Once you get an in-ground pool, you probably feel like you’re living in the lap of luxury. But a pool only becomes a beautiful addition to your yard if you consider the surrounding area as well.
There’s something pretty unappealing about hopping into a swimming pool surrounded by plain concrete or graded dirt. For a breathtaking backyard getaway you’ve always wanted, think about the following poolside landscaping ideas.
- Add Outdoor Lighting
A pool is much more appealing if you can use it 24/7, especially after the sun has gone down. Nighttime lighting creates an incredible new perspective in the pool area; it highlights the water and your surrounding foliage.
Avoid using harsh overhead lighting, and instead incorporate beams beneath the water: hidden among potted plants, and subtly framing the walkway. This provides just enough illumination to see, but just enough darkness to maintain the mood.
- Include a Water Feature
Don’t limit your water features to your pool alone. Install a waterfall or fountain in the shallow end of your pool. You could also take on some of the dead space in the yard that surrounds your pool to install a fountain or decorative spout.
- Install a Stylish Fence
A fence provides both protection and privacy, which is especially worthwhile if you have small children or nosy neighbors. Swimming in a fish bowl where everyone can see is disconcerting, and you don’t want anyone falling into the pool when there’s no lifeguard on duty.
Your fence or wall can be both practical and stylish, to provide the function you need without sacrificing the design of your yard.
- Plant Trees and Vegetation
Greenery performs a dual purpose for your landscaping. You can increase your privacy as well as provide a beautiful backdrop for your water getaway.
Getting your greenery in just the right spot can be tricky, so it’s often best to talk to a landscape designer about proper space planning before planting any seeds.
- Design a Tropical Vegetation Escape
You could plant a few trees and situate potted plants around your pool, or you could design a romantic jungle escape with tropical trees and foliage to create screening. The greenery should serve as a kind of camouflage that hints at a hidden pool in the middle of a tropical rainforest.
- Surround with Seating
Being able to lounge around the pool in style is almost as important to some pool owners as the water itself. Invest in high-quality, durable, but stylish outdoor lounge chairs, benches, and sectionals for your pool surround. Create a relaxing sitting area where you can relax in the sun or take shelter under an umbrella.
- Build a Fire
Water and fire go surprisingly well together, especially if you’re the kind of person who likes to take a dip in the evening. A fire pit will make your pool setting cozy and comfortable. It gives your backyard a two-tone feel and creates an amazing venue for friends and family to get together.
- Put in a Nature Path
Your pool can go from a backyard accessory to an outdoor adventure with a well-planned nature path. The trail itself can be made of cobblestones or concrete pavers, and it should be surrounded by plants, flowers, yard ornaments, and other features. You might even create a trickling stream that starts with a waterfall near the house, travels along a rocky bed, and into your pool.
- Install Columns
Grandiose landscaping has not gone out of style, especially if you live in a warm-weather, touristy region. Replace your standard rear-patio posts with lavish columns draped with sheer curtains. When your friends visit, they’ll be reminded of an elegant Roman dwelling.
- Grass Galore
Because chlorine and pool chemicals are not good for grass, most pool owners place an expanse of stone and concrete around their pools. But if you’re missing your grassy backyard, make grass the focal point.
Allowing for the concrete foundation, your grass can be as close as five feet to your pool’s edge, and if you use special fertilizers and the right kind of grass seed, the pool chemicals shouldn’t be a problem.
- Experiment with Surfacing
Standard concrete surfacing requires less maintenance than grass, and it can be just as attractive, especially if you explore all the options. You want something that has good traction, but not your run-of-the-mill stucco-style surfacing.
Talk with your pool contractor about stamped concrete, stone pavers, and other appealing finishes to an otherwise dull pool finish.
