Decking skirt can be the perfect finishing touch—or a total eyesore. We’ve rounded up 10 real-life disasters that show exactly what not to do. From colors that don’t match to the wrong materials, these problems happen a lot. Learn from them before you start your own deck skirt project!
10 Decking Skirt Disasters
1. Color Clash
Some people don’t match the colors at all—like a black deck with a yellow-brown deck skirting. The result? It looks strange and doesn’t feel finished. Others try strong color contrasts, but the colors don’t go well together and look messy.
Real-life example 1:
A grey house with black railings… and a light wood skirt? Three tones, zero harmony.
Real-life example 2:
A warm wood deck with a black grid skirt—totally out of sync.
Tip: Stick with similar tones. When in doubt, color harmony saves 90% of design fails. A slightly darker skirt than your decking or siding often looks more polished. If you want to try bold colors, test it first to see how it looks.
2. Material Problem
Using cheap plastic to save money can make a nice deck look bad. If the materials don’t match, they look strange and don’t fit well together.
Real-life example 3:
A warm composite deck with rustic stone skirting… but not the good kind. The stone pieces were oversized, clunky, and completely off in color. It overwhelmed the deck instead of grounding it.
Real-life example 4:
Warm wood decking with a shiny metal decking skirt. The clash is immediate and confusing.
Tip: Try to use the same material if possible. If you’re not sure what to choose, using the same one is the safest. If you mix materials, make sure they look good together.
3. Style Mismatch
A cozy, rustic deck paired with a cold industrial deck skirt? Or a clean minimalist platform wrapped in something overly decorative and cutesy? Big no. Design needs rhythm—not a shouting match.
Real-life example 5:
A warm wood deck railing with a cold gray brick skirt. The difference is big and looks confusing right away.
Real-life example 6:
A warm wood deck with white railings and a black, cheap-looking grid skirt—it lowers the overall look and feel.
Tip: Match your skirt’s vibe to the deck and house. Soft, warm materials suit cozy spaces. Clean lines and muted tones work better for modern styles.
4. Overcomplicated Patterns
Too much detail in too small a space = visual chaos. Decorative panels are great—but when the design is overly complex and crammed into a tiny skirt area, it feels more like clutter than charm.
A narrow skirt area with an intricate floral pattern. Instead of elegance, it felt claustrophobic and busy.
Tip: Keep it simple for small spaces. Save the drama for larger panels where the pattern has room to breathe. Want some flair? Mix solid and decorative pieces for balance.
5. Wrong Slat Direction
The orientation of your slats matters more than you’d think.
Short skirts with horizontal boards? Clean and wide-looking.
Taller skirts? Vertical or horizontal can work—but it needs to be intentional.
A tall skirt with horizontal lines made the whole structure feel stretched awkwardly and emphasized the height in a weird way.
Tip: Use horizontal for short heights and vertical to create visual balance on taller structures. Also, consider airflow and visual flow when choosing direction.
Don’t Let Your Deck Be the Next Disaster
Decking skirt is more than just a cover-up. With the right design, it adds polish, value, and style. Avoid these common fails and your deck will stand out—in the best way.
Want help picking the right skirting material or style? Leave a comment or get our free skirting guide!
