Building is a regional business. What works best in one place, may not be best in a different area. So, I would definitely recommend talking with experts in your local area. I can make some general suggestions, but consulting with someone who knows your local area is highly recommended.

Personally, I like the look of wood decks. Unfortunately, having wood in contact with the ground is going to a problem sooner or later. I've been away from the construction business for many years. Back years ago, pressure treated wood that was rated for ground contact would typically last 20 -25 years. For a lot of people, that is long enough. (I do not know how the pressure treated wood available today compares to the wood 20+ years ago.) If you installed concrete piers, as was mentioned above, that would extend the lifespan of the posts. If the pressure treated wood is painted a year after it is installed, it will last even longer. Ultimately, wood will decay and rot.

If you like the look of wood and want to spend (considerably!) more money, there are other rot resistant woods available. These look different than pressure treated wood. Cedar, black locust, redwood, etc. are examples.

A properly installed concrete patio will generally last longer than a wood deck. I do not like the appearance of a plain concrete patio. There are many things that can be done to make concrete look better. In many cases, installing stone over the concrete produces the most attractive look. Some tile is rated for outdoor use, so that is another option to cover the concrete. Some people install bricks over a concrete base so they have a brick patio. Bricks can also be used as a border around the edge of a concrete patio. The area where the bricks will be installed is poured at a lower level. This makes the top of the brick even with the top of the concrete. In addition to covering concrete, there are several ways to color concrete. There are colors that can be mixed into the concrete before it is poured. The advantage of doing this is when the concrete is chipped, it will not affect the color. One of the issues with these is you only get one shot to get the desire color. Of course, there are various stains and paints that can be used as well. There are other various techniques to change the surface appearance of concrete to dress it up. If some of these options are chosen, concrete can be made quite attractive.

I like to mix some of these choices. For example, use a colored concrete with a brick border. Another option is to install a stone perimeter and then install a center section of wood decking. (Use the stone / concrete to support the wood to keep the wood off the ground.) If you select tile, various colors and sizes of tile can be used to create designs on the patio. A little creativity can go a long ways in creating a more attractive outdoor seating area!

Hopefully, some of these ideas will helpful. It is important to chose something that will look good with the rest of the home and that fits into the neighborhood. Another option to dress up a deck is to landscape around the deck. Flowers, shrubs, and other decorations can make the deck look more attractive as well.