As the major outdoor living trend sweeps the nation, decks are getting bigger. But with television shows featuring 3,000-square-foot monster decks, the average homeowner is left to wonder, "Just how big of a deck do I need?"

Atlanta, Georgia-based deck builder Frank Pologruto says it all comes down to how homeowners intend to use their space as each "zone" of the deck will require a general square footage.

"People want somewhere to cook, and then eat, and then have a conversation, and you start adding up these areas and you realize you can't do all this in a 16-foot by 12-foot deck," said Pologruto, the owner of Decks & More.

Dining - 320+ square feet

Outdoor kitchens and dining areas are growing in popularity, but do require significant space. A grill with some counter space for cooking and a large table and chairs for dining will take up around 320 square feet of deck.

Seating - 250+ square feet

Adding an additional seating area, whether a quiet morning coffee spot or an after-dinner conversation pit, will require more space. A conversation area for about six people will add another 256 square feet to the deck. Adding a fire element to the seating area, will require not only the space for the actual fireplace or fire pit, but also appropriate distance between the fire and any seating.

Pool or hot tub - 150+ square feet

Homeowners looking to include a water feature like an in-ground pool or hot tub can expect it to require additional deck space. A four-person hot tub could take up as many as 100 square feet of deck, but Pologruto cautions homeowners to build in plenty of room to walk around, and enter and exit the hot tub, bringing the total to between 150 and 200 square feet.

Parties - 15 square feet per person

As a general rule, Pologruto said homeowners should determine how many people they expect to host on their deck and estimate about 15 square feet of deck per person. To comfortably fit around 20 people, the deck will need at least 300 square feet of open space.

"Remember though, if you plan to have 50 people over, they won't all be out on the deck at the same time, so plan for your deck to hold about 30 people," he said.

Cost

With the added square footage comes a bigger price tag - $25,000 to $250,000 depending on the size.

The deck material will also affect the final cost. Pologruto uses traditional wood boards and high-end ENVISION composite decking by TAMKO Building Products, and says if homeowners are already preparing to spend the money to build a large deck, they should go the extra step and upgrade to a composite board.

"If you're smart and have the money, do the composite - it just makes more sense," he said.

Overall, from his experience, Pologruto said most homeowners don't need a 3,000-square-foot deck, and should be able to fit a small dining area, arbor, hot tub and separate seating area in about 750 square feet, although some of the decks he builds are more than twice that size.

Planning to include the right amount of space will leave you with the most comfortable outdoor living area to suit your needs.