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Each type of deck stain comes in a range of tints and hues. Most are in the brown, tan, grey, or redwood color families.

4. Tan

Tan ranges from the palest, coolest khaki to deep shades of honey and maple. Tan is a popular stain color for decks because it goes with virtually any home exterior color scheme.

Nearly every natural shade of wood falls into the tan spectrum, making tan deck stains the best at honoring the material’s natural characteristics. Tans and browns are also excellent choices in desert environments, where their hues coordinate well with the surrounding landscape.

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Natural stone or brick pavers are another great choice if you prefer tan deck surfaces. Light brown or beige tiles or stone are ideal around a fire pit, or for creating a path leading to a garden pergola.

Tint a concrete pool deck a sandy shade of tan to highlight the water’s blue brilliance on a sunny day. A warm, reddish tan looks stunning below redwood porch furniture.

5. Two Tone

If you can’t narrow your deck color ideas down to one, there are plenty of ways to use two or more colors in your deck design.

Pair warm brown balusters and deck boards with glossy black handrails and columns. Dark deck and step surfaces make white posts and handrails pop. Some deck designs incorporate three or more colors, such as grey, maple, and black.