Get Ready for Summer with Carmen Johnston's Guide to Designing Your Outdoor Space

We have partnered with landscape designer Carmen Johnston to create the ultimate homeowner's homeowner's guide to designing an outdoor living space like a pro! With almost 15 years of experience, Carmen's work has come to life in the pages of Southern Living magazine, Country Living magazine, and across her social channels. Her accolades don't stop there; she has even worked on the HGTV® Smart Home 2023 and 2022 as the outdoor living designer and on-camera expert. Let's dive in!

March 21, 2023

1. Visualise Your Design

The first step in Carmen's process is putting her ideas on paper, or more accurately, in the Trex Deck Designer tool. This tool gives her a 3D model of her design and allows her to play with different options, colours, and layout options. Plus, she can see how each design change can alter the material cost for the project, all the way down to the number of fasteners needed.

"I love a big outdoor space, and when I'm planning the design, one of the handiest ways to give me a great visual is the Trex Deck Design Tool! I can input dimensions, choose decking colours, and add elements like stairs and railings—it helps me to "see" what is in my head before I get started!"

Carmen Johnston, Outdoor Living Designer