Creative Pool Ideas

Landscaping

• When you want to create a private place for relaxation and sunbathing, use landscape to make your pool look like it is part of the natural setting. Use flagstones around the edge of the pool and rocks to create levels as if they were on the banks of a pond. Surround part of the pool with plants and trees that come up to the far edge to provide the feeling of a jungle growing right up to the water; you might also add a waterfall to provide circulation and visual impact. Put the highest plants where they will block the line of sight from surrounding homes or roads, so you can enjoy your sunbathing and swimming in peace.

Lighting

• With the right lighting, your pool can become a beautiful spot for evening dinners, gatherings and nighttime swims. Add underwater lights to give the pool a glow and a soft ambient light. If you have a rail around the pool, drape it in strings of outdoor white lights or install recessed lights that point up or down to highlight architectural features. If you have parties at the pool, use festive lights in the shape of palm trees or toucans to give a tropical feel; for short-term use, hang brightly-colored paper lanterns.

Artistic Tiling

• If you are putting in an in-ground pool with tiling, skip traditional pool tiles and turn the bottom into a work of art. Sketch out the shape of your pool on a piece of graph paper and color in individual squares to find a design you like.

  Recreate a piece of your favorite painting, use the family initials, or make an abstract pattern. Choose colors that work with your landscaping and the exterior of your house, and use a large pattern that will be clearly visible through the water. This is particularly effective if you have a second-floor window or balcony that looks over the pool, as the design will be striking when viewed from above.

Modern Space

• Give your pool the sense of a modern hotel or spa pool by installing a lounge area. If you have a small yard, cover the non-pool area with flagstones, wood planks or patio cement to create a smooth surface; in a large yard, or if you want to keep some grass, designate a lounge area to cover. Build a canopy or a semi-walled structure around the lounge area and use a retractable cover to allow use in all weather. Instead of traditional pool furniture, use padded sun loungers with waterproof covers. Put in a few leafy potted plants or flowering bushes and use bold, contemporary colors.