I have been surprised to see the strides that vendors have made in the look and style of above ground pools. Previously they looked to me like a cheap alternative to an inground design. But now they have invented installation techniques that make above ground swimming pools with decks just as attractive (if not more so) than your traditional in ground pool. For example, I was shocked when we went to our friends house and saw the new pool that they installed off their patio. They have a raised deck so they just extended the design and and added in a rectangular above ground pools. You would never know that it cost half the price of an inground pool because it looks just as elegant and high end.

I am so glad to see that above ground pools are becoming trendy again because I think that they are an awesome way to add a water feature to areas that you cannot dig in (like along the beach). The best above ground swimming pools make it so much more simple and cost effective to build in harder to work with terrain like sand, swampy areas, and other generally unstable soil conditions. These are not your grandmothers above ground pools either. As you can see from these pool pictures, you can make absolutely stunning designs that look just like their in ground counterparts (if not better). The key to achieving these high end looks is to pick an elegant liner (I love this deep blue one) and build a deck around it to tie in the rest of the patio areas.

Isn't this such a brilliant ideas to instal above ground pools shielded from the sun in the unused area underneath beach homes that are built high up to protect against hurricanes. Above ground pool prices are so much cheaper than their inground counterpoints and, with a design like this, you can make good use of those forgotten spaces. This is a fantastic idea if your primary goal is to use it for exercise, because you can swim laps tucked away from the harmful sun rays and be nice and shaded so you don't over heat. If I had a beach house (I wish!) I would definitely install a small above ground pool just like this for this very purpose. I can't imagine how lovely it would be to wake up and walk downstairs to your very own private pool.

I am so surprised to see that above ground pools are trending this year because I have always thought of them as a quick fix if you cannot afford to install some type of in ground design. It has become clear to me that these are not the diy pool projects of the past -- you can actually create really high end designs complete with unique shapes, high end liners and even spa components. I had never thought about the fact that this type of pool would be fantastic for areas like by a salt marsh like this, that you really cannot dig into the ground because of tides and whatnot. With these pool designs, you are still able to create an awesome outdoor entertaining area in unconventional locations (for probably a lot cheaper too).

When most people (including myself) think of above ground pools, they picture those round vinyl lined units encased in a raised wood deck to provide structure. While there is certainly nothing wrong with those designs, I prefer backyard pool ideas that feel more permanent and well thought out. I thought that this meant you need to dig out an unground pool, but I was wrong. Believe it or not this gorgeous infinity pool is actually built above the ground. In my opinion, the best above ground pool like this appear to float on your property and create a cool architectural detail. This unique design certainly does just that, while still highlighting the gorgeous view and well maintained landscaping.

As far as above ground pools go, this minimalistic ocean front design is by far one of my favorites that I have seen lately. In my opinion, the best swimming pools are ones that are not overly fancy and gaudy but, rather, quite simple and elegant that still bring an element of design to your yard. One of my favorite aspects of this particular design is the fact that the curved wood deck drops immediately into the pool rather than having some sort of decorative board around it. It gives it the cool modern look of a lot of those above ground pool decks, but with all of the benefits of an in ground design. I bet it was quite expensive to custom cut all of those curves but, in my opinion, the cost was very worth it.