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

The Pandy House

Unique Homestays

Cornwall House Interiors

Watershedd

Minimalist contemporary detailing within this spa room in Cornwall, with a below ground hot-tub clad in slate, with white horizontal wall panelling and a vintage bench.

Hinsdale, IL Swimming Pool with attached hot tub

Platinum Poolcare

This sleek rectilinear pool measures 10'0" x 27'0", and the hot tub is 10'0" x 6'0". The coping is Valders Wisconsin Limestone. Both the pool and hot tub have their own automatic pool safety covers with custom stone lid systems. A large top step serves as a sunshelf for the pool-width steps. Adorned by lush turf on several sides, the hardscapes consist of New York Bluestone. Photos by Larry Huene.

Atlanta Swimming Pool and Cabana

Boyce Design + Build

The gabled cabana features an outdoor living space, fire table and water feature combination, enclosed bathroom, and a decorative cedar tongue-and-groove wall that houses a television. The pergolas on each side provide additional entertaining space. The custom swimming pool includes twin tanning ledges and a stacked stone raised spa with waterfall.

Freeform - Cheleuitte - San Antonio

Cody Pools, Inc.

Freeform pool with sheer descents and a raised spa with spillways.

Kaihani Residence

Urbanleaf Landscapes

Kaihani wanted to create a space that reminded her of Hawaii. A vacation getaway in her own backyard. We revamped the pool, adding a flowing water feature and glowing stones. We resurfaced the deck with hardy Ipe wood and travertine. And we created a cozy seating area next to an elegant fire pit. To get to Hawaii, Kaihani only has to step out her back door. It's breath taking...it's like being back home in Hawaii. Melissa Wright

Bellaire Koi Pond

US Koi Ponds

Dedicated Koi Pond. Semi raised with natural stone and Bog Filter.

Tanglewood

Exterior Worlds Landscaping & Design

Designer's Sanctuary

DD Ford Construction

Sackston Prairie Cabana

Srote & Co Architects | Planners | Interiors

Interior Design by others. Our Sackston Prarie Cabana solved the problem of client privacy with its native stone screen walls and stucco accents while providing all of the luxuries of poolside outdoor living. Three 11-feet wide accordion style doors open the cabana entirely to the outdoors to circulate westerly summer winds. Deep overhangs provide shade for summer sun while allowing the sun to permeate the space to utilize the saloon and hot tub during the winter months. Terraced poolside planters with native vegetation complement the design. Although this cabana was constructed after completion of the main residence the material choices seamlessly blend this addition to create one unified outdoor space.

Clayton Modern

Randy Angell Designs

Botanica - Pools & Spas

Botanica Landscape Inc.

This spa is set on the top of a deck. We used Bluestone rubble for the stacked stone. The back wall is also a water feature

Exterior view showing chaise lounge terrace and landscaping.

Haver & Skolnick LLC Architects

The antique cedar siding is contrasted by crisp copper overhangs. Robert Benson Photography.

Wilmington Court - Pool, Spa, & Pavilion

Paul N. Brow, Architect, LLC

Axial view of the rectangular swimming pool with a raised square, infinity edge spa in the foreground and the timber framed pool pavilion beyond. The spa features uncut black glass tile & a solid block bluestone entry step. The pool contains twin tanning ledges & facing benches along each of its long edges.

The Barefoot Bay Cottage

The Designory

The Barefoot Bay Cottage is the first-holiday house to be designed and built for boutique accommodation business, Barefoot Escapes (www.barefootescapes.com.au). Working with many of The Designory’s favourite brands, it has been designed with an overriding luxe Australian coastal style synonymous with Sydney based team. The newly renovated three bedroom cottage is a north facing home which has been designed to capture the sun and the cooling summer breeze. Inside, the home is light-filled, open plan and imbues instant calm with a luxe palette of coastal and hinterland tones. The contemporary styling includes layering of earthy, tribal and natural textures throughout providing a sense of cohesiveness and instant tranquillity allowing guests to prioritise rest and rejuvenation. Images captured by Jessie Prince

Hinsdale, IL Swimming Pool with attached hot tub

Platinum Poolcare

Bedford Park

Karen Rogers at KR Garden Design

Caroline Mardon

Custom Pool with Tiled Spa in Pembroke Pines

Van Kirk & Sons Pools and Spas

This beautiful custom pool in Pembroke Pines is really the perfect fit for this backyard. The custom fountain with fire feature really classes the pool up while the custom tile spa matches so perfectly with our custom Van Kirk Super Blue interior finish!

Mid-sized Pool Design Ideas with Natural Stone Pavers

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.