Size it around furniture, then add circulation
Draw the actual table, chairs and loungers, then add walking space around them. A deck that looks generous on plan is often too tight once chairs slide back.
Follow the sun, not the view
Check where shade falls at the time of day you will use the space. Late-afternoon western sun is the most common reason a beautiful terrace sits empty.
Keep the braai near the kitchen
Every step between the braai, the prep surface and the fridge is a step someone walks twenty times an evening. Cluster them.
Light in layers
Low-level path lighting, task light at the braai and prep areas, and soft feature light in planting. One bright floodlight kills the atmosphere the space was built for.