Rear External Elevation with Outdoor Living and Tiled Swimming Pool.
Photo of a large contemporary pool in Brisbane.

The warmth of dark composite decking, coupled with lush greenery and minimalist pool give this outdoor area a tropical jungle vibe.
Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style backyard rectangular pool in Sunshine Coast with decking.

Palm Springs in Glen Iris

Davidson Design Studio

A Palm Springs inspired, arid garden provides a beautiful backdrop to this stunning modern home by Latitude 37 Homes. The courtyard swimming pool is wrapped on all sides by the home with large window walls providing views at every angle. Succulents provide accent against the pavement and boundary walls.

Central Residence

Dylan Barber Building Design

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary backyard rectangular pool in Geelong with natural stone pavers.

Luxury Pool with Modern Cabana

Boyce Design + Build

This stunning pool has an Antigua Pebble finish, tanning ledge and 5 bar seats. The L-shaped, open-air cabana houses an outdoor living room with a custom fire table, a large kitchen with stainless steel appliances including a sink, refrigerator, wine cooler and grill, a spacious dining and bar area with leathered granite counter tops and a spa like bathroom with an outdoor shower making it perfect for entertaining both small family cookouts and large parties.

Los Angeles Custom Home Builder

Joel & Co. Construction

Mid-sized modern backyard rectangular pool in Los Angeles.

Traditional Cape Cod remodel

Studio 6 Architects

Large Remodel to an Existing single Family Home
This is an example of a large traditional backyard custom-shaped natural pool in Orange County with natural stone pavers.

Lakeside Modern Luxury

Keith Zars Pools

This beautiful, modern lakefront pool features a negative edge perfectly highlighting gorgeous sunset views over the lake water. An over-sized sun shelf with bubblers, negative edge spa, rain curtain in the gazebo, and two fire bowls create a stunning serene space.

Sunset Hills

Hsu McCullough

Poolside at backyard Landscape design by Meg Rushing Coffee Photo by Dan Arnold
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary backyard rectangular lap pool in Los Angeles with concrete slab.

Winnetka, IL Hot Tub with Automatic Cover and Fire Pit

Platinum Poolcare

Request Free Quote This inground hot tub in Winnetka, IL measures 8'0" square, and is flush with the decking. Featuring an automatic pool cover with hidden stone safety lid, bluestone coping and decking, and multi-colored LED lighting, this hot tub is the perfect complement to the lovely outoor living space. Photos by Larry Huene.

Modern Pool

Photo of a small modern courtyard rectangular pool in Dallas with a hot tub and natural stone pavers.

San Juan Capistrano

Design Works

Photography: Ryan Garvin
This is an example of a large transitional backyard rectangular lap pool in Orange County with concrete slab.

Ridgehaven Transitional

Shaddock Custom Builders and Developers

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional backyard rectangular lap pool in Dallas with a hot tub and tile.

Southlake Modern

Randy Angell Designs

Photo of a mid-sized modern backyard rectangular pool in Dallas with a water feature and decking.

Krishnan Residence and Pool House

Stephen Chung, Architect

Greg Saunders
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary backyard custom-shaped pool in Boston with a pool house and tile.

Backyard Fun

On Site Landscape

John Prouty
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary backyard rectangular pool in Phoenix with a water slide and concrete pavers.

Pool Projects

Allison Companies Inc

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional backyard rectangular pool in Nashville with natural stone pavers and a hot tub.

Texas Estate

AquaTerra Outdoors

Daniel Driensky
This is an example of a large traditional backyard custom-shaped natural pool in Dallas with a hot tub and natural stone pavers.

Old World Natural

John Pack Custom Pools

This beautiful natural oasis is enhanced with a beach entry pool created from Oklahoma stone. A sheer decent curved waterfall adds drama to this gorgeous space. Bubblers in the beach area give the children hours of fun as bar stools in the water at the deeper end give the adults a place of their own. The swim up bar overlooks a curved outdoor kitchen that houses a grill, egg, drawers, side burner and sink. A pergola at the end of the kitchen with a stunning stone fireplace gives the perfect destination for dinner and conversation. Hemispheres fine furniture adorns this space for the perfect addition to all of its ambiance.

An East Bay Garden

Simmonds & Associates, Inc.

This property has a wonderful juxtaposition of modern and traditional elements, which are unified by a natural planting scheme. Although the house is traditional, the client desired some contemporary elements, enabling us to introduce rusted steel fences and arbors, black granite for the barbeque counter, and black African slate for the main terrace. An existing brick retaining wall was saved and forms the backdrop for a long fountain with two stone water sources. Almost an acre in size, the property has several destinations. A winding set of steps takes the visitor up the hill to a redwood hot tub, set in a deck amongst walls and stone pillars, overlooking the property. Another winding path takes the visitor to the arbor at the end of the property, furnished with Emu chaises, with relaxing views back to the house, and easy access to the adjacent vegetable garden. Photos: Simmonds & Associates, Inc.

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 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.