Kelly Peak Photography
Photo of a large midcentury backyard custom-shaped lap pool in Orange County with a hot tub and concrete pavers.

Morongo

User

Pool/Spa with raised observation deck with two linear firepits Ketchum Photography
Large midcentury backyard custom-shaped natural pool in Other with concrete slab.

Sandsal Circle

Mãkena Interiors

Backyard Pool at this original 1958 Mid-century 4 Bedroom 3 Bath home, for sale by Neil Curry Palm Springs
Photo of a large midcentury backyard kidney-shaped natural pool in Other with a pool house and concrete slab.

Lush View

Pool Tech

Family oriented sport pool amid a gorgeous grade setting. Sun shelf, steps and sports equipment combine to create a setting for family fun, entertaining and restful enjoyment. This pool features laminar jets, auto controls and an autocover, surrounded by a water feature, fire pit, pergola, and beautiful gardens. Tim Schoon

Richmond Beach Addition

TransArc Design

Large midcentury indoor rectangular pool in Seattle with decking.

Hollywood Hills Home

til collaborative

view of rear of house, with garden
Inspiration for a large midcentury backyard rectangular lap pool in Los Angeles with decking.

Sugar Shack

Anthony J. Vallée

Pool Photo by Jack Gardner Photography
Mid-sized midcentury backyard rectangular pool in Other with concrete pavers.

Mid-Century Modern Highland Park West Home

Mosier Luxury Homes

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury backyard rectangular natural pool in Austin with a hot tub and decking.

Mid-Century Modern Re-Creation

Stephanie LaVigne | Photography + Artwork

Stephanie LaVigne Villeneuve
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury backyard custom-shaped lap pool in Miami with natural stone pavers.

Tradition Golf Club

Engstrom Construction

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury backyard rectangular natural pool in Los Angeles with a hot tub and natural stone pavers.

Business in the front, Party in the back

Rogan Nash Architects Ltd

This thoughtfully renovated 1920’s character home by Rogan Nash Architects in Auckland’s Westmere makes the most of its site. The homeowners are very social and many of their events centre around cooking and entertaining. The new spaces were created to be where friends and family could meet to chat while pasta was being cooked or to sit and have a glass of wine while dinner is prepared. The adjacent outdoor kitchen furthers this entertainers delight allowing more opportunity for social events. The space and the aesthetic directly reflect the clients love for family and cooking.

Mid Century House Remodal Fire Island

DAS Studio

Inspiration for a large midcentury backyard rectangular lap pool in New York with a hot tub and decking.

Maine MidCentury Modern

Sustainable Horticultural Environments

Waterfall renovated from Asian to Northern-themed with large, round river rock. slate, and pebbles, with real wood hollow stump and moss on shelves. Niches provide access for blue cypresses, the "woods", to peek through and eventually branch over waterfall.

Scadlock

szalay_design_build

Pool with integrated hot tub.
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury backyard rectangular lap pool in Los Angeles with a hot tub and concrete slab.

All-Season Oasis - AWA2001

Selah Pools & Spas

Sound, color, light, texture, and all points in between. This one-of-a-kind Selah Pools design is truly an Oasis for all seasons. The patio extension with all the outdoor kitchen amenities is ready to serve up a great meal, just steps outside our client's backdoor. Then when it's hot outside, it's on to the pool deck and off the custom tile- jump rock to cool off.

Elm Grove Indoor Pool Revilization

Swimming Pool Services

The pool is equipped with an Automatic Cover to help with Humidity control and energy costs. This is also a great feature for safety.
Design ideas for a small midcentury indoor rectangular pool in Milwaukee with a hot tub and concrete slab.

Sydney Avenue

Lindon Homes Pty Ltd

Fully tiled swimming pool.
Large midcentury backyard rectangular lap pool in Brisbane with tile.

Mid-Century Pool Build

Blue Stone Construction

Mid-sized midcentury backyard rectangular infinity pool in San Diego with a hot tub and concrete pavers.

Mid-Century Renovation Highlights Outdoor Entertaining

Tracy A. Stone Architect

The house opens to a series of outdoor entertainment spaces through a series of large sliding glass pocket doors, intimately connecting the interior to the exterior.

Classic AlexanderModern Palm Springs Beauty

Horizon Builders, Inc.

Outdoor pool area.
Mid-sized midcentury backyard kidney-shaped natural pool in Other with a hot tub and concrete slab.

Midcentury Pool Design Ideas

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 midcentury 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 midcentury 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 midcentury 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 midcentury 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 midcentury 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.