I used to think above ground pools couldn’t really be “designed.” I was a bit skeptical about how they’d fit into a nice yard.
But you guys, I’ve found so many inspiring photos that totally changed my mind! Whether you want a chic spot for adults or a fun place for the family, you’ll find tons of inspiration here!
Craft a Modern Vibe
This pool upgrade is just stunning. I love the way the modern cedar deck wraps around the whole pool. And can we talk about those pops of color?
The bright blue cushions on the loungers are the perfect touch. It all comes together for a look that feels so comfy but also totally modern.
Go Bold with Red Tile
I really LOVE these colors! The red tiles just splash against the black and white parts of the home’s design. It’s such a modern look and creates this amazing contrast with the forest in the background. What a visually stunning spot to relax.
Focus on Deck Details
Why not build a deck all the way around your pool? I think this is such a great way to create a space for lounging. It also helps the pool blend in more naturally with the rest of your hardscaping. Add in some lighting and a patio area, and you’ve got the perfect spot for entertaining.
Try a Plunge Pool
A plunge pool is a small, deep pool. It’s usually filled with cold water, which is amazing for refreshing yourself after a sauna. I love how this one is surrounded by all that lush greenery, vines, and a palm tree.
Some unique lights brighten up the pool and the nearby chairs. A plunge pool like this can really add to your yard’s design if you work it in beautifully.
Don’t Forget the Hot Tub
I love this idea! Rectangular hot tubs are just perfect for smaller yards. They fit so well against an angled wall and take up less space than other pool ideas. This one is so clever! It uses the yard wall to double as a disappearing waterfall. How gorgeous is that?
Try a Stock Tank Pool
If you want a budget-friendly pool, a stock tank is definitely the way to go. It’s cheaper and easier than other ideas. These steel wonders got so popular on Instagram, and the trend just took off because everyone saw how appealing they look.
You’ll have so much fun in a yard like this! This one has a stock pool with gravel and pavers around it, plus a stone path from the house. The back porch has a grill and seating. It looks totally ready for a party.
Honestly, a stock tank pool is such an effortless solution if you want a pool without the high cost or maintenance. It needs almost no installation, is simple to clean, and with just a little TLC, it can be so aesthetically pleasing.
Photo Credit: houseofbutterfield via Instagram
You can also add some privacy and color with a bright mural next to your pool. This one used metal with a wood frame, a coat of primer, and then a simple mural was painted on. Add some modern pool loungers and potted cacti, and the space feels complete.
This reflective oasis is so charming. The sides are covered to match the surroundings. A walkway leads you through a lush garden with plastic pink flamingos, and a partial deck is built around the pool. It gives you some great places to sit and just unwind.
Get a Mediterranean Vibe
You can achieve that Mediterranean look right in your backyard. I love the clean lines of the white stucco, the red-tiled roofs, and those lifelike hues from the rocky cliffs that surround the clear blue water.
Get Inspired by Nature
Pools that look natural are so popular right now, but getting your pool to look like a natural pond can come with a big price tag.
Using natural stone, neutral colors, and elegantly placed fountains can do the trick. Just be ready for a larger budget if you want that natural look and want to create dimension with stone.
Create a Hillside Experience
Here’s another hillside idea. This pool is welcomed by a patio walkway that just blends effortlessly into the landscape around it. I love how the rock gardens allow foliage to be incorporated right into the overall design.
Sloping lawns really are a great friend to an above ground pool. You get the best of both worlds with comfortable access, fun materials on the pool siding, and the delight of cool water.
Keep it Simple with an Inflatable Pool
Who says an inflatable pool can’t look amazing? If you don’t want to commit to a permanent pool, you can still enjoy an inflatable whirlpool. This one is all decked out with a wood deck and a privacy wall. The string lighting and other accessories really pull the whole space together.
Enjoy the Ocean View
Pools are such a favored addition to an oceanfront property. They add extra depth to that endless water horizon and give you a salt-free way to cool off. If you live near the ocean, this timeless beauty is one you should definitely think about copying.
Use Your Home’s Structure
This tri-level home really takes full advantage of its different floor heights. I love this spacious walkout deck! It has room for both indoor and outdoor lounging areas plus a comfortable poolscape.
If your house can accommodate this, it’s such a great idea because it integrates so well with the home’s design.
Design for Small Spaces
Just because your outdoor area is small doesn’t mean you can’t use that space! Pools come in all shapes and sizes. A lap pool, for example, is perfect for this long but narrow backyard.
Even small urban backyards can look larger with smart architectural choices. Here, the tall columns mimic the length of the trees and the pool siding. It draws your eye upwards and finishes the look of a serene, private oasis.
Fake an Inground Look
You can contain an above ground pool with your raised deck to get that inground feel without the huge installation cost.
I think this is one of the best ideas. It can be done with lots of existing deck heights and pool styles, and it gives you plenty of space to sit back and enjoy.
Even if your pool was an afterthought, you can still install it close to your deck to create that inground feel. With the right plants and greenery on your deck and in the yard, creating the perfect place for rest and relaxation is totally a reality.
Create a Serene Retreat
An above ground pool is so great for swimming and unwinding, but it can also be a lovely garden feature. This one features a large water element, a stone front, pretty plants, lighting, and large round stepping stones. Just beautiful.
Consider a Lap Pool
You don’t need a huge yard to enjoy a pool. This rooftop lap pool is amazing! It even has a simple waterfall design that overlooks the city. It’s such a modern version of a rustic retreat.
Swimming is such a great low-impact way to stay in shape. Lap pools can be awkward, but they don’t have to be, especially if you make it part of your outdoor entertaining area like this one.
You can really take advantage of smaller backyard spaces and use them for both a cooling dip and a beautiful view. I love how the mixed materials and lighting in this one create a fun atmosphere you can enjoy day or night.
This modern lap pool is one of my favorites. It has sleek tile and LED lighting. These touches are used to make the pool part of the home’s architecture and add even more appeal to the landscape.
Add a Pool Skirt
Let your above ground pool show off your style with one of these awesome pool skirts. They are made to fit different pool sizes and will keep your space looking trendy and so stylish.
Encircle it with Brick Pavers
This above ground pool was set in a corner of the yard and has a really remarkable deck made from pavers. A wooden walkway gives you a spot to get in and out of the pool.
Mulch and a wide variety of plants and flowers surround it. This makes for a very comfortable place to take a dip.
A Soothing Natural Retreat
Using an absence of color in architectural design can be done for a great reason, especially if shadows like these are cast against such a rich background. Pools can come in all shapes and sizes, and they can often add that pop of color needed to finish the look of an outdoor living space.
Surround it with Nature
What a lovely setting for an above ground pool. There are enormous trees and gorgeous flowers all around it. Some landscaping has been done with a path that leads right to the pool.
Go for Modern Marble
A hillside is used here to create an inground/above ground pool and living area with a scenic waterfall backdrop. This classic patio space makes such a bold statement with its daring designs and contrasting colors and materials.
Enjoy Night Swimming Serenity
The best part about having your own backyard pool is that it’s always open. You can go for a nighttime swim whenever you want!
This above ground pool has a huge deck with built-in benches, lounge chairs, and a gazebo with hanging string lights. It’s perfect for a swim, day or night.
You can also create a dual-purpose design. This one works as a pool by day and a lit-up landscaping fountain by night. Tile is the ideal material for this because of how it reflects the light for a contemporary look.
I love the right angles and clear glass here. They create a day-and-night atmosphere for this lap pool. The open floorplan spreads from the home to the yard for year-round entertaining.
A Nature-Inspired Design
The stonework on this semi-above ground pool just reminds me of an Italian villa. This backyard getaway really has it all. The large potted plants around the pool and the water feature help you feel like you’re getting away without ever leaving home.
Here’s another nature-inspired design. This pool is built into rock walls and landscaping for backyard enjoyment. You can use the pool in a way that makes it part of the landscape design, so it serves more than one function.
Relax and Enjoy
This above ground pool is surrounded by all kinds of relaxing places to sit, eat, and entertain. The long table has floor cushions and blankets, which makes it feel so comfortable even when the weather gets colder.
Add Privacy Walls
If a lap pool seems like a good idea, why not make it part of your yard’s boundary? This concrete design extends the property line and also gives you a private place to work out and relax. So smart.
Use a Hill to Your Advantage
Using a hillside for your above ground pool is a really clever technique, especially if you’re willing to put a little foresight into your landscape design.
Build a Rock Wall Pool
Here’s another pool that looks like it was part of the natural landscape. It was designed with all the surrounding greenery in mind. It includes both a wide rock patio wall and deep planters so the greenery can continue.
Add a Designer Deck
A standard above ground pool is easily incorporated into this backyard. It has a walk-up deck from a shady veranda. In-ground pools are often hard to integrate into hillsides, so designs like this are just perfect for backyard pools.
Create a Desert Oasis
Nothing feels more invigorating than cool, blue water in a dry desert landscape. This distinct pool has the added appeal of a plexiglass retaining wall.
It emulates the house’s architectural design in the background and gives you a better view of the desert colors. It’s the ultimate choice for a desert terrain.
Make a Simple Backyard Getaway
Some climates just call for a cool body of water in the summer. This simple pool has easily become part of the patio walkout. I love its easy accessibility and inviting cool waters.
Nothing is worse than tracking dirt and grass into the pool. I know I’d have to be the one to clean it! A deck helps, but stone walkways are great for protecting your pool and keeping wet feet from picking up more debris on the way to and from the water.
Stagger the Heights
Above ground pools can be used in so many ways. Look at this pond and waterfall-inspired pool! It’s built right into the hillside that leads up to an outdoor patio. The bottom part is in the ground, but the upper part is on top, giving this space a ton of different heights and dimensions.
Use a Rustic Design
You can blend living, natural hues in with your pool design to get a complete rustic look. These private pools look as if they just rose up from the landscape to give you relief from the summer heat.
Add a Water Feature
The newest addition to this gorgeous pool was an affordable pool fountain. It sits by the border and creates such a soothing water flow. Also, just look at the gorgeous additions of bright white flowers, the lounge space, and that covered deck. Perfection.
Create Blissful Lounging
When you’re building a deck for your pool, you don’t have to enclose it completely. A partial deck can give you total lounging privacy and still offer easy pool access for swimming and maintenance.
Go with a Large Free-Floating Deck
If you’ve always wanted a deck off your house but didn’t have the right doorway, think about creating a free-floating deck in your backyard to hold your pool. This layout is one of the most functional ideas, and you should definitely give it a good look.
Make the Most of a Deck
Decks are really an extension of your living space. So why not make it a relaxing escape by incorporating a pool into the design? It’s just like having the country club in your own backyard!
Add a Stone Wall
If you want a truly high-end look, you have to see this idea. It has a gorgeous stone facade that’s lit up by garden lights. And can we talk about the nearby deck? It has a pizza oven! That is just perfect for a pizza pool party on a summer day.
Make a Brick Walkway
There’s no need to leave the space around your pool empty. Lavish brick walkways with plenty of room for lounging easily incorporate your pool into the yard design. Add in a few oversized planters and bright flowers to complete the look.
