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

Country Club of Louisiana - Savoie

Outdoor Kitchen For Swim Spa with Custom Fire Bowls in Cooper City, Florida

Van Kirk & Sons Pools and Spas

This swim spa with custom fire bowls and outdoor kitchen in Cooper City provides the perfect relaxing atmosphere.

Custom Design - Outdoor Living - 3eleven

Blue Heron

Small Modern Pool

Geremia Pools

A poolscape with all amenities can be custom designed just for your space. Wouldn't it be great to have a pool, spa, patio, deck, landscaping, mature trees, seating and room for a vegetable garden? We can help you with that!

Beach Front Pool

Architecture of Spirit

Greg O'Donnell

Gallery - Small Vinyl Pools

Betz Pools Limited

Built to maximize the space available in a small backyard, this custom-designed curvilinear pool provides an appealing contrast to the geometric lines of the house and fencing. Overlooked by an impressive raised spa, the pool features radius steps off the patio door and is bordered by Wiarton flagstone coping and decking. (18 x 22, Betz custom shape)

2013 Best in Show

Landscape-Fusion

Chibi Moku

Brighton Spa

Platinum Swimming Pools

Courtyard Modern

Randy Angell Designs

This project is proof that the challenges posed by limited space and accessibility can always be overcome in order to deliver stunning results. The space itself was rather small and also very close to the neighboring residence. Not only was the neighboring wall imposing, it was also of a completely different design style. The goal here was to create a layering effect with numerous features of varying heights. Not only would this add depth and dimension to the overall design, but it would cause the viewer to shift their focus from the encroaching wall to the beauty of the pool space. Instead of trying to maximize the water area by squaring off the pool, I decided to instead maximize the visual interest by gracefully rounding off the back wall of the pool. This was accomplished by implementing a raised stucco wall, and also a shorter, matching curved wall, featuring a "Sheer Descent" waterfall. Inside the taller, deep-plum stucco wall, I created three vertical windows which are all highlighted by LED uplighting. To give depth, dimension and some natural beauty, I implemented a simple bed of Horse Tail Reeds behind the short wall, and chose to place Banana Trees behind the taller wall. The main seating area is just outside the home's master suite, and is separated by a "Leuder" limestone fire pit. Aside from being a striking design feature, the floating stepper pads accomplish a number of things; they serve triple-duty as a walkway, a seating area adjacent to the fire pit, and also as a poolside rest for beverages. After discovering that the narrow courtyard acted as a sort of wind tunnel between the two houses, we opted to install tempered glass in order to better control the behavior of the flames. This solved the problem while remaining visually pleasing to the client as well. You'll notice in some of the leading photos for this project that I had originally intended to implement stepper pads on both sides of the pool closest to the house. And despite a thorough understanding of what would be necessary on an engineering and structural-design basis, we were eventually forced to turn this into a solid deck due to unrelenting city-required setbacks. However the client remained very understanding due to encountering a number of similar issues in their home-build process. In the end, they were delivered an outstanding pool design that had come to fruition only after coming up with numerous solutions to a number of challenges that only a unique space like this could provide.

Brick Beauty

Brad Sharpe Pools

Robert Shaw photographer

Dallas Small Modern Pool, Flush Spa with Safety Fence

Mike Farley Pool Designer, SWD, ASLA

Dallas small yard - beautiful modern pool project with outdoor living and a putting green designed by Mike Farley. Pool is surrounded by a safety fence. FarleyPoolDesigns.com

Basement Spa

Wilkinson Beven Design

Marc Berenguer

Willow Grove

EcoRegions

These days, a standard feature for any Willow Grove home is a fantastic courtyard and this home was no exception. These homeowners wanted a small cocktail pool to cool down during those hot Louisiana summer days. This home is traditional with contemporary flare and features beautiful travertine paving, combined with a traditional southern plant palette. These elements come together to create the perfect intimate courtyard.

Small Pools (Spools)

Premier Pools and Spas

Lucas Firmin Pools

Spools & Spas

The Pool and Spa Experts

Fazoli Brothers Inc.

JWK

Small Custom-shaped 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.