Outfit your exterior living spaces in style with eye-catching deck railing ideas.

Wood Deck Railing Design

Look to your home’s surroundings to determine the best deck railing design.

The smaller vertical support posts are cut in an angular shape instead of straight down to add more dimension.

Flowering plants in garden outside house

Credit: Laurie Black

But if lattice is too traditional for you, try a personality-driven version that reflects your deck’s style.

Instead of typical vertical slats, this version uses horizontal slats to create a backrest for abuilt-in bench.

The white railing matches the home’s window casings, both in color and scale.

multi-level wood deck with potted plants

Credit: Stephen Cridland

Accent balusters spaced across the deck railing add character.

Here, metal rods, instead of the typical wood slats, offer a color and material complement.

Bonus: Metal deck railing components often need less-frequent refinishing than wood.

backyard garden deck stairway

Credit: Marty Baldwin

The resulting installation balances modern minimalism with classic deck railing design elements.

Thiscontemporary-style houseupdated its deck railings with an interesting combination of metal and opaque, break-resistant panes of thick glass.

The duo offers privacy while allowing light through.

two light-blue cushioned chairs in front of upper railing wood design on deck

Credit: Edward Gohlich

How to Choose Deck Materials

Updating your deck?

Learn how to choose the right materials with these helpful tips.

Explore different styles and find the look that’s right for your home, budget, and lifestyle.

view of deck throw pillows on bench, chair, round table

Credit: David Tsay

But after you’vemet the code requirements, you might exercise creative muscle for the design of the railings.

Here, they dress up a small deck on thiscottage-style exterior.

The eye-catching pattern inside the deck rails adds traditional flair to the space.

green deck furniture design metal railing

Credit: Peter Krumhardt

Monochromatic Deck Railing

Some mixed-material decks use multiple colors as part of their design.

Deck Railings in Different Heights

The setup of your deck may influence your deck railing design.

Shared side yards, for example, may demand more visual screening.

plant pot metal deck rail

Credit: Laurie Black

The streamlined style gets a boost of visual interest from varying widths of wood deck railings.

For example, create a pattern to break up the monotonous feel of a wood deck railing design.

Here, the homeowners decided on a set of three as the distinctive factor.

glass pane deck styling

Credit: Alec Hemer

Architectural Deck Railing Ideas

Curves and angles are great ways to play up a home’s architecture.

Here, a curved deck railing design lightens the look of carved pillars and heavy materials.

horizontal deck railings seating area

Credit: Matthew Benson

ornamental embellishment deck

Credit: Greg Scheidemann

blue green table and chairs wood deck

Credit: Robert Cardillo

small table deck railing design

Credit: Werner Straube

horizontal wood deck railing

Credit: Laurie Black

diy metal deck railing green blue colors

Credit: Adam Albright

metal wood deck table and chairs

Credit: Laurie Black

ground level end-cap deck railing

Credit: Laurie Black

carved pillars deck style lake view

Credit: Eric Roth