Backyard Pool Designs

These backyard pool designs are very high on my list of properties to replicate at our home.  Ever since I was little, I have always wanted one of those grotto-like inground swimming pools that look like it is somehow a naturally occurring pond or something in the backyard.  Some people take it a little overboard with huge rock formations, palm trees, and a lot more jungle-esque elements, but I much prefer the subtly of this particular design.  To me it almost looks like this could actually naturally occur on the property rather than it being an obviously man made element.  In my opinion their key to success was choosing backyard pool landscaping that mimics the trees and bushes that were in their yard to begin with rather than bringing in completely contrasting plants. 

I came on here in search of some backyard pool designs for our property, but went down a rabbit hole of mansions featuring to-die-for pools that I could only dream of having.  I am definitely not looking for your standard rectangular swimming pool design -- I want something that is definitely more unique and adds a really cool look to our backyard.  This awesome wavy cross-shaped design is definitely a contender but probably too large (and expensive) for our space.  Even if we did not copy the shape, I love the other subtle details of the backyard pool ideas that take it from ordinary to that "oh my gosh dream pool" design.

I have always thought that rectangular backyard pool designs are boring and, quite frankly, a waste of money because they just don't bring anything unique or eye catching to the yard.  Sure I want a fun pool to play in during the summer as much as the next person,  but I want it to be something that enhances the beauty of our backyard rather than just kind of be a blah feature back there.  These swimming pool pictures definitely proved me wrong about rectangular/geometric pool shapes.  I actually really like this twist on a standard geometric pool design because the shape is a little different than what you usually see, and the deep indigo liner looks very high end and stands out beautifully against the lush green lawn.

This is one of my favorite backyard pool designs that I have seen on here because it is large and open, yet still leaves a large beautiful lawn in their yard. Based on all of the photos that I have looked at lately, I think that pool designs fall into two major categories.  Some people basically take over their entire backyard with the pool and deck, removing the majority of grass and replacing it with hardscaping elements like cement or paver stone patios and rocks.  The other set of people really concentrates on greenery and pool landscaping ideas, retaining a good portion of the lawn and also incorporating bushes and shrubs boarding the pool itself.

I love looking at these absolutely incredible backyard pool designs by my favorite landscape architect.  This is a local guy (well company) that always manages to create stunning and incredibly unique inground pool designs that can really take a home to the next level in terms of value and ability to sell.  The key to his designs (in my opinion anyways) is how he always installs really cool and colorful lighting so that your outdoor entertaining areas are just as stunning, if not more so, at night than they are during the day.  This single feature makes these spaces so much more functional as well as decorative, and is one of those "wow factors" that really stands apart from the majority of trending pool ideas 2020.

Looking at all of these backyard pool designs really makes me wish that I had millions of dollars to purchase one of these absolutely gorgeous mansions.  Obviously the pool decorating ideas that these people use are quite a bit more elaborate than anything I (or must of us) could afford but they are still fun to look at and to mimic on a much smaller scale.  We have a small inground pool no where near as large as this one, but I would love to bring some of this colorful tropical landscaping into our backyard design.  I am thinking that if I get some stucco planters and fill them with brightly colored flowers like they did, that would be a start to recreating this look.