could tackle is adding a deck to your home. Adding a deck to your home can give you a little bit of extra living space that you so desperately need. It can also be a great way to entertain guests when they come over. Hosting a barbecue is so much more fun when you have an outdoor patio to lounge about in. Most importantly, an outdoor deck is a great place to relax in. Especially after a long day of work. There aren't that many greater places to unwind after a stressful day than a deck you designed and decorated in your own backyard.

When thinking up potential deck designs there are a few things you should keep in mind during the process. First you need to decide on how big of a deck you want. You're going to have to factor in the size of the area you'll be building in. Try your best not to design something that isn't practical for your space. Then you're going to have to figure out how many people you plan on having on your deck at a given time. You're going to want to design a deck with as much leg room as possible. Is your deck going to be at ground level? Or will it be elevated? Perhaps even split-level?

Don't forget to decide upon whether you want your deck to be in the shade or direct sunlight? You might have to build a deck and some sort of roof for shading. Then think about features you want added onto your deck such as a hot tub. Don't forget about tools you'll eventually need like hammers, nails, saws and lumber, if you are going to build the deck yourself.

Building a deck isn't something you should go into without a plan. You can build the deck yourself if you come up with the right plans or hire a professional to do it. Whatever you feel will get the job done properly. If you do decide to give deck building a go yourself, first read "How To Plan For Building A Deck".