Collage photo of floating decks in different styles.

Welcome to our gallery featuring floating deck designs.

A floating, or freestanding deck, is one that can be placed virtually anywhere in any yard, regardless of layout or space.

It’s a way to heighten the experience of your yard, add a dedicated social spot, and create the perfect atmosphere for dining or relaxing.

Floating decks typically come in square or rectangular designs, but can be found in a variety of shapes and sizes. The very best examples all have several aspects in common, just like standard decks.

First of all, almost every floating deck is going to be constructed with wood. It’s a simple, elegant solution that provides years of service and a variety of style options. Wood can be stained any color you prefer, shaped nearly any way you’d like, and always conveys a timeless appeal.

While most decks will simply be stained and sealed for weather protection, you may prefer to paint yours. Of course, the color choices are unlimited but many popular styles include a two-tone look, with differing colors for the vertical and horizontal wood pieces.

Perhaps the biggest advantage when choosing a floating deck is that its size and shape is not determined by your house. Of course, the deck can still be mounted next to the home itself, attached to an existing deck, or placed by itself. The sheer variety is its greatest strength.

If you’re thinking about installing a floating deck in your own yard, there are a number of ways to go about it. Whether DIY building from the group up, hiring a contractor, or purchasing prefabricated parts, the results will speak for themselves.

Find more backyard ideas in our definitive guide to backyards! 

1. Tree Wrapping Floating Deck

This handsome design was created specifically for this environment, wrapping around a square rock garden with a large tree at the center. Personalized designs are a great advantage of floating decks.

This handsome design was created specifically for this environment, wrapping around a square rock garden with a large tree at the center. Personalized designs are a great advantage of floating decks.

2. Corner Floating Deck

Square designs are the most common floating deck shape, and they lend themselves well to a variety of spaces. Tucked into the corner of a yard, this light colored deck meshes with the fence design well.

Square designs are the most common floating deck shape, and they lend themselves well to a variety of spaces. Tucked into the corner of a yard, this light colored deck meshes with the fence design well.

3. Garden Floating Deck

This sleek and subtle floating deck design was made to be tucked into a lush garden. The unassuming light surface floats over darker stained wood construction.

This sleek and subtle floating deck design was made to be tucked into a lush garden. The unassuming light surface floats over darker stained wood construction.

4. Large Floating Deck With Pergola

This beautiful deck was our featured image at the top because it is not only expansive and well-made, but stylish as well. The deck features a built-in bench running the full length, with matching table and pergola.

This beautiful deck was our featured image at the top because it is not only expansive and well-made, but stylish as well. The deck features a built-in bench running the full length, with matching table and pergola.

5. Small Garden Floating Deck

This deck proves that no space is too small for a nice floating deck. Tucked into a rich garden next to a small manmade stream, it’s the perfect place to sit and enjoy the view.

This deck proves that no space is too small for a nice floating deck. Tucked into a rich garden next to a small manmade stream, it's the perfect place to sit and enjoy the view.

6. Minimalist Wood Floating Deck

Sometimes you just need a flat place to sit and enjoy an outdoor meal. This floating deck provides that comfort in spades, with enough room for chaise lounges and a full dining set.

Sometimes you just need a flat place to sit and enjoy an outdoor meal. This floating deck provides that comfort in spades, with enough room for chaise lounges and a full dining set.

7. Dark Grey Floating Deck

Floating decks are often designed and colored to match their environment. This design features grey paint to match the surrounding privacy fence, providing an elevated dining space in the yard.

Floating decks are often designed and colored to match their environment. This design features grey paint to match the surrounding privacy fence, providing an elevated dining space in the yard.

8. Twin Bridge Floating Decks

The decks in this yard provide a splash of contemporary style in the landscape, with sharp edges and subtle staining. Both begin near the house and run like a bridge over a small yard pond.

The decks in this yard provide a splash of contemporary style in the landscape, with sharp edges and subtle staining. Both begin near the house and run like a bridge over a small yard pond.

9. Natural Wood Minimalist Floating Deck

Here’s another great example of a fun, minimalist floating deck that provides a simple but effective place to relax or dine outdoors.

Here's another great example of a fun, minimalist floating deck that provides a simple but effective place to relax or dine outdoors.

10. V-Shaped Floating Deck with Gazebo

This uniquely shaped floating deck is large enough to support multiple focal points, from the dining area beneath a gazebo structure to the garden-backed bench seat area.

This uniquely shaped floating deck is large enough to support multiple focal points, from the dining area beneath a gazebo structure to the garden-backed bench seat area.

11. Raised Two-Tone Floating Deck

Set into a large yard with plenty of space, this floating deck features a raised construction design for a truly elevated experience. White paint on the sides and natural staining on top result in a stunning look.

Set into a large yard with plenty of space, this floating deck features a raised construction design for a truly elevated experience. White paint on the sides and natural staining on top result in a stunning look.

12. Beige Floating Deck with Pergola

In a yard flush with thick greenery, this deck provides a simple but effective open space for dining and relaxing, with plenty of room for a large dining set and Adirondack chairs.

In a yard flush with thick greenery, this deck provides a simple but effective open space for dining and relaxing, with plenty of room for a large dining set and adirondack chairs.

Source: Zillow Digs™

13. Chevron-shape Floating Deck

Here’s another uniquely shaped floating deck, with a large gazebo structure over part and plenty of open space for sunbathing. It matches the smaller deck built around a jacuzzi at left.

Here's another uniquely shaped floating deck, with a large gazebo structure over part and plenty of open space for sunbathing. It matches the smaller deck built around a jacuzzi at left.

Source: Zillow Digs™

14. Rich Wood Corner Floating Deck

Here’s another simple, minimalist floating deck design. The bright wood stain helps it stand out in the midst of a carefully designed landscape.

Here's another simple, minimalist floating deck design. The bright wood stain helps it stand out in the midst of a carefully designed landscape.

Source: Zillow Digs™

15. Small Pond Floating Deck

Set right above a small manmade pond, this deck truly takes “floating” literally. Its light grey paint helps it stand out and the solid design makes for years of enjoyment.

Set right above a small manmade pond, this deck truly takes "floating" literally. Its light grey paint helps it stand out and the solid design makes for years of enjoyment.

Source: Zillow Digs™

16. Curved Garden Floating Deck

The organically curved shape of this deck is perfect for the vibrant landscape it’s set into. Bordered by large stones and carefully planned garden plants, it’s a flat oasis for social gatherings.

The organically curved shape of this deck is perfect for the vibrant landscape it's set into. Bordered by large stones and carefully planned garden plants, it's a flat oasis for social gatherings.

Source: Zillow Digs™

17. Large Expansion Floating Deck

While most floating decks aren’t attached to the house, this design stands are more of an extension to the existing house-length deck. Its large size and simple shape lend it perfectly to plenty of outdoor activities.

While most floating decks aren't attached to the house, this design stands are more of an extension to the existing house-length deck. Its large size and simple shape lend it perfectly to plenty of outdoor activities.

PlanmaestroArquitectos – LakeVillarrica

18. Outdoor Kitchen Floating Deck

This floating deck design covers a more uneven part of the landscape, providing a tall, flat space for outdoor cooking and dining. It’s bordered by the house and a small stone wall for added privacy.

This floating deck design covers a more uneven part of the landscape, providing a tall, flat space for outdoor cooking and dining. It's bordered by the house and a small stone wall for added privacy.

GrupoArquitectura – LaHidalga

19. Large Rustic Floating Deck

Faded, rustic style permeates this floating deck, perfectly in line with the farmhouse style of the home itself. The deck is populated with rich wicker frame chairs and a dining table in the exact same stain.

Faded, rustic style permeates this floating deck, perfectly in line with the farmhouse style of the home itself. The deck is populated with rich wicker frame chairs and a dining table in the exact same stain.

JamKolektyw – Masuria

20. Contemporary Floating Deck

Sleek style defines this rich wood floating deck. While it may be attached to the home, it extends well into the yard and is bordered by a water feature and outdoor fireplace.

Sleek style defines this rich wood floating deck. While it may be attached to the home, it extends well into the yard and is bordered by a water feature and outdoor fireplace.
Photo by austin outdoor design – More contemporary landscape photos

21. Corner House Floating Deck

Multiple levels are crossed by this floating deck design, which runs right into the corner provided by the L-shaped house and extends deep into the yard, even encompassing a small tree.

Multiple levels are crossed by this floating deck design, which runs right into the corner provided by the L-shaped house and extends deep into the yard, even encompassing a small tree.
Search contemporary deck design ideas

22. Wraparound Floating Deck

Wrapping around the outer edge of a hilltop house, this deck provides expansive views of the surrounding valley and hills. Bordering the home itself, it’s an extension of the modern minimalist style.

Wrapping around the outer edge of a hilltop house, this deck provides expansive views of the surrounding valley and hills. Bordering the home itself, it's an extension of the modern minimalist style.

23. Sheltered Dining Floating Deck

Here’s another thoroughly contemporary floating deck design, hovering over a rock garden that surrounds the house itself. The extensive layout makes for a comforting, lightly protected space to relax or dine outdoors.

Here's another thoroughly contemporary floating deck design, hovering over a rock garden that surrounds the house itself. The extensive layout makes for a comforting, lightly protected space to relax or dine outdoors.

24. Slim Raised Floating Deck

This floating deck runs right next to a large set of sliding glass doors for easy interior access. It’s built upon a raised part of the lawn, bordered by a low stone wall, for a truly elevated presence.

This floating deck runs right next to a large set of sliding glass doors for easy interior access. It's built upon a raised part of the lawn, bordered by a low stone wall, for a truly elevated presence.
 

25. Multi-Tiered Floating Deck

The multiple layers of this floating deck make for an intriguing design, with two distinct top level areas for sunbathing and dining, respectively.
 

26. Floating Deck Starter Kit

Here’s an easy way to get your own floating deck at home without a lot of work. The prefabricated pieces can be snapped together and set up within a day.
 
Here's an easy way to get your own floating deck at home without a lot of work. The prefabricated pieces can be snapped together and set up within a day.

Source: Home Depot

27. Circular Floating Deck

This uniquely shaped deck appears as a pair of tiered circles, providing a comfortably sized space for relaxing above the garden. The shape gives it a friendly, approachable look.

28. Circular Tree Floating Deck

While this design features a similar circle shape, it’s actually constructed around an existing tree. This novel approach helps it feel much more integrated with the landscape.

 29. Zen Garden Floating Deck

This uniquely styled deck stands in the corner of a zen-styled garden, floating lightly over the manmade creek and welcoming visitors with an extended entry platform.

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