Your pool’s style and surrounding landscape create a unique outdoor space that can feel like an expensive resort or a rustic cottage retreat. A pool should also fit into the overall design of your backyard and complement any garden structures or special landscape features you plan to install.
Set a Budget
All decision-makers within your household must be on the same page regarding pool design. Your design could take dozens of directions; if you have different ideas, the process can get bogged down before it even begins.
It is also essential to consider that pools are not a one-off investment; ongoing costs include chemicals, equipment, and heating. These can add up quickly, so work this into your budget early. Similarly, many options are available for your pool’s surrounds, including various decking materials and features like an infinity edge. While these can add to your overall cost, they can also enhance the appearance of your pool and increase its functionality if that’s what you’re after. So, discuss your ideas with trusted builders in pool design and planning Orange County or a company nearby and be open to their recommendations. This will help you stay on track and achieve the pool of your dreams.
Think About the Space
If you’re planning a pool, it’s important to consider how the space will be used. A pool isn’t just a place to cool off; it’s also a great space for relaxing and entertaining.
For example, if you plan on hosting a movie night in the pool, it’s important to include a TV location so that you don’t have to choose between hanging out in the water and watching your favorite show. You can also plan on adding a bar or grill area. In addition, it’s essential to consider the size of the space around your pool and how the surrounding landscape will frame it. For instance, if you’re using stone for the decking and other areas around your pool, ensuring the design is consistent with other moments of exterior stone at your house is essential. This will ensure that the entire space feels connected and cohesive. If it doesn’t, the pool will look out of place and can create a sense of disconnection from the rest of the outdoor living space.
Think About the Landscape
When a pool is installed, it should fit the overall landscape design plan. This includes landscaping and other outdoor living elements, such as a covered patio or kitchen under a pavilion.
Plantings are also important and should be selected carefully. Some plants have thorns that could hurt swimmers, and it is best to avoid them or use them as interior plantings – for example, rose bushes with thorns would work well around the pool if they were ‘blocked’ visually by a row of boxwoods.
A generous area of hard landscaping around the pool allows for loungers and hides unsightly equipment, such as the filtering system and machinery. This treatment of the boundary can also protect from wind, although this has to be balanced with a view! In sunny but breezy areas, ornamental grasses work well – their feathery fronds look great all year round and create little leaf litter.
Think About Safety
It’s essential to consider every possible way to make your pool area safe from the get-go. Even if you want to wait to add some safety features, planning for their inclusion in the future can save you time and money later on. For example, it’s good to include a fence or other barrier around the pool and ensure no access points outside the perimeter. It also makes sense to install door alarms on doors leading to the pool and to have first-aid equipment and a defibrillator nearby. Other safety considerations include teaching rings, which act as flotation support until help can arrive, and rescue poles for pulling individuals to safety. Finally, it’s worth contacting your local authorities to learn about the specific building and safety codes you must adhere to. These can impact things like how deep your pool must be, what kind of fencing you need, and more.
