25 Pool Design Ideas that Make a Splash

Hilltop infinity pool — Photo:
Paul Dyer

On a hot day, nothing feels quite as refreshing as a dip in the pool, and when you have a pool in your backyard, you'll have no shortage of visitors during the summer when cooling off is best done in the water. These beautiful pool design ideas serve up backyard inspiration in a variety of styles. Create your ideal entertaining space for just a few people or a crowd. A pool doesn't have to be big to be fabulous—there's a pool just right for any size space. From a stock tank pool where you can take a quick dip to an infinity edge pool with stunning views, get ready to jump in!

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Add Elegant Landscaping

Part design feature, part backyard treat, this stunning pool design idea blends with the surrounding landscape. A bed of roses and perfectly manicured shrubs elegantly frame the perimeter of the yard while water from a rounded shallow pool cascades into the main swimming area. The grass reaches nearly to the pool's edge, making it feel organic.

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Say Buongiorno with Italian Style

Mediterranean style pool — Emily Followill

The moment you step foot in this delightful outdoor living area, surrounded by sunny yellow walls, you're transported to the Italian Riviera. The lounge chairs, planters, and an area rug are all clad in classic black-and-white patterns. A few steps up from the pool, a pergola shades a cozy sitting area ideal for sipping lemonade—or perhaps a Negroni.

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Keep Symmetry in Focus

Potted boxwoods anchor each corner of this backyard pool and frame two rattan chairs at the far end. Paired with the symmetrical design found on the back of the house, the simplicity of the concrete planters, wood deck, and white chair cushions provides a zen-like oasis. Continuous straight lines emphasize the understated look of this pool design idea.

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Find a Quiet Spot

Just steps from the back door, this petite pool design idea beckons you to take a dip and unwind. Shrouded by palms, this tropical-feeling backyard oasis has an air of exclusivity and privacy, allowing for quiet conversation and a calming atmosphere.

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Offer Plenty of Seating

A spacious pool area offers a little something for everyone. An infinity-edge hot tub spills into the main swimming pool, where three small fountains provide a relaxing focal point. For those who don’t wish to swim, three sitting areas—a large sofa by the fire pit, lounge chairs for relaxing by the pool, and a love seat beneath the pergola—offer a place to chat.

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Have Something for Everyone

Complete with a pink floatie and a hot tub, this backyard pool is just one component of a sprawling outdoor living area. A cabana offers al fresco dining, while a built-in daybed provides the opportunity for a siesta. Adirondack chairs encircling a fire pit are the perfect place to roast s’mores and kick back at the end of the day. A space like this guarantees everyone will find a place to relax.

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Incorporate Stylish Tile

Traditional house with backyard pool — Robert Brantley

A deep blue pool is the ideal place to cool off on a hot day. Butting up to the pool and covered in a beautiful blue mosaic tile, a hot tub seamlessly blends with the color of the water. An outdoor kitchen, dining, and living areas complete the pool design idea.

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Amp Up the Fun

Framed on one edge by a natural rock surround and palm trees, this turquoise pool is built right into its surroundings. Aqua accents on the umbrella and the upholstery echo the vibrant color of the pool and dazzle against a neutral desert background. Playful white orbs float on the water, adding a fun pool design idea that makes the outdoor area feel extra special.

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Include Bright Colors

Shades of gray and other neutrals complement the home’s exterior in this outdoor living space, from the concrete terrace and pool surround to the throw pillows. But pink potted flowers and a vibrant pink table and chairs pop against the subdued background while adding a dash of whimsy that looks right at home against the contemporary facade of the structure.

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Warm Up with Wood

Outdoor arm and lounge chairs with plush throw pillows offer a comfy spot to sit and sunbathe on this pool deck. The wood structure and siding add warmth to the cool hues, with a string of lights that illuminate the patio in the evening. Blue-gray tiles on the surround is a pool design idea that offers a subtle transition from the pavers into the water below. A large shallow step serves as both entry into the pool as well as a refreshing sunbathing platform for those who want the best of both worlds.

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Reflect and Relax Poolside

Limestone landscaping pool — EDMUND BARR

This backyard spa, tucked neatly into the landscape, doubles as a reflecting pool. Two curved limestone benches on either end provide a place to ponder among the beautiful natural surroundings. Simple landscaping keeps the atmosphere serene and peaceful.

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Use Creative Backyard Pool Ideas

Backyard stock tank pool — Buff Strickland

Even a small backyard can make a splash with a creative pool. Here, a stock tank pool surrounded by gravel is ready for summertime fun. Speaking of fun, painting an ordinary retaining wall with a bold color, like fuchsia, enhances a space's playful attitude.

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Furnish with Comfortable Loungers

This pool design incorporates blue-and-white tile for a subtle dose of pattern. Brown wicker lounge chairs sit atop a concrete pool deck, offering room for plenty of guests to enjoy the private backyard escape. Tall hedges are a living wall for a cozy and separate sanctuary.

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Stay Low-Key for Luxury

Backyard wood deck pool — James Nathan Schroder

Nestled neatly into a grassy backyard shaded by towering trees, this pool design idea is framed by a simple concrete pool surround. A wood sunbathing deck provides a designated space for soaking up the rays. The uncomplicated design of the house and streamlined landscaping are relaxing details.

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Paint It White and Bright

Modern house backyard — Victoria Pearson

Clean lines and quiet colors allow this sleek pool to effortlessly blend into its surroundings as an extension of the indoor-outdoor living areas. Loungers submerged in the shallow water and shaded by a black-and-white umbrella are the ultimate places to beat the heat. This midcentury modern style home is the epitome of desert living.

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Utilize Sleek Details

A pool design idea that includes an infinity edge complements the clean lines seen on the black French doors, vertical exterior wood paneling, and gray metal roof of this pool house. Verdant foliage provides a lush backdrop and creates a sense of privacy. Seating below the pool allows for conversation without being disrupted by splashing and playing in the water.

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Let the House Take Center Stage

Just steps from the soaring black doors of this home, a long, wide pool beckons. Centered on the back doors, a single step into the pool gradually descends on both sides in pleasing symmetry. A pair of generous sofas face each other on the poolside terrace, great for catching up with friends or taking in the mountain views.

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Preserve Your Privacy

Private backyard pool — Christina Schmidhofer

Tucked away among the pines, this backyard pool feels like a private resort. A series of quiet gray lounge chairs and umbrellas await vacationers. Beneath the poolside loggia, a pair of deep sofas offer respite, while curtains can be drawn to ward off bugs or inclement weather. Despite its size, the pool doesn't overwhelm the rest of the spacious backyard.

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Entertain at Home

This curvy pool is ready for a crowd—both in and out of the water. Cozy up to the outdoor bar on an aluminum stool, or take a break from the sun on the cabana’s comfy sectional. Whether gabbing poolside or perched at the black high-top table and chairs, this is one pool area design that keeps entertaining in mind.

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Highlight the View

An infinity edge on this hilltop pool provides a breathtaking panorama. Cool gray cushions and wood tones on the outdoor furniture allow nature to do the talking, while short plants in the garden beds help maximize the view at every level of the terraced outdoor living area. A flagstone pool surround and upper patio provide continuity.

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Hide Away a Secret Garden

A mix of colorful wildflowers cheerfully welcomes guests to this backyard pool and garden. The horizontal lines of the wood fence repeat on the steps into the pool, where a built-in bench provides a place to perch while cooling off. A gate opens to the rest of the property to welcome visitors for an afternoon of swimming and sunning.

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Choose a Square Layout

Symmetry is the name of the game for this stately square pool. A pair of white umbrellas stand sentry on either side of three green-and-white lounge chairs centered on a white latticework trellis. A pea gravel walkway frames the perimeter of the pool.

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Brighten Up the Patio

Natural green and white delight in this backyard pool area, save for the cobalt blue tiles that adorn the pool's interior and the water feature, which adds tranquil background noise. Three white loungers with stone side tables provide instant pool access, while a shaded terrace offers additional lounging a few steps up.

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Enjoy the Sights

Green turf meets seamlessly with the edge of this bayfront pool, blurring the lines between water and land. A deep blue umbrella and lounge chair cushions mimic the hues of the pool. Striped poufs serve as footrests for a pair of white chairs or additional seating for a crowd. Spend hours watching the boats go by and enjoying the sunshine in this beautiful spot.

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Take a Break from the Sun

Limestone borders this backyard pool, which is surrounded by grass. Just a few feet from the steps of the pool, a series of lounge chairs sit upon pea gravel in a designated sunbathing spot. The white pool cabana is great for stashing extra towels, pool toys, and beverages or just taking a break from the sun for a few minutes.

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