18 Ways to Spruce Up Your Yard

A New Fence, Deck, or Patio Cover Creates the Perfect Canvas to Showcase Your Style

So, congratulations. You’ve got your freshly installed fence, deck, or patio cover from Fence & Deck Depot. Installation was fast, professional, and everything looks great. Now comes the fun part: making it your own.

Whether you’ve added a privacy fence to define your space, a new deck to extend your living area outdoors, or a patio cover to finally get some shade on those hot St. Louis summer afternoons, the possibilities are wide open.

Here are some ways to get started:

6 Ways to Enhance Your Fence

A well-built fence does more than mark your property line. It becomes a backdrop for creativity, a frame for your yard, and a feature that earns its place in your curb appeal. Here are six ways to make it work harder.

1. Add Decorative Post Caps or Solar Lights

This is one of the fastest ways to upgrade a fence line. Decorative post caps add a finished, architectural look during the day. Solar lights take over at night, creating a warm glow that makes your yard feel inviting even after the sun goes down. No wiring required — just swap and go.

2. Incorporate Climbing Plants or Vines

Plants turn a fence into something that feels intentional. Clematis is a popular pick for Missouri summers — it blooms vigorously in purple, pink, or white and handles the heat well. Jasmine adds fragrance. Once established, climbing plants give you a living privacy screen that shifts with the seasons.

3. Mount Outdoor Shelving or Storage Hooks

Functional doesn’t have to mean boring. A few well-placed hooks can hold bird feeders, lanterns, or a window box. A small shelf near an outdoor kitchen area keeps herbs within reach. These additions keep things organized without sacrificing the look of the space.

4. Install Hanging Planters, Flower Boxes and Greenery

Color is an easy win. Cascading petunias in summer, mums in fall, and ornamental grasses year-round — planters and window boxes let you refresh the look without any permanent commitment. Vertical plantings also add dimension to longer fence runs that might otherwise feel flat.

5. Create a Mini Mural or Outdoor Art Moment

A section of fence can become a genuine focal point. Chalkboard paint gives kids a rotating canvas. A weather-resistant mural — geometric, botanical, or abstract — makes a fence feel designed rather than functional. Mosaic tile accents work well on wood and vinyl alike.

6. Layer in Landscaping

The transition from fence to lawn is worth thinking through. A row of hostas, ornamental grasses, or native perennials along the fence line softens the edge and gives the whole yard a finished feel. Low-maintenance choices work best if you’d rather spend summers enjoying the yard than maintaining it.

6 Ways to Make the Most of Your Patio Cover

A patio cover changes what’s possible in your outdoor space. Suddenly, rain isn’t a dealbreaker. The furniture stays drier. The afternoon sun isn’t the reason you go back inside. Here are six ways to get the most out of yours.

1. Furnish It Like You Mean It

A covered patio is a real room, and it deserves real furniture. Weather-resistant sectionals, dining sets, and lounge chairs hold up better under a cover than in full sun, which means your investment in outdoor furniture goes further. Don’t undersize it — a patio cover gives you space. Use it.

2. Add Ceiling Fans or a Misting System

Shade helps, but airflow is what makes a hot St. Louis summer actually comfortable. A ceiling fan mounted to your patio cover structure keeps air moving during the day. A misting system along the edges drops the temperature another several degrees on the hottest afternoons. Either one extends the hours you’ll actually want to be outside.

3. String Lights Across the Ceiling

A patio cover ceiling is one of the best places to run string lights. Drape them end-to-end in a grid pattern or along the beams, and you have soft, warm lighting that makes evening entertaining feel effortless. Bonus: the cover protects the lights, so they last longer than lights strung outdoors in the open.

4. Define the Perimeter With Planters

Container plants along the edges of a covered patio add life and a sense of enclosure without boxing it in. Tall ornamental grasses, potted palms, or hanging baskets along the overhang all work well. They soften the transition from the covered space to the open yard and give the area a more finished look.

5. Install a TV or Outdoor Sound System

Under a patio cover, outdoor electronics make a lot more sense. Rain doesn’t reach them, direct sun isn’t beating down on the screen, and everything holds up better over time. A mounted TV for game days or a wireless speaker setup for background music turns your patio cover into a spot people actually want to hang out — not just pass through.

6. Create a Designated Outdoor Dining Space

One of the best things about a patio cover is that meals don’t get cut short by weather. Set up a proper dining area underneath — a table with enough seats, good lighting overhead, and easy access from the kitchen — and you’ll use it all summer long. It’s an easy way to shift hosting from inside to outside without asking guests to brave the elements.

6 Ways to Upgrade Your Deck

Your deck is an extension of your home. With a little attention, it becomes one of the most-used rooms you have — just without walls. Here’s how to get there.

1. Use Outdoor Rugs, Coordinated Furniture, and Cozy Textiles

Define the space the same way you would indoors. A weather-resistant rug anchors the seating area. Coordinated furniture creates distinct zones — conversation area here, dining area there. Outdoor cushions and throw pillows in fade-resistant fabric add comfort and color. Done right, it feels like a room, not a surface.

2. Install Lighting for Ambiance

Good deck lighting extends your evenings. Recessed step lights handle safety. String lights handle atmosphere — they’re inexpensive and do a lot of heavy lifting for hosting. Lanterns give you flexibility to move things around. Layer at least two types of lighting and your deck stays usable well into summer nights.

3. Add Planters or Vertical Gardens

Greenery helps your deck feel connected to the yard around it rather than sitting apart from it. Large planters with ornamental grasses or small trees create natural privacy at the edges. A vertical garden on a railing or side wall is a great option when floor space is tight.

4. Incorporate Built-In Seating or Storage

Built-in benches are one of the best deck upgrades for families. Hidden storage underneath keeps cushions, games, and outdoor supplies organized and out of sight. These additions also make a deck feel custom — like it was designed for you — which it was.

5. Get A Little Shady With Umbrellas, Pergolas or Patio Covers

Summer in St. Louis means sun, and a lot of it. An umbrella is the easiest fix. A pergola adds structure and works beautifully with string lights and trailing vines. If you want more complete shade coverage without the pergola maintenance, a patio cover is worth looking at — Fence & Deck Depot now installs them, and they pair naturally with an existing deck.

6. Designate a Grilling Zone or Outdoor Kitchen Nook

A dedicated cooking area changes how you use your deck. Even a simple grill station with a prep surface and some storage nearby takes the scrambling out of outdoor entertaining. A full outdoor kitchen with counters, a mini fridge, and a sink is a bigger investment, but it earns its place fast for anyone who hosts regularly.

Ready to Upgrade Your Yard? It All Starts With the Right Installation.

No matter your style, Fence & Deck Depot knows a professionally installed fence, deck, or patio cover gives you the foundation to make it your own. These are the features that create lasting memories, add real value to your home, and make your yard somewhere you actually want to be.