So I basically moved on from that idea and turned to looking for more inexpensive ways that we could still get a backyard pool this year. I am thinking that one of these smaller lap pool designs is the way to go because it is less costly to build and maintain, plus they look a little bit more luxurious in my opinion.

A lap pool is one of my favorite elements to use in a backyard design to make it both visually appealing as well as so much more functional for the homeowner. In the past, I believe that both designers and clients viewed small pool designs as a negative thing. However, with all of the awesome new materials available to us today, I think that they are actually the preferred pool style because you can get so much more creative with them. For the most part, creating a huge and over the top swimming pool design that have huge boulders and waterslides is just cost prohibitive for many homeowners. You can create a similar vibe at a fraction of the cost if you just decrease the scale of the project. Plus, as you can see from these photos, reducing the size certainly does not take away from the overall wow-factor of the space.

While doing some research for the lap pool we plan on installing this summer, I came across this epic mansion and now I think that I will never be satisfied with a regular home again! Haha. I mean check this place out! I can't really tell where the interior of the home ends and the outdoor entertaining area begins because all of the glass walls and open air concept makes everything feel like one large space. Not to mention, their small inground pools actually go inside and underneath the roof so that they are right up against the indoor/outdoor living area. That was a brilliant move from a practical standpoint because part of the pool is shaded, plus it makes the entire design just look more impressive. I would not be surprised if we see more of this in upcoming pool ideas 2022, because I think that it is a fantastic technique that could really take off.

I am so glad that the lap pool is making a comeback because I think that they are one of the most undervalued features available to you as a home owner. Sure it would be nice to have one of those huge resort-style inground pool designs but, let's face it, most homeowners do not have the space or the budget to accommodate one. A small single lane pool offers you the fun and function of a larger pool, but takes up a fraction of the space and cost to install. Not to mention, the best lap pools actually become an amazing decorative element in the backyard. You can do so many awesome things with tile, fountains, waterfalls, fire elements, and lighting that may not have been possible in your standard rectangular swimming pool.

The reason I love this website is because there are so many ideas that I simply would have never come up with on my own. Like take this lap pool for example -- what an amazing way to utilize the awkward long alley-type space on the side of this home! It would have been pretty useless as a yard or garden of any type because it is so shaded by the retaining wall. However, using this space to get creative with swimming pool ideas was brilliant and definitely increased the value of the property. While we don't necessarily have a long and narrow space like this at our current house, but it really makes me want to look at more pool pictures so that I can figure out the types of things that might work well for us and our own property quirks.

Well I came on here looking for ideas for a lap pool and came away inspired by this stunning back yard with huge (full size) pool. We live in Colorado, so this cross between rustic and modern style architecture is definitely right up our alley. I have not seen many backyard pool designs that full take advantage of decor like this, but his landscape architect really knew what they were doing from that respect. While our house is certainly not this large or grand, I do think that I can take away inspiration from what they did and translate it into a look that would work for us. It is definitely a fantastic resource for my own diy pool planning process, and I am curious to see if we can come up with something that imitates this in some capacity. Stay tuned!