Outdoor Wellness Spaces: Before & After Project Profile

A recent home trend that shows signs of staying power is to convert the backyard to an "outdoor wellness space." Having spiked in popularity during the lock-down days of the COVID pandemic, a wellness space is a designated area, typically in an open-air setting, designed to promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being. These spaces are created to encourage relaxation, exercise, mindfulness, or social connection, often integrating elements of nature like plants, water features, or scenic views. The idea is to leverage the outdoors to enhance health.

“We are seeing a growing demand for serene, functional areas for relaxation and well-being. As homeowners increasingly seek backyard retreats that support physical health and relaxation, wellness decks are rising in popularity. These spaces are designed to complement features like hot tubs, outdoor showers, cold plunges, and saunas,” says Michelle Hendricks, category marketing manager of Deckorators.

This outdoor wellness space was designed and constructed by Premier Outdoor Living and features Deckorators Voyage Decking.

“To enhance these areas, material considerations and applications should be addressed early in the design process to blend them more seamlessly into a space’s overall design aesthetic," says Hendricks. "With wellness decks, building your own personalized sanctuary requires a special focus on customization to complement the natural, outdoor setting. Think about how you can continue the design language with your composite decking to offer a fluid experience – offering a special eye to detail that continues the calming features that make it look like the hot tub was designed to be there.

“Many of our contractors from across the country are receiving requests to have their new hot tubs installed flush with or partially elevated from the deck, creating a more visually cohesive look. Such adjustments also improve ease of access."

This project from Premier Outdoor Living exhibits how you can utilize engineered decking to ensure safety and seamless design qualities. By utilizing Deckorators Voyage Decking featuring Surestone technology in Khaya color tone for the stairs leading up to the hot tub feature, this homeowner will maximize functionality, design, and safety.

Warranted for installation in the ground or water with virtually no moisture absorption, the mineral-based decking technology also provides exceptional stability and performance with virtually no thermal expansion or contraction.

“Homeowners are looking to create holistic outdoor retreats that support both wellness and relaxation. Our Voyage Decking with Surestone technology is designed specifically for high-moisture areas, which makes it the perfect foundation for features like hot tubs and outdoor showers,” says Hendricks. “This mineral-based composite decking provides best-in-class traction to prevent slips while maintaining a durable, wear-resistant surface perfect for integrating water features into an outdoor living space."

Before project completion:

After completion: