Backyard pools are one of my favorite projects to design. I love creating a resort style oasis for my clients to enjoy with friends and family. There are standard elements that we try to add to any of our outdoor living area plans. These include a patio for dining sets, lounge chairs, trees, shrubs or planters with a covered area to protect you from bad weather and sun light. If we are trying to create one of these high end outdoor living areas, I will generally incorporate a fabulous pool waterfall like this one. These fairly easy to install features bring that element of surprise to your design. Most people dont expect to see something like this in a residential backyard, but are so delighted when we bring the idea to the table.There are a few outstanding features though, that can really take pool landscaping to the next level. This home is a great idea of how to incorporate wow factor decor elements into your backyard. The whole design just exudes luxury living, from the lounge area to the lovely crisp blue waters and everything in between.

Pool landscaping ideas are one of those things that are hard to translate into your own home because few of us have a sprawling estate like this one. Most of the designs I see feature huge homes with lots of room in the backyard to add large patio areas, fountains, and landscaping. I certainly love the look of this yard, with the beautiful pool, lush greenery, and quant stone pathway, but Im not quite sure how I can translate it to my smaller yard. To start, my thought is that I should keep my pool landscaping fairly minimal and focus more on the base of the design (ie the deck). I want to mimic the large geometric stone design that this inspiration home has. It seems like it would be quite cost effective because they are so large and (I presume) quick to install. Then I can use the same stones to create a pathway in the grass like they did. I have seen landscape blocks at my local home improvement store that are quite inexpensive and come in a number of colors. Grey would be my first choice but I could also go with more of a sandstone color.

On a recent vacation we stayed at a gorgeous home that had a lap pool in the back. This is something I had never considered at part of residential design, but it is actually brilliant. Look how miniature it is compared to a normal size pool or spa. I love how the waterfall feature drips right in and almost gives it the look of a large fountain. I have been wanting to add a pool in our backyard for some time now but I was always put off by the size and expense. Inground pools tend to take up so much room in the yard and that, combined with the concrete deck space, would have taken over the entire landscape. Despite the luxury of having a pool, it just wasnt worth it to me. A small lap pool, on the other hand, takes up minimal room but is large enough to exercise or simply float and enjoy the outdoors. Even better, with the right pool landscaping, you can even nestle it into the yard so that it looks like a pond or barely seen at all. I think this idea opens so many doors for people who thought their yard was simply too smmall for a feature like this.

This is a fantastic bit of inspiration to add to my catalogue of backyard pool ideas. I love the asymmetrical layout, organic pool shape, neon colors, and tiling detail around the hot tub. The artistic landscape lighting is a key element in setting the mood here. The orange lights flanking the pool feel like stylized torches which, paired with the patio columns, give this backyard a unique ancient-meets-contemporary feel. The pool landscaping also contributes to this mood, with plants in Greek-inspired vases. The thing I like most about this landscaping is that it makes the space feel green without using many plants, which means this design requires very little maintenance. You would be able to enjoy your new pool without worrying about weeding or trimming or clipping, which is a plus for anyone who has experienced an elaborate, demanding yard. I will definitely be saving this photo for the next time I remodel.

After months of hard work, our house has finally become a home. During the initial move, we saw the incredible potential for the outdoor space. Our first addition was the tall trees and landscaping bushes, as they both heighten the beauty and privacy of our backyard. We also wanted a patio, but we wanted it to add to the layout of the backyard, as we already had an incredible light-colored landscape edging. Giving a fire pit and comfy chairs, made it perfect. The last part of our backyard renovation was our pool. It is large and open, but it just did not flow with the rest of the space. After a bit of consideration, we completed our pool landscaping with the same light-colored edging. Now our backyard is not only the perfect place to host guest, but also my favorite spot to retreat to after a long day.

I have always wanted a pool in our backyard but figured that it would be too expensive. Surprisingly an inground pool cost is not as high as I was expecting, so I decided that we are going to install one with my bonus check this year. For this reason, I have spent the last few weeks browsing pool designs online to help me narrow down the style I want. So far, this fantastic home is my favorite backyard that I have found. I love how the pool deck and adjoining entertaining space are set amidst this large lawn. It still feels like a lush landscaped backyard as opposed to confined cold concrete patio space. Im pretty sure that the key to this look is the pool landscaping. They created areas of bright green shrubs and other low plants, that are at the same height as the stone pavers retaining walls and benches. This technique does not distract the eye from the inground pool, but does add pops of natural elements to break up all of the concrete. I also really like the adjoining spa feature. With something like that you can enjoy your pool area during both the winter and the summertime.