3 Things We Learned From Egypt Sherrod's Cozy and Low-Maintenance Deck Makeover

From choosing the right materials to decorating a cozy space

Egypt Sherrod can pretty much do it all. The real estate broker and designer is probably best known for her work as the host of HGTV's Flipping Virgins and Property Virgins, but she doesn’t simply leave the work for the TV shows—she’s the real deal.

Sherrod recently gave her deck a total makeover with the help of TimberTech, just in time for the cold weather to lift. She tells The Spruce that she spends “a great deal of time outdoors in our backyard,” between celebrating her kids’ birthdays to having a cookout with the family.

So she and her husband, Mike, felt like they had a significant amount of maintenance and work on their hands as spring began to show its colors. Sherrod’s vision focused on one thing: “a space where we could step out anytime and not have to worry.”

The makeover took just eight days and turned out to be a huge success, so we asked Sherrod for all her deck makeover tips. From choosing the right materials to decorating on a theme, these are a few of the things we learned from Sherrod’s project.

Choose the Right Materials

Sherrod didn’t use wood for the deck, instead opting for composite decking by TimberTech, a sustainable decking option made of a mix of recycled wood fibers and synthetic deck material like post-consumer polymers.

“TimberTech has always been the bar to meet,” Sherrod says, adding that it adds value to a home—something she knows intimately as a real estate broker.

“It looks better than wood, and you don’t have to wait a year to stain it. Instantly beautiful from the day you install it.”

She prefers TimberTech because it’s weather-resistant, and she doesn’t have to worry about her kids getting injured with splinters like they might with a wood deck. And while there’s maintenance with any type of deck, it’s significantly less work to upkeep a TimberTech deck than a wood deck.

“We’ve had it for about six months so far and we haven’t had to do anything to it yet,” which, Sherrod says, is “a great sign.”

“But ultimately, the most we may have to do is spray it down to get rid of pollen after spring or sweep some of the leaves up in fall, I imagine,” she says. “No more nailing or replacing boards.”

Blend It Into the Rest of the Yard

Sherrod says she wanted this deck to match the rest of their yard, so choosing the American Walnut color was a no-brainer—especially because TimberTech has plenty of colors to choose from. Instead of being overwhelming, she says it “wasn’t hard to find the exact match.”

For decorating, she’ll start by using what she already has—a tip we couldn’t agree with more.

“I have an outdoor sectional there already and I’m moving a dining table where we play spades during cookouts," she says. "Those are going on the deck next weekend."

Make It Feel Cozy

From there, Sherrod says she just wants to make sure the space is inviting and comfortable.

“I always like to decorate my outdoor spaces to feel cozy,” she says. “Choosing outdoor furniture that could easily have the look of something you'd use indoors as well is half the battle. Great and stylish outdoor rugs help sew the spaces together nicely. Outdoor pillows add the comfy feel of home. A few plants, candles, and throws seal the deal.”

As Sherrod says, a deck can really make or break a fun summer home—and that’s exactly what her home is.

“Our house is the party house," she says. "We always have pool parties, birthday parties, Fourth of July events, etc. So this year, we'll be able to do it in style and without Mike spending two days prepping the deck.”

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Read the original article on The Spruce.