New Swimming Pool and Spa with Water and Fire Features in Parkland, Florida

This amazing pool and spa in Parkland, Florida is the ultimate backyard style retreat with pergola that features an incredibly soothing rain curtain, sunshelf for sun lounging, fire bowl fountains, and custom fireplace for those crisp winter nights in Florida!

Esteswood

Chateau Properties, Inc.

Photo of a mediterranean backyard kidney-shaped pool in Nashville with a water feature.

Legacy

A. Perry Homes

Backyard pool and cabana
Inspiration for a large traditional backyard rectangular pool in Chicago with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

WINDSOR PARKWAY

DDLA Design Landscape Architecture

Located in University Park, Texas, this residence provided a dramatic pool and garden renovation creating a transitional outdoor space with clean lines and sophisticated design details. The project included a pool renovation adding new tile and fountain jets, along with formalized landscape plantings around the perimeter and new concrete step pads for outdoor seating & entertainment. The rear garden terminates with a decorative wall fountain feature with brick detailing to match the house. The project is enhanced at night with decorative lanterns, landscape lighting and sting lights overhanging the entire garden.

Sofronas Residence

Altera Landscape

Landscape Design: AMS Landscape Design Studios, Inc. / Photography: Jeri Koegel
This is an example of a large contemporary backyard rectangular pool in Orange County with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Bluewater Run Residence | Chuluota, FL

Legacy Custom Built Homes

Large contemporary backyard rectangular lap pool in Orlando with a water feature and concrete pavers.

Albury Street

Craig Reynolds Landscape Architecture

Stephen Dunn
Photo of a small tropical backyard custom-shaped lap pool in Miami with a water feature and tile.

Outdoor Living Space - DeSoto

Schloegel Design Remodel

Elite Home Images
Expansive country backyard rectangular lap pool in Kansas City with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Rancho Sante Fe Lakes Residence

LINEAR Landscape Architecture

Linear Photography
This is an example of a mediterranean backyard custom-shaped lap pool in San Diego with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Modern Mediterranean

Vernon Wentz

This modern mediterranean pool is well placed in to the backyard. It has a spa that is part of a water feature wall as the focal point. The pool has two seating areas from ledge loungers on a tanning shelf to bench seating underneath an umbrella. Photography by Vernon Wentz of Ad Imagery

Contemporary in Cohasset

The Gardeners

Large contemporary backyard rectangular lap pool in Boston with a water feature and concrete pavers.

Naperville, IL Swimming Pool With Offset Sunshelf

Platinum Poolcare

Request Free Quote This rectilinear swimming pool with offset thermal shelf in Naperville, IL measures 20'0" x 40'0", and is equipped with an automatic pool cover with hidden stone lid system. The 6'0" x 20'0" sunshelf has 7 bubbler features. Pool coping is Valder's Limestone, and the pool finish is Ceramaquartz. LED lighting completes the look. Photos by Larry Huene

Skye in Palm Springs, California

Woodbridge Pacific Group

Residence Two Pool at Skye in Palm Springs, California
Midcentury backyard rectangular lap pool in Los Angeles with a water feature and concrete slab.

Custom Pool

DBR Designs

Even inside city limits, the Designs by Robin team maximized yard space by designing custom pool layout. Additional accessorizing helped create a fun backyard that fits into the culture of downtown Lafayette.

Mediterranean Lake Norman Home

Pippin Home Designs, Inc

Photo of a mediterranean backyard pool in Charlotte with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Rettangalore

Bianchi Design

Kirk Bianchi created this resort like setting for a couple from Mexico City. They were looking for a contemporary twist on traditional themes, and Luis Barragán was the inspiration. The outer walls were painted a darker color to recede, while floating panels of color and varying heights provided sculptural interest and opportunities for lighting and shadow.

Pottery on pool and spa with sheer descents.

Elemental Construction Inc. - Pools and Landscape

Jason Warren
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional backyard custom-shaped pool in Los Angeles with a water feature and concrete pavers.

Gallery

Premier Pools and Spas

Design ideas for a small transitional backyard kidney-shaped aboveground pool in Orange County with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Vanishing Edge I New Fairfield, CT

Total Pool + Patio, LLC

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary backyard rectangular infinity pool in New York with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Garfield

BonaVista Pools

Custom small urban pool, raised walls, shared system with spa. Toronto, ON.
Inspiration for a small contemporary backyard rectangular lap pool in Other with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Pool Design Ideas with a Water Feature

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.