This home's exterior design includes a large pool and pool house, a covered outdoor living area with retractable screens and fireplace, plus blue stone patios that surround the home, as well as lavish lawn areas and colorful landscape.

Brighton East House

Susie Miles Design

Geometric Concrete Pool Gallery

Betz Pools Limited

This backyard is part of a spectacular renovation of a mid-town Toronto art deco-era home. The striking black and white palette adds to the sleek modern look. The perimeter overflow infinity pool empties into a trough outside the living room walkout. A unique stepping stone path on a narrow shelf appears to float just above the waterline. (18 x 35, custom rectangular)

Geometric - Jimmy Jacobs - San Antonio

Cody Pools, Inc.

Geometric pool with copper scuppers, large raised spa with spillway and inpool barstools.

Old Saint Louis Brick Coping

Russell Pool Company

Rectangular pool with half moon spa

Brad Sharpe Pools

Lemoyne, Pennsylvania

Goodall Pools & Spas

Pasadena Spanish

Huntington Pools Inc.

Alex Vertikoff

Lively Residence

AquaTerra Outdoors

The homeowner of this traditional home requested a traditional pool and spa with a resort-like style and finishes. AquaTerra was able to create this wonderful outdoor environment with all they could have asked for. While the pool and spa may be simple on the surface, extensive planning went into this environment to incorporate the intricate deck pattern. During site layout and during construction, extreme attention to detail was required to make sure nothing compromised the precise deck layout. The pool is 42'x19' and includes a custom water feature wall, glass waterline tile and a fully tiled lounge with bubblers. The separate spa is fully glass tiled and is designed to be a water feature with custom spillways when not in use. LED lighting is used in both the pool and spa to create dramatic lighting that can be enjoyed at night. The pool/spa deck is made of 2'x2' travertine stones, four to a square, creating a 4'x4' grid that is rotated 45 degrees in relation to the pool. In between all of the stones is synthetic turf that ties into the synthetic turf putting green that is adjacent to the deck. Underneath all of this decking and turf is a concrete sub-deck to support and drain the entire system. Finishes and details that increase the aesthetic appeal for project include: -All glass tile spa and spa basin -Travertine deck -Tiled sun lounge with bubblers -Custom water feature wall -LED lighting -Synthetic turf This traditional pool and all the intricate details make it a perfect environment for the homeowners to live, relax and play! Photography: Daniel Driensky

Ocean Bluff-Winner Santa Barbara Beautiful 2013

Margie Grace - Grace Design Associates

Dragon tree mulched in pebbles, with Stepstone, inc. concrete pavers, grasses, and a pool make for a great outdoor living space. Holly Lepere

Georgia landscape

Charles Hodges Ltd. Gardens

Beautiful Bentonville Indoor Pool House

John Easterling Construction

Incredible rustic indoor pool house add on designed by John Easterling, third generation home builder and general contractor.  A vaulted tongue and groove design was used for the ceiling of this space and the walls included a variety of natural materials like exposed stone, wood, and sheet metal. This design gave this pool house a warm and zen-like feeling with its range of natural & organic colors and textures.

Orlando Modern pool with perimeter overflow spa

Tod Brown with Florida Aquatics Custom Pools

Modern pool with perimeter overflow spa. Glass tile on top of spa wall, water line and fire feature columns.

Hampton House Renovation

Hart Builders Pty Ltd

Pool Photo Credit: Dylan Lark of Aspect 11

Lake Forest Swimming Pool and Hot tub with water feature

Platinum Poolcare

Request Free Quote This lovely swimming pool measures 20'0" x 44'0", and is crowned on one end by a raised hot tub measuring 8'0" x 8'0". The hot tub has a sheer waterfall feature that spills onto a sunshelf equipped with bollard bubbler jets. The opposite end has a deep end and diving board. Both the swimming pool and hot tub have automatic pool safety covers with custom stone lid systems. The coping on the pool and hot tub is Indiana Limestone, and the pool decking is Bluestone. Photos by Outvision Photography.

Pool House

Welty Architecture

Using all areas of the side yard and backyard of this New Orleans residence was very important. Welty Architecture created many entertaining zones used for all size gatherings.

Casa en Llafranc - Costa Brava

Grup Escrivá

Pool Remodel with Modern Water Features

Pool City Inc.

Pavers

Big Daddy Construction and Design

Mid-sized Lap 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.