When you want to incorporate a swimming pool in your backyard, planning and design are crucial to making it look and function as it should. It is important to plan carefully so your pool and the rest of your backyard are safe, attractive and highly functional, catering for the specific needs of you and your family, and improving the overall experience of your property.
The outdoor and indoor areas of your home should be an extension of each other, offering you a complete lifestyle within your property. The right pool design can help with this significantly, as it can suit all your needs and enable you to get maximum usage and enjoyment from your outdoor space.
Here we share some of our favourite pool ideas to help you get the design exactly right.
1. Choose your pool first
Your pool will be the main feature of your backyard, so the pool design will dictate the landscaping for the rest of the space. Because of this, your pool is the first element you need to decide on, so you can plan everything else around it.
Look carefully at all the different types of pool on offer, and consider which type best suits your needs and your budget. For example, if you have your own specific design in mind, a concrete pool might suit you best, as these can be created in practically any shape and style. However, you may prefer the convenience and affordable price of a prefabricated fibreglass pool in one of the many sizes and styles available.
You should also think about whether you want your pool installed in-ground or above ground, as this will have an impact on the design of the rest of your backyard. This depends partially on which installation fits best within the space, but it is also dictated by your own tastes, as some pool owners have strong preferences about the appearance they prefer. An in-ground pool is built into the ground so it lies flush with your backyard, whereas an above ground pool sits on top of the ground, either as a stand-alone feature or accessible from your home via a deck.
Once you have chosen your pool, you have the main element of your backyard, so the rest of the design can begin to fall into place.
2. Think about the size and shape of your backyard
Different properties lend themselves to different pool ideas, so you need to look at your backyard and measure it carefully in order to choose the right pool design for you. For example, if your backyard slopes, you could consider an infinity pool, as this will enable you to enjoy the views over the surrounding area as you swim.
Those with smaller backyards can make the most of the available space by including a more compact pool. Little Pools are specifically designed for this, offering some clever small backyard pool ideas which give you the quality of a full-sized fibreglass pool in a compact, easy-to-install package.
If your backyard is a particularly unusual shape, you may need a concrete pool built from scratch to give you the space you need for swimming and leisure.
3. Look at the design of your property
You need to look at each element of your home and backyard in order to choose the right pool design for you. Many owners of modern homes choose rectangular pools for their clean lines and streamlined looks, which complement contemporary building styles. However, if you live in an older property, you might want to choose a more ornate pool design to coordinate better with your home’s architecture.
Every detail, down to the colour you choose for the interior of your pool, should be chosen to create a cohesive, attractive design that flows through your home and backyard. If you are choosing an above-ground pool, you also need to consider the different cladding options available, as you still want your pool to be an integrated and beautiful feature which is the main focal point of your backyard. Little Pools make it easy for you to create a custom above-ground pool design, with a choice of four colours for the interior of the pool, and three exterior cladding options which are available in a variety of different hues.
If you prefer an above-ground pool without cladding, you can devise clever landscaping around your pool on all sides, creating an oasis of calm and peace in your backyard. Do remember to leave space for pool access, though! You will need to incorporate swimming pool ladders or steps into your design so you can access your above-ground pool if it is going to be a standalone feature. Alternatively, you can install it level with your decking to give you access.
4. Remember to incorporate safety features
All private pools in Australia have to comply with safety regulations, so it is important to remember this when positioning and designing your pool and landscaping. All pools must be fenced on all sides, and even an above-ground pool fence is required to be at least 1.2 metres tall when measured from the ground. You also need to leave at least 900mm around your fence containing no tall objects that children could use to climb over the pool fence, so you need to plan for this when positioning your furniture and planters.
As different states and territories can have different safety regulations, it is important to check with your local council what the rules are in your area. They will need to approve the plans for your pool, so it helps if you have planned to incorporate all the right safety features from the start.
5. Get your pool placement right
Pool placement is extremely important in creating your design. Getting the positioning right will improve the functionality of your pool and the whole of your backyard, as well as making your pool more attractive. Remember, you won’t just be looking at the pool while you are outdoors – you will also be viewing it from the windows of your home, so you need to create a view which looks great from all angles, so you can continue enjoying it for a long time to come.
The size and shape of your backyard will determine the placement of your pool to some degree, but it is essential to look at the overall design and think about how to make it work best for you. If your backyard is thoughtfully planned and looks attractive, you will enjoy spending more time there. Imagine looking out of your window on a bright summer morning and seeing the sun reflected on the surface of the water. The view of your pool should make you want to go outside for a dip, or have your breakfast at the poolside.
The positioning of your pool can even increase the value of your property. A beautiful backyard with a pool as its central feature creates a stunning first impression, and suggests a well cared-for home. This will be highly attractive to potential buyers if you should ever decide to sell.
6. Make sure your pool design suits your needs
Your pool design ideas need to take your individual lifestyle needs into account. To create the right pool design, you need to think about how you intend to use the pool and the area around it.
For example, if you have children, you will probably want to plan your landscaping to give you clear lines of vision to the pool from all angles, so you can easily supervise the kids in the water.
If you intend to use your pool area for entertaining guests, you will need to choose an appropriate flooring, such as tiling or decking, which is safe to walk on even when wet. Your pool area will need to be large enough for groups of people to congregate in, and you will probably also want to include poolside furniture, so everyone can eat, drink and socialise in comfort. You may even think about incorporating outdoor cooking facilities, such as a barbeque or a full outdoor kitchen, so you don’t have to miss a moment of the action while you’re catering for your guests.
If your pool will primarily be used for relaxation, you should consider ways to make the space as calm and as soothing as possible. Think about the types of plants you could surround it with, and consider adding rockeries or ferneries as a way of making you feel closer to nature. You might even want to include a water feature so you can enjoy the relaxing sound of running water to help you to unwind and de-stress at the end of the day.
Little Pools Design Ideas
Want more help with pool ideas?
These are just a few of our favourite tips for getting your pool design right. Each backyard is unique, and you will also need the design to reflect your individual tastes, which you can express further with your choice of plants and your lighting design.
However, if you would like more pool design ideas, the experienced team at The Little Pool Co are happy to help. We can offer plenty of small backyard pool ideas to help you create the perfect pool design. Please contact us for more details.
