Masterfully Designed Outdoor Living Space in Arcadia

After a day of fun outdoors, it is always nice to spray off before going back into the house. This complete shower is tucked away around the corner of the house to add to the feel of privacy.

Hyde Park Residence

Mezger Homes

Photo of a large contemporary backyard rectangular lap pool in Austin with concrete pavers.

Palomino Modern Home

Realm Architecture + Design

This is an example of a large contemporary backyard rectangular lap pool with a water feature and concrete pavers.

Below Ground Pool with Patio and Pool House Project

ALL Renovation & Design LLC

For this project, we were asked to create an outdoor living area around a newly-constructed pool. We worked with the customer on the design, layout, and material selections. We constructed two decks: one with a vinyl pergola, and the other with a roof and screened-in porch. We installed Cambridge pavers around pool and walkways. We built custom seating walls and fire pit. Our team helped with selecting and installing planting beds and plants. Closer to the pool we constructed a custom 16’x28’ pool house with a storage area, powder room, and finished entertaining area and loft area. The interior of finished area was lined with tongue-and-groove pine boards and custom trim. To complete the project, we installed aluminum fencing and designed and installed an outdoor kitchen. In the end, we helped this Berks County homeowner completely transform their backyard into a stunning outdoor living space.

Outdoor Spa / Water Feature

Ecoworkz Inc.

Backyard Spa with water feature. Stone Veneer with Concrete caps.
Large mediterranean backyard custom-shaped pool in Orange County with a hot tub and concrete pavers.

Gerrard Resort Modern

Randy Angell Designs

Photographs by Jimi Smith Photography
Photo of a large mediterranean courtyard custom-shaped pool in Dallas with concrete pavers.

Pool House

Terracotta Studio

Susan Fisher
Photo of a large transitional backyard rectangular pool in New York with a pool house and concrete pavers.

New England Coastal

Aurora Builders

Photo of a large transitional backyard rectangular lap pool in Jacksonville with concrete pavers.

The Pecans in Queen Creek

Tils Construction, Inc.

Photo of a large mediterranean backyard custom-shaped lap pool in Phoenix with a water feature and concrete pavers.

Backyard Dream

Melissa Clark Interiors

A back yard clad with cabanas is one to be coveted. This back yard has a vacation destination look and feel and was a pleasure to work on! The cabanas, with adjustable back rests and curtains for privacy, provide a place to truly relax and kick your feet up! We chose a daybed outdoor fabric in a gray blue that compliments the color of the pool and works perfectly with the blue and orange accent colors. The oil rubbed bronze cabana finish ties in nicely with nature's decor and is also a beautiful contrast with the surrounding pool stone. The accent tables can be moved and used as the clients need. Pops of blue and orange energize the space without steeling too much attention. We added olive trees in giant oil rubbed bronze pots on each side of the cabanas as the perfect accent pieces to finish the space.

Arcadia Remodel

AFT Construction

Photo of a large tropical backyard custom-shaped natural pool in Phoenix with a pool house and concrete pavers.

Tanglewood Modern House

Flavin Architects

This new modern house is located in a meadow in Lenox MA. The house is designed as a series of linked pavilions to connect the house to the nature and to provide the maximum daylight in each room. The center focus of the home is the largest pavilion containing the living/dining/kitchen, with the guest pavilion to the south and the master bedroom and screen porch pavilions to the west. While the roof line appears flat from the exterior, the roofs of each pavilion have a pronounced slope inward and to the north, a sort of funnel shape. This design allows rain water to channel via a scupper to cisterns located on the north side of the house. Steel beams, Douglas fir rafters and purlins are exposed in the living/dining/kitchen pavilion. Photo by: Nat Rea Photography

Timeless Balance: Patio, Gazebo, Pergola, Outdoor Kitchen, and a Putting Green

GARY DUFF DESIGNS,LTD

This backyard space offers plenty of sunny and shaded areas with a cabana, a pergola, and plantings. Family and guests will find a thoughtfully located outdoor kitchen with visibility to all the outdoor entertaining. Near the swimming pool, is a built-in spa on the opposite side of the cabana - which contains foldaway glass doors for easy access. The golf enthusiasts will find themselves on the putting green tucked away in the corner of the property. Throughout the spaces, Unilock Brussels block, Cumberland brown, and a larger veneer stone was used to tie together the beiges on the house. Final pops of colors come from the plantings.

Central Austin Residence

Clark Richardson Architects

Photo: Paul Finkel
Photo of a large contemporary backyard rectangular lap pool in Austin with concrete pavers.

Bayview Hill

Upside Development

Upside Development completed this outdoor transformation in Bayview Hills.
Large transitional backyard custom-shaped lap pool in Toronto with concrete pavers.

Naples Modern

Rob Bramhall Architects

Rob Bramhall
Photo of a large modern backyard l-shaped lap pool in Miami with a water feature and concrete pavers.

Naples Beach Coastal Retreat Pool Deck

41 West

View of Covered Patio, grass sun deck, and pool from kitchen: 41 West Coastal Retreat Series reveals creative, fresh ideas, for a new look to define the casual beach lifestyle of Naples. More than a dozen custom variations and sizes are available to be built on your lot. From this spacious 3,000 square foot, 3 bedroom model, to larger 4 and 5 bedroom versions ranging from 3,500 - 10,000 square feet, including guest house options.

Kew Infinity Pool and Spa

Neptune Swimming Pools

A Neptune Pools Original design Infinity pool and spa fully tiled with Glass Mosaic tiles Photography by Patrick Redmond
Inspiration for a large contemporary backyard rectangular infinity pool in Melbourne with concrete pavers.

Tulsa Midtown Hamptons Style Renovation

Tanner Consulting LLC- Landscape Architecture

The clean and simple lines on this design were a far reach from the overgrown and confusing layout of the previous owners. The existing pool was removed and a saltwater pool and spa were installed. The pavers and pool coping were custom colored concrete made off of a Travertine mold. The cable rail system allowed unobstructed visibility throughout the backyard connecting upper and lower levels together. Jason Wallace Photography

Ravello on Riverwalk

User

Photo of a large traditional backyard custom-shaped natural pool in Orlando with a hot tub and concrete pavers.

Large Pool Design Ideas with Concrete Pavers

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.