Photography by Carlos Perez Lopez © Chromatica. This project consisted of turning a traditional home into a contemporary one. You'll be amazed at the before and after!

Outdoor Porcelain Tile Pool/Patio Design

Bergen Brick Stone & Tile Company

Outdoor Porcelain Tile from Mountain Hardscaping. In Photo: Quartz Silver with Bluestone Stair Treads | Installation done by: Thomas Flint Landscape Design & Development

Interiorismo vivienda unifamiliar Son March

felip polar

Large country backyard rectangular lap pool in Other with tile.

Multi Level Backyard

The Pool Man Inc.

Design ideas for an expansive eclectic backyard custom-shaped infinity pool in Houston with a water feature and tile.

Atlanta Sugarloaf Traditional Outdoor Living Space

Susan Currie Design

This large backyard had an impressive infinity pool, hot tub, waterfalls and outdoor fireplace, but needed some cozying up. Susan Currie Design reconfigured the layout for outdoor furniture to make the space functional and inviting. Near the grill, we have a set of tables and chairs for quiet afternoon lunches in the shade. Another seating area in front of the fireplace welcomes dinner guests to linger over drinks and stargaze in the evening. By the pool, chaises and a small side table are perfect for relaxing with a book or magazine. Teal fabric on the newly upholstered seating and umbrella in a teal color scheme tie in with aqua color of the pool water, and make the seating areas feel cool and refreshing. Under the covered porch, the homeowners have what are essentially an outdoor living room and dining room. Close to the house, these areas are easy to bring food and drinks out to from inside, and offer a delightful view of the pool and surrounding yard. Because it is covered, this area will stay cooler through much of the day than the rest of the yard, but black drapes are available to close off the area to any direct sun that may find its way in, and add a dramatic finishing touch. An Indonesian teak log planted with succulents brings life to the dining table.

Linear, Modern Pool and Spa in Alamo Heights, TX

Keith Zars Pools

A stunning modern pool with sleek features and practical, but eye-catching landscape choices creates the ideal functional space for family fun and entertaining. Adding the concrete slab-stone grotto, flush spa, oversized sun shelf and depth profile perfect for water sports means there is something for everyone to enjoy when relaxing poolside. A cozy firepit compliments the space and is situated by the spa for those chilly nights when you want the best of both worlds...staying warm fireside, making smores and rejuvenating in the spa.

CELINA RANCH

DDLA Design Landscape Architecture

A modern luxury pool and outdoor living area addition to an expansive ranch property located in Celina, TX just a few minutes north of Dallas. This project created a large, infinity edge pool to enhance the dramatic views from the house to the rest of the ranch property. Details included are a glass tile infinity edge, perimeter overflow pool, concrete and ipe wood deck, raised overflow spa, fire pit seating area all enhanced by the addition of mature trees and native plantings.

Newport Hills

Brandon Architects, Inc.

Photo: Chad Mellon
Design ideas for a beach style rectangular pool in Orange County with a water slide and tile.

Stylist Clean Line Pool in Pacific Palisades

Coastal Aquatic Creations

Photo of a large modern backyard rectangular lap pool with tile.

Pennington Bluestone Patio and Steps

Cedar Creek Landscapes

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional backyard kidney-shaped lap pool in Philadelphia with a water slide and tile.

Brookwater 1

Performance Pool & Spa

8m x 3m Out of Ground Infinity Edge Pool. Pool features 3 Custom Stainless Steel Scupper Water Features. Travertine Coping, Glass Mosaics, Polished Pebble Interior & LED Lighting.

Authentic Durango Veracruz™ Pool and Spa Coping

Durango Stone

Stunning pool with custom Authentic Durango Veracruz™ pool coping and hot tub.
Inspiration for a mid-sized tropical backyard kidney-shaped natural pool in Phoenix with a hot tub and tile.

Keystone Falls

Ryan Hughes Design

Beautiful Ipe wood was used by Ryan Hughes Design Build in the creation of the raised deck... a perfect spot for multiple Brown Jordan lounge chairs adjacent to the pool and the stone grotto. Photography by Jimi Smith Photography.

Great Use of Small Space

Texas Pools

This is an example of a small traditional backyard custom-shaped lap pool in Houston with a hot tub and tile.

Long Beach Pool Design & Build

Intex Design and Construction

Complete Pool Design & Build | Tanning Ledge in a Small Space Pool Outdoor Living Spaces | Long Beach, CA www.IntexDandC.com
Photo of a small traditional backyard custom-shaped natural pool in Los Angeles with a pool house and tile.

Gunite Pools

Easton Pool & Spa - Where great backyards begin!

Tara Sullivan
This is an example of a large contemporary backyard rectangular lap pool in Boston with a hot tub and tile.

Nashville Traditional Estate - Addition/ remodel

Noble Johnson Architects

Outdoor oasis addition of a pool, pool house, screened porch and covered cabana Photography: Gieves Anderson
Inspiration for an expansive traditional backyard custom-shaped pool in Nashville with tile and a pool house.

Haddonfield NJ Residence #6

Ledden Palimeno Landscape Co.

Joe Palimeno has always been inspired by the work of Landscape Architect Robert Royston, a pioneering modernist who helped define landscape architecture in the early 1940s. Palimeno has said about past designs, “it has always been the driving force in my design work, to create functional and usable outdoor spaces, whether in a backyard garden or a regional use plan. The goal is the creation of delight, joy and serenity for the people who inhabit the space.” In this backyard, where crisp, clean lines run across the lawn to meet a vertical raw wood structure, a space is defined to offer serenity and relaxation.

Mowbray

Elysium Designed

Architecturally inspired split level residence offering 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, powder room, media room, office/parents retreat, butlers pantry, alfresco area, in ground pool plus so much more. Quality designer fixtures and fittings throughout making this property modern and luxurious with a contemporary feel. The clever use of screens and front entry gatehouse offer privacy and seclusion.

Pools

Mark P. Finlay Architects, AIA

Photo Credit: Larry Lambrecht
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional backyard rectangular pool in New York with a pool house and tile.

Green Pool Design Ideas with Tile

Swimming pools are heavenly during hot Australian and New Zealand summers and are the perfect way to cool down, relax, entertain friends and even get fit. A pool can also create visual interest, especially when you consider features like coloured pool tiles, lighting and landscaping. If you are short on space, you might still fit a lap pool, plunge pool or swim spa, all of which could be focal points in your small garden. As you plan your pool design, map out your space and determine what size, shape and style works best for you. Browse the photos on Houzz for design ideas for above ground pools, inground pools, as well as pool landscaping and novelty features like pool slides or water features. Then, save your favourite photos to an ideabook, and get in touch with the experts behind your favourite picks.

What type of pool should I install?

The dimensions of your backyard will determine the type of inground pools you can install. Take into account boundary restrictions and pool fencing compliance. Fibreglass versions are cheaper, and quicker to install; whereas concrete constructions are better suited to tricky sites and give you more freedom in design. If you’re on a tight budget or don’t want to commit to an inground pool, above ground pools are a more affordable alternative. If you only have a small backyard, a plunge pool is a great solution, and can easily run along a boundary wall or down the side of a house. This option is also low maintenance, can be heated for use in winter, and can do double duty as a swim spa. A long, narrow space, on the other hand, could fit a lap pool, whereas a water feature could fill an awkward space. If your backyard features a stunning vista, consider an infinity pool to accentuate the view.

What pool fencing options are available?

While the specifics vary from state to state, fencing is required of most pool designs. However, pool fencing doesn’t have to obscure your pool design. Glass fencing is increasingly popular for this reason exactly, and is available framed, frameless, semi-frameless and even in-ground. A cheaper alternative is aluminium or steel fencing, which, again, are available in a variety of styles: flat top, loop-top, double-top and wire-based.

What pool landscaping features should I consider?

To get the most out of your pool, design an area that offers multiple hangouts. Include a nearby barbecue, dining area, seating for lounging and outdoor shower. Having shaded areas will give you more reason to stay poolside longer, too. Timber decking and stone paving are popular choices for pool surrounds, and are also helpful in creating zones. Just imagine a raised timber platform with a daybed – a luxurious, resort-style addition to any pool design. Leafy trees and rocks will create a more natural-looking oasis, and will help provide more privacy for swimmers. Where you want your landscape to be the main focus, keep pool equipment and furnishings to a minimum.