Your caravan's decking is the perfect place to relax and socialise as the weather improves. When done well, it's like a bonus holiday home room.
But making the most of the space can seem intimidating and it can be difficult to know how to start furnishing or improving a caravans decking.
So we caught up with Discover Parks’ Gardener, Jo, for some top tips on adding lighting to decking, flower and plant ideas and her recommendations for garden furniture.
These tips are based on her experience working at Discover Parks’ three country holiday parks and some of the great decking she’s seen from holiday home owners.
But it’s important to remember they’re not hard and fast rules. Your decking’s decor is a personal choice, a place to let your creativity shine. These are just suggestions for a little bit of inspiration…
Lighting your caravan decking
A smartly lit decking area is such a peaceful place to relax into the evening but getting the lighting just right can be difficult. Here are Jo’s top tips to keep your holiday home’s decking pleasantly lit:
1. Outdoor lighting
Make sure you buy specific outdoor lights as these are designed to withstand adverse weather.
For electrical lights, look for lights with an IP65 rating. Though IP45 are classed as 'shower-proof' they can sometimes let water in and cause tripping problems. We'd also always recommend having electrical lights installed by a qualified electrician.
2. Be aware of light levels
Caravan sites and holiday parks are communal spaces and you don’t want to disrupt your neighbours by using excessive lighting and leaving your decking too bright.
Our location Herefordshire is amongst England’s darkest sky regions. With little light pollution, Discover Parks are the perfect place to view a blanket of stars.
3. Candles or Lanterns
Though candles can add lovely atmospheric lighting to your decking, they can be a real safety hazard.
Therefore, we would recommend battery-powered candles. You can get ones which look very realistic, or you can place them in lanterns to disguise them slightly! An added benefit is that they won't blow out in a gust of wind.
4. Solar-powered lights
Choosing solar-powered lighting allows you to move the lights to wherever you need them, rather than being constricted by wires and outdoor plug sockets.
Best Plants and Flowers for Decking
A popular way to bring life to your decking by adding some greenery or flowers. Plus, it can attract some lovely bees and butterflies to stop by your holiday home.
5. Consider how often you’ll be visiting
Will you be visiting your holiday home every weekend? Monthly? Make sure the flowers and plants you leave on your decking are hardy enough to survive when you’re not there to care for them.
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6. Flowers to welcome you back
Jo recommends planting tulips, crocuses and daffodils at the end of the season, so they can spring up to welcome you when you return the following year.
7. Recommended plants and flowers
These are Jo’s top flower picks for adding colour and scent to your decking:
Phlox, Dianthus, Peony, Viburnum, Lilies, Stock, Hyacinth, Jasmine, Lavender, Evening Primrose, Honeysuckle, Roses, Geranium, Saponaria, Lavender, Sedum, Osteospermum, Begonia, oriental poppy, Verbena, Sage and Penstemon.
8. Choose pots with lots of space for soil
Obviously, every holiday home is different but in Jo’s opinion - “Less is sometimes more”.
She recommends choosing two or three good-sized planters or pots for your decking rather than lots of little ones. The bigger the pots, the more their soil will hold moisture, which is great for flowers’ roots.
Be aware that if you choose clay pots, they need to be protected or they may crack in winter.
9. Pots or stands with wheels
Since you might leave your holiday home for months at a time, it’s quite a good idea to move any flowers or plants into shadier areas rather than the most direct sunlight.
By placing your pots and plants on stands with wheels, your plants will be easier to manoeuvre. It also makes cleaning your decking easier too.
10. Be mindful of flower placement
Much like keeping light levels suitable for your neighbours, please keep the groundkeepers at your holiday park in mind when planting or placing flowers.
For example, leave space around your holiday home to keep it easy to maintain by the grounds team or gardeners.
Also if you have hanging baskets (a popular and pretty choice), be aware of how high they are placed. If someone's mowing the lawn by your decking, they might not be looking up and so head-height hanging baskets can be a hazard.
Discover Parks’ 5* holiday country parks are all set in gorgeous greenery, find out more
Outdoor furniture and garden accessories
As well as looking pretty, you want your decking to be practical. There are so many types of outdoor furniture to suit different needs, but these are some factors to consider if you want to try something new.
11. Moveable furniture
Whether you’re looking to avoid the rain or catch the sun, it’s useful to choose outdoor furniture which can be moved around. Jo’s top tip is to choose furniture made out of lighter-weight materials such as wicker or rattan furniture.
Also, look for furniture with removable cushioning or which can be covered up to avoid it getting damp.
12. Water features
A small water feature can provide tranquil background noise. Jo would recommend a solar-panelled one again for easy installation.
13. Attracting birds to your decking
In a similar vein, if you want to attract birds to your decking, she would recommend a bird bath over a bird feeder, as the latter can attract vermin.
14. Wildlife camera
You might be surprised about the wildlife passing by your holiday home, but setting up a wildlife camera means you won’t miss any of it! Just make sure that cameras are allowed at your holiday park and angle it in such a way that you wouldn’t be capturing anyone else or their properties.
15. Create shade
A caravan deck is a completely blank canvas and can be a little exposed, so a large parasol umbrella can provide much-needed shade, especially on south-facing decking.
Caravan Decking Creativity
Of course, the most important top tip is to create a decking area which feels like you and allows you to relax. Your holiday home should be your happy place!
If you’re looking for a holiday home with a beautiful view from its decking, you’re in luck! We have a number of caravans and lodges with generous decking spaces available. The prime plots and lakeside holiday homes don’t stay on the market for long. Find out more here: