Elkhorn Backyard Makeover: From a Basic Deck to an Outdoor Living Space

By Hunt Home Remodeling · 2025-08-04

For a lot of Elkhorn homeowners, a better backyard starts with a deck. But once the deck is built, the rest of the yard can still feel unfinished: a flat lawn, a deck sitting on its own and a few chairs. It works, but it doesn't make you want to stay outside. A basic deck is a good start. On its own, it rarely gives you the outdoor living space you had in mind.

You can go further and plan the whole yard as an extension of the house, with room to cook, eat, sit and host. That is what Outdoor Living Space Design means to us. Below we explain how Elkhorn homeowners turn a plain deck into a full outdoor living space. Hunt Home Remodeling is a Custom Deck Builder & Outdoor Living Contractor and Professional Deck Contractor, and we have been building decks around Omaha for 28 years.

A basic deck serves its purpose, it provides a platform for a grill and a patio table

A basic deck does its job. It gives you a place for a grill and a table. For outdoor living, though, it's usually just step one. A plain deck sitting by itself can feel cut off from the rest of the yard, and you end up using less of your outdoor space.

Here's where a basic deck falls short:

• No defined zones: Inside, you have a kitchen, a dining room and a living room. A basic deck puts all of that in one spot, so it doesn't work well as one of the Decks for Entertaining people want. You cook, eat and sit in the same small area, and it gets crowded.
• Missing features: Without lighting, built-in seating or a good railing system, a deck feels like a platform, not part of the house.
• Cut off from the yard: A deck on its own can feel separate from the lawn and gardens. People tend to stay on the deck and skip the rest of the yard.
• Not much to look at: A plain deck does little for Curb appeal or Property value. It isn't the kind of space guests remember.
• Fewer good gatherings: If the space doesn't work, people don't stay long. Poor layout gets in the way of both big cookouts and quiet evenings.

That's why a basic deck is only the start of a backyard makeover.

Imagine a backyard where every element has a purpose and a place

Picture a yard where every piece has a job. A multi-level deck steps down from a dining area to a lounge around a fire pit. Lighting comes on after sunset so you can see the stairs and keep the evening going. A built-in outdoor kitchen keeps the cook with the guests, and the railing looks as good as it works. That's what good Outdoor Living Space Design gets you.

Here's how we plan a backyard makeover:

• Create defined zones: Treat the yard like a set of rooms. A good Outdoor Living Space Design separates cooking, dining and lounging. We do that with Multi-Level Deck Structures, different decking materials, pergolas and other custom features. You get better flow and Custom-Built Outdoor Spaces that work for any size gathering.
• Add the features you'll use: Details matter. Deck Lighting Options make stairs safer and evenings nicer. Built-In Deck Seating and storage save space and cut clutter. Custom Railing Systems keep people safe and look good, in aluminum or traditional balusters. A built-in kitchen or fire pit gives the space a center.
• Use the slope: If your yard slopes, work with it. Multi-Level Deck Structures turn a hard grade into a good-looking feature with more than one place to sit and look out.
• Pick materials that last: Good materials are the base of the whole project. We often use Trex Decking, which looks good and holds up to weather with very little upkeep.
• Tie it into the yard: Stairs, paths and planters link the deck to the lawn and gardens, so the whole yard feels like one plan.

Plan around these points and your Elkhorn backyard becomes a place to relax and host.

Creating a complete outdoor living space requires more than just a carpenter

A full outdoor living space takes more than a carpenter. It takes someone who can design it and someone who can engineer the structure under it. At Hunt Home Remodeling we do both, and we've been building decks around Elkhorn and Omaha for 28 years.

We start with a personalized design consultation to learn how you live, what you want and what your yard can handle. Our Professional Deck Contractor team then draws a custom plan that covers Deck Design and Planning and every feature you choose, so the pieces fit together. We can also give you 3D renderings so you can see your Outdoor Living Space Design before we start building.

We take installation and craftsmanship seriously. Our crew handles every part of the Deck Construction Process, from a solid Deck Frame and Support with footings below the frost line to careful installation of boards like Trex with hidden fasteners. We're a Trex Pro Platinum contractor and Trex RainEscape certified installer, so we know these products well and build to last. We handle every detail, from Deck Railing and Stairs to the finishing trim on your Custom-Built Outdoor Spaces.

As a full-service Custom Deck Builder & Outdoor Living Contractor, we take on all kinds of Backyard Deck Projects and Residential Deck Solutions, including Custom wood decks, Deck lighting & railing systems, Multi-Level Deck Structures and more. We work in Millard, Elkhorn and across the Omaha metro. Because we handle the whole project, you have one crew and one point of contact from design to cleanup.

CONCLUSION

You don't have to settle for a basic deck in Elkhorn. A complete Outdoor Living Space Design gives you defined zones and features you'll use, and a backyard you and your family will enjoy for years.

Hunt Home Remodeling is a Custom Deck Builder & Outdoor Living Contractor and Professional Deck Contractor serving Elkhorn and the Omaha metro. We like helping people go beyond the deck and build an outdoor space that fits how they live.

Ready to start your Elkhorn backyard makeover? Contact Hunt Home Remodeling for a free consultation on Outdoor Living Space Design. Call us at (402) 885-0738 or email hunthomeremodeling@yahoo.com to set up a time.

Tags :

Share This :

Get a Free Estimate