Any type of good landscape design adheres to several guiding principles. Elements of the design, whether they are plants or manmade structures, should compliment one another. No single part should attract attention away from the rest. This combination of outside elements should also be in proportion to the surrounding buildings and foliage. Other considerations include the balancing of form, texture, and color among a variety of plants and materials.

It's a good idea to first layout on paper many different design possibilities. Factor the purpose for each section of the deck or patio. Is an area more accommodating for heavy traffic or for sitting down? How will one area transition into the next? Are there any special privacy or safety concerns?

Once a final design is decided upon, break it down into its constituent shapes and try to make each one mirror or reference a shape from the house or other nearby feature. Don't forget to factor in steps, railings, and borders. The landscape design is the most important step as it affects the materials and construction aspects of building a deck or patio.