Paradise Preserve | Atlantic Beach Contemporary Backyard

This compact space allows for a lot of outdoor living options, without feeling too cramped. The homeowners really wanted a pool and spa, but didn't believe their yard was big enough. Not only did they get both by incorporating a spool, they also have plenty of room for seating and dining, lush landscaping, and a lawn where their child and dogs can play! Photo by Craig O'Neal

Nautical Themed Rooftop Pool

Bradford Products

Rooftop stainless steel pool finished in gray tile. The pool features an acrylic viewing window, fire feature, infinity edge and bench seating.

Orchard Avenue - Napa

Westwind Construction

Pool House www.jacobelliott.com

Private Resort

Pu'uwai Design & Construction

The great room flows onto the large lanai through pocketing glass doors creating a seamless indoor outdoor experience. On the lanai teak daybeds imported from Bali face each other with custom blue covers and throw pillows in blue with coral motifs, the rectangular pool is complete with an aqua lounge, built-in spa, and a swim up bar at the outdoor BBQ. The flooring is a gray ceramic tile, the pool coping is natural puka pavers, The house a combination of traditional plantation style seen in the white board and batten walls, with a modern twist seen in the wood framed glass doors, thick square exposed tails and ebony stained square posts supporting the overhangs.

Tioga Pool

Caprock Hardscape Supply

Small Lot Swimming Pool Design

Tranquility Pools Inc.

Aerial view of pool with laminar jets, fire pit, marble patio seating areas.

Infinity Edge Pool with Sun Ledge, Grotto, Waterfall & Floating Steps

Neave Group Outdoor Solutions

Whitewater Imagery

Falls Church Modern

Joseph Richardson, Landscape Architect

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.

Winnetka, IL Hot Tub with Automatic Cover and Fire Pit

Platinum Poolcare

On The Rocks

Laura Manchee Designs

Succulents and astroturf allow this cliff side home to be enjoyed all year round with minimal maintenance. Various types of seating and dining options are available throughout the outdoor space.

Alpan Development Settlement at Willow Grove

Nautical Pools, LLC

ECO REGIONS POOL DESIGN

Viking Pool - St Lucia - Pebble Beach - East Coast Pools

Latham Pool Products Inc.

Simple is classy with this small taste of heaven installed in Sanford, Maine by East Coast Pools. Creative decking, customized tiling and a unique step design make this Viking Fiberglass Pool St. Lucia, Pebble Beach model one of a kind!

Custom Rock Waterfall Pool with Stone Grotto, Stream and Tiki Hut

Lucas Lagoons Inc.

Climb the grotto rocks and jump into the swimming pool, or meander on to the tiki hut. Once in the pool, the the swim up ledge in the grotto can be accessed from the pool’s sun shelf and is large enough to stand in. Photo: Geza Darrah

Custom Pool

Evening Star Homes

Contemporary pool and spa

User

Outdoor Elements maximized the available space in this beautiful yard with a contemporary, rectangular pool complete with a large tanning deck and swim jet system. Mosaic glass-tile accents the spa and a shell stone deck and coping add to the contemporary feel. Behind the tanning deck, a large, up-lit, sheer-descent waterfall adds variety and elegance to the design. A lighted gazebo makes a comfortable seating area protected from the sun while a functional outdoor kitchen is nestled near the backdoor of the residence. Raised planters and screening trees add the right amount of greenery to the space.

Custom small urban pool, dolphin gray marbelite. Toronto, ON.

Urban Oasis

Scott Christopher Homes

Located in the heart of a 1920’s urban neighborhood, this classically designed home went through a dramatic transformation. Several updates over the years had rendered the space dated and feeling disjointed. The main level received cosmetic updates to the kitchen, dining, formal living and family room to bring the decor out of the 90’s and into the 21st century. Space from a coat closet and laundry room was reallocated to the transformation of a storage closet into a stylish powder room. Upstairs, custom cabinetry, built-ins, along with fixture and material updates revamped the look and feel of the bedrooms and bathrooms. But the most striking alterations occurred on the home’s exterior, with the addition of a 24′ x 52′ pool complete with built-in tanning shelf, programmable LED lights and bubblers as well as an elevated spa with waterfall feature. A custom pool house was added to compliment the original architecture of the main home while adding a kitchenette, changing facilities and storage space to enhance the functionality of the pool area. The landscaping received a complete overhaul and Oaks Rialto pavers were added surrounding the pool, along with a lounge space shaded by a custom-built pergola. These renovations and additions converted this residence from well-worn to a stunning, urban oasis.

Euclid Residence

AquaTerra Outdoors

This infinity edge spa with water feature is designed to be a visual work of art. The wall has custom Bobe water scuppers, is veneered with ledgestone and a lueders limestone cap and ends.

Expansive and Small 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.