How to Paint a Wood Deck the Right Way It's time to give this highly-trafficked outdoor entertaining space the DIY makeover it deserves. In This Article View All In This Article Painting vs. Staining What You'll Need Prep Work How to Paint Tips to Remember When to Call a Professional Close Credit: Christopher Bernard / Getty Images Anyone who is fortunate enough to have a deck can tell you that it becomes one of the most (if not the most) popular areas of the house once the warmer months roll around. (Relaxed barbecues? Happy hours al fresco? Afternoons spent with a good book? Your deck has seen it all.) Since you spend so much time on your deck, it should be dressed to impress—just like the rest of your entertaining space. And, what better way to do so than with a fresh coat of paint? Whether you're replacing a peeled, outdated layer or giving a brand-new structure a dash of design drama, a punch of color is an effective way to transform your outdoor space. Make no mistake: Painting a wood deck is a big undertaking—however, it's completely possible to do it on your own, so long as you have a few experts guiding you (we'll help with that!) and know when it's time to call a professional for help. How to Refinish the Stain on Your Wood Deck Painting vs. Staining Before you begin this project, it's important to determine whether or not it's best to stain or paint your wood deck. While some professional painters state that a few coats of exterior paint will get the job done, others firmly believe a stain is the safer choice. "You can do a lot of harm to a deck if you use an exterior paint," says Nick Slavik, proprietor of the