This is an example of a midcentury side yard rectangular lap pool in Los Angeles with a water feature.

Contemporary Pool

Photo of a contemporary side yard rectangular lap pool in San Francisco with a water feature and tile.

East Lakeshore

EcoRegions

Situated on the University Lakes in Baton Rouge, LA, these homeowners were initially looking for a fence to contain their two dogs. Several conceptual designs and revisions later, we arrived at the concept that was constructed. The homeowners have an 80+ year old Live Oak in the backyard that they wanted to be a feature of their new outdoor oasis. They also wanted a spa to be able to use year-round for themselves and family parties. With the focus being on creating a New Orleans-style courtyard and preserving the fantastic specimen Live Oak, a sideyard courtyard was born.

Arcadia Heights

Temac Development Inc.

Small modern side yard rectangular pool in Phoenix with a water feature and concrete slab.

Haus mit Blick in die Weinberge

Rosenberger + Neidhardt

www.laziundlazi.de
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary side yard rectangular lap pool in Stuttgart with a water feature.

Atlanta, GA - New Neoclassical Home

Heirloom Design Build

Location: Atlanta, Georgia - Historical Inman Park Scope: This home was a new home we developed and built in Atlanta, GA. The pool's water feature is centered on the 12' slider door in the living room to bring the sound of the sheer falls into the home. The pool is a black plaster, polished aggregate pool. It is zero entry as well with a umbrella holder in the pool so it can be used to place chairs in for lounging. High performance / green building certifications: EPA Energy Star Certified Home, EarthCraft Certified Home - Gold, NGBS Green Certified Home - Gold, Department of Energy Net Zero Ready Home, GA Power Earthcents Home, EPA WaterSense Certified Home Builder/Developer: Heirloom Design Build Architect: Jones Pierce Interior Design/Decorator: Heirloom Design Build Photo Credit: D. F. Radlmann www.heirloomdesignbuild.com

Top Of The Pines

Outdoor Living LLC

Natural Shape Pool
Inspiration for a mid-sized arts and crafts side yard custom-shaped natural pool in Detroit with a water feature and brick pavers.

BOWLES - BOSWELL RESIDENCE

Nest Plans Inc.

POOL AND PATIO DECK -INTIMATE AND MULTIPURPOSE
Design ideas for a small modern side yard rectangular lap pool in Miami with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Northern Virginia Country Estate

Land & Water Design

Our client constructed their new home on five wooded acres in Northern Virginia, and they requested our firm to help them design the ultimate backyard retreat complete with custom natural look pool as the main focal point. The pool was designed into an existing hillside, adding natural boulders and multiple waterfalls, raised spa. Next to the spa is a raised natural wood burning fire pit for those cool evenings or just a fun place for the kids to roast marshmallows. The extensive Techo-bloc Inca paver pool deck, a large custom pool house complete with bar, kitchen/grill area, lounge area with 60" flat screen TV, full audio throughout the pool house & pool area with a full bath to complete the pool area. For the back of the house, we included a custom composite waterproof deck with lounge area below, recessed lighting, ceiling fans & small outdoor grille area make this space a great place to hangout. For the man of the house, an avid golfer, a large Southwest synthetic putting green (2000 s.f.) with bunker and tee boxes keeps him on top of his game. A kids playhouse, connecting flagstone walks throughout, extensive non-deer appealing landscaping, outdoor lighting, and full irrigation fulfilled all of the client's design parameters.

Private Residence in Port Royal

Lovetto Design, Inc.

Design ideas for a large mediterranean side yard pool with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Zumirez - Malibu

Armfield Design & Construction

Inspiration for a mid-sized tropical side yard rectangular lap pool in Los Angeles with a water feature and concrete pavers.

Bristol Historic Home-Custom pool

Bradford Associates, LLC

The custom pool is the centerpiece of the landscape. It features a waterfall wall, jumping rock at the deep end and tiled sun shelves in the shallows.

Windsor Avenue

Robert Elliott Custom Homes

This exquisite Robert Elliott Custom Homes’ property is nestled in the Park Cities on the quiet and tree-lined Windsor Avenue. The home is marked by the beautiful design and craftsmanship by David Stocker of the celebrated architecture firm Stocker Hoesterey Montenegro. The dramatic entrance boasts stunning clear cedar ceiling porches and hand-made steel doors. Inside, wood ceiling beams bring warmth to the living room and breakfast nook, while the open-concept kitchen – featuring large marble and quartzite countertops – serves as the perfect gathering space for family and friends. In the great room, light filters through 10-foot floor-to-ceiling oversized windows illuminating the coffered ceilings, providing a pleasing environment for both entertaining and relaxing. Five-inch hickory wood floors flow throughout the common spaces and master bedroom and designer carpet is in the secondary bedrooms. Each of the spacious bathrooms showcase beautiful tile work in clean and elegant designs. Outside, the expansive backyard features a patio, outdoor living space, pool and cabana.

Cottesloe, Margaret Street

Exclusive Pools

Lap pool with plunge entrance area, Negative edge leading to pebble pond water feature. Separate, but adjoining spa. Mosaic tiles used to fully tile spa, pool waterline, all step and bench areas and negative edge.

Pool Design

lensi designs photography

Pool and Spa, The White Garden
Inspiration for a large side yard rectangular pool in New York with a water feature.

Florencia Model

Alvarez Homes

Design ideas for a small mediterranean side yard custom-shaped natural pool in Tampa with a water feature and tile.

A place to sit in the sun

User

A garden with a view into Torbay, Torquay, South Devon. Colin Cadle Photography, Photo Styling, Jan Cadle
Mid-sized mediterranean side yard custom-shaped pool in Devon with a water feature and decking.

Red River

Smith Builders

Charles Quinn Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary side yard rectangular lap pool in Austin with a water feature and tile.

Bristol Historic Home-Custom Water Feature

Bradford Associates, LLC

The pool ends in a waterfall and jumping rock. The water feature is not only a visual accent but adds a wonderful, relaxing sound to the landscape and provides privacy from the street.

Louisiana Influence

McDugald-Steele

Rectangular Swimming Pool with Bluestone Coping and brick inlay. Elevated Spa that is independent of pool fronts the brick and masonry fencing. Water jet drainage grates compliment the natural stone paving, as does the custom brick and stone skimmer cover.

Side Yard 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.