A custom pool can become a central part of a home's outdoor environment, providing space for swimming, recreation, relaxation, and entertaining. Designing a pool also creates opportunities to coordinate the surrounding yard with features such as patios, decks, landscaping, spas, water features, outdoor kitchens, and fire features. Before beginning a project, homeowners can consider how they want to use the space, which pool design fits the property, and which additional features belong in the overall plan.

Explore Custom Pool Benefits

Consider How a Pool Fits Your Property

A custom pool can become a significant part of a property's outdoor environment, so its design should complement the home and surrounding yard. Factors such as available space, existing landscaping, desired pool shape, and planned outdoor features can all influence how the finished pool fits into the property. Considering these elements early can help homeowners develop an outdoor space that reflects how they want to use it.

Enhance Your Outdoor Space

A custom pool provides an opportunity to develop a cohesive outdoor setting around the home's existing landscape. Pool styles can range from formal and geometric designs to free-form and natural-looking environments, allowing homeowners to consider different approaches for their property. The surrounding yard can also be considered as part of the overall design process.

The pool itself can be connected with surrounding features. Landscaping, patios, decks, water features, and other outdoor living elements can help create a more unified backyard environment. Combining these features can give homeowners more ways to shape the appearance and use of their outdoor space.

Explore Custom Pool Features

Customization allows a pool to reflect the way you want to use your outdoor space. Available design considerations can include the pool's shape and depth, entry points, steps, built-in seating, tanning ledges, lighting, and water features. Different design approaches can create a formal pool environment or a more natural-looking setting.

Compare Pool Contractor Options

Research Your Options

One of the initial steps in selecting a pool contractor involves researching the companies available in your area and reviewing the types of projects they handle. Look at the pool styles, outdoor living features, and other services represented in their previous work. This can help you identify contractors whose experience aligns with the type of project you are considering.

It can also be helpful to consider whether the pool contractor provides custom design and construction as part of its services. Reviewing the available options before discussing a project can help you identify which features and design approaches fit your plans. You can then bring those preferences into the planning process when discussing your project.

Review Pool Design Experience

A pool contractor's portfolio can help you evaluate whether its previous work aligns with the type of pool and outdoor environment you have in mind. Look for examples that reflect the design approach, pool style, and additional features you are considering for your property. Reviewing a range of completed projects can also help you identify design details that appeal to you.

Explore Dream Pool Designs

Discuss Your Pool Design

The design stage provides an opportunity to discuss how you want your pool and surrounding outdoor space to look and function. Consider the property's available space, the pool's shape and depth, desired finishes, entry points, seating areas, lighting, water features, and other features that may be incorporated into the design. These preferences can provide a starting point for developing the overall project.

Select a Pool Shape

Pool shape is one of the foundational decisions in a custom design. Available approaches include free-form and natural pools, geometric pools, traditional and formal pools, and vanishing-edge designs. The appropriate shape can depend on the property's layout as well as the look and use you want for the finished space.

Other design considerations can include pool depth, entry points, steps, built-in seating, tanning ledges, finishes, lighting, spas, and water features. These details can be considered together so the pool works as part of the larger outdoor environment. Discussing the intended use of the space can also help determine which features belong in the design.

Plan Pool Construction and Installation

Evaluate the Property

Pool design needs to account for the property where the pool will be built. Factors such as yard size, slope, access, existing landscaping, drainage, sunlight, shade, and surrounding features can influence the design and placement of the pool. Considering these characteristics can help connect the pool with the existing outdoor environment.

The property layout can also affect decisions about pool shape, surrounding decks and patios, landscaping, water features, and other elements included in the overall design. Taking these considerations into account can help homeowners organize their priorities before construction begins. The resulting plan can then reflect both the property and the intended use of the space.

Build the Pool Structure

Construction brings the selected pool design into the physical space. Concrete pool installation is one of the available services, allowing custom pool shapes and designs to be developed around the property's layout and the homeowner's preferences. The construction approach can account for the features incorporated into the selected design.

According to HomeGuide, installing a vinyl liner inground pool takes 2 to 3 weeks, whereas a concrete pool requires 6 to 8 weeks. The actual construction process can involve different considerations depending on the pool type and design selected. Homeowners can discuss the anticipated process for their specific project with their pool contractor.

Maintain Your Custom Pool

Explore Pool Service Options

Professional pool service can provide ongoing support after construction. Available service offerings include pool cleaning and repairs, while warranty-related service is also provided. These services can be considered as part of the ongoing needs of an existing pool.

Prepare Your Pool Seasonally

Pool care can change with the season, particularly when a pool needs to be prepared for colder weather. Winterization is among the maintenance considerations discussed for saltwater pool systems. Seasonal planning can be part of understanding the ongoing care a pool may require.

Showcase Your New Pool

Host Poolside Gatherings

Once completed, a custom pool can become part of the setting for gatherings with friends and family. The surrounding outdoor space can support these occasions through features such as patios, pool decks, outdoor kitchens, fire pits, fireplaces, pavilions, and other areas designed for outdoor use. These features can give the backyard additional spaces for spending time outdoors.

An outdoor kitchen can include a grilling station, refrigerator, sink, or pizza oven, providing options for preparing and serving food in the same outdoor environment. Fire features can provide another focal point around the pool area. The combination of these elements can make the outdoor space suitable for different types of gatherings.

Capture Your Pool Design

Photography can document the finished pool and the details that went into its design. Capturing the pool from different angles can highlight its shape, finishes, lighting, water features, landscaping, and relationship to the surrounding outdoor living space. Images can also preserve the details that make the project specific to the property.

Photographs can showcase how individual features work together. A pool with a spa, water feature, outdoor kitchen, fire feature, or pavilion can be documented as a complete outdoor environment rather than as a standalone pool. This approach can highlight the relationship between the pool and the other elements of the property.

Artistic Pools, Inc. offers custom pool design and construction, pool renovation, pool service, commercial pool installation, and outdoor living construction. From saltwater and infinity-edge pools to spas, water features, outdoor kitchens, fire features, pool houses, pavilions, patios, decks, and landscaping, homeowners can explore a range of options for their outdoor space. Learn more about the available pool and outdoor living solutions to begin planning your project.