Tips for a Stunning Pool Design

By Christopher Enriquez

PARADISE From traditional pools off the Mediterranean to transparent ones high up in cities, swimming pools are always a wonderful venue for social gatherings and relaxing conversations. Often characteristic of stately provincial homes, pools are now increasingly becoming a sought-after addition for homes in the city. Swimming pools are appealing to homeowners not only due to their social appeal, but also due to the fact that they can help increase the value of any property.

This growing demand can present a challenge for designers, especially when it comes to helping a client come up with an impressive and stunning pool design. Unlike the past, when the rectangular pool with blue tiles and white trim would easily suffi ce for homeowners, today’s clients are eager to push for different ideas that are sometimes out of scale or even outside budget limits.

Although popular pools on social media seem very simple and easy to do, creating a standout and stunning pool requires careful planning, execution, and attention to detail. With the market awash with endless options for materials, features, and wish lists – pool bars, art mosaics, and whirlpools, among other items – it is easy for designers to get caught up in the web of options and fi nd themselves struggling to deliver on the client’s vision.

So whether it is a dream of dipping down the cliffside pools off the Amalfi coast or plunging down into the cold jungle locations of Bali, recreating these places is easily achievable by adopting a fl exible design framework. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Form and Function

Whether you are looking at an indoor or outdoor pool, a natural rock pool or a modern one, rectangular or organic shaped, or, perhaps, a mix of unique features, outlining the basic concept and lifestyle you imagine for the space is crucial for a consistent design, as well as the smooth fl ow of any project. A program of uses will help determine the sizing, form, features, and facilities of the pool area. This way, the pool can be fi tted out with facilities that can help enhance the experience, whether it is meant for pool parties or only for leisurely swims.

Vistas and Proportion

In shaping the pool area landscape, correct alignment and identifying the vistas around the pool can help create memorable moments for its users. Orientating the longer sides of the pool towards the morning and afternoon sun, instead of its shorter sides, allows users to swim any time of the day by shielding them from blinding lights . Various elements can also affect the whole look and feel of a place.

Trees and structures can also help frame picture-perfect scenes around the pool area.

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PARADISE 46 | ANGPOOLS.COM | FALL/WINTER 2022

For example, an organic-shaped, Mediterranean-style pool might appear out of place in an ultra-chic penthouse, but can sit naturally in a modern house on a farm estate. Trees and structures can also help frame picture-perfect scenes around the pool area.

Landscape and Materials

Landscape plays an important role in the design of the pool, as the local vegetation and materials available can help inform the overall mood of the space. In addition to saving money, building locally can also help you consider solutions for potential problems. For example, an elevated pool might be a more practical solution for a backyard where an in-ground pool might require a lot of maintenance.

Features & Lighting

Adding walls, fountains, jacuzzis, pool bars, and other functional features will help create a relaxing ambiance in your backyard pool area. A feature wall, for example, can contain a sculpture and have seating built around it, while a fire pit can also be incorporated to completely set the mood. Meanwhile, a grill area or a pool bar are great additions for those who love to entertain and throw parties or host family gatherings, especially on weekends. To elevate the whole experience, adding uplighting for the trees, pool lighting, and concealed step lights can work wonders on the evening landscape and illuminate paths for guests on balmy evenings.

Furniture, Artwork, and Details

The pool might be the last place you’d look for artwork, but we beg to differ. Making the pool area a statement piece, whether as the masterpiece or to showcase artwork, is a good idea. Tile suppliers offer opportunities to use the pool as a canvas by creating mosaic artworks.

Meanwhile, furniture and other details should always be considered from the very beginning. This allows time for sourcing and acquisition of pieces. One should always look for comfort and weatherproof qualities, especially for outdoor cushions, umbrellas, and rugs. Identifying details early on in the process can help conceal pumps or other unsightly equipment that would otherwise ruin a welldesigned pool.

With increasing temperatures, economic pressure, and household responsibilities that make you work up a sweat, taking a dip in a well-designed and stunning pool can definitely help. Whether it is clean and simple or exotic, well-designed pools don’t simply rely on the aesthetic appeal but on their functionality, as well. A good pool design is flexible and can accommodate multiple functions, from barbeques and parties, to hosting holidays and quiet evenings by the pool.

Despite the challenges that any project could present, understanding the basics and setting a working framework is already a swim in the right direction. After all, nothing can be more stunning than a well-designed space that your clients will love to share with their friends and family.