These Creative Swimming Pool Designs Will Make a Splash In Your Backyard (2024)

FAQs

What is a pool called that you can walk into? ›

A beach entry pool, often called a zero entry pool, gets its name from the fact that it, well, looks like a beach. As you walk into the shallow end, the water gets deeper with every step, giving you an experience similar to wading into a lake or ocean.

Start by choosing a suitable location for your new pool, then deciding on your preferred shape and depth. You'll then hire out a building crew, who will excavate the area, add the necessary plumbing and electrical wiring elements, and finally pour concrete or insert a water-retentive liner before filling the pool.

Choose a Basic Pool Shape

Opting for a rectangular or square pool will help keep costs lower compared to more complex shapes. As you now know, rectangular and square designs are often the cheapest pool shapes. They require fewer materials and less labor, and they offer efficient use of space.

Lower upfront costs - Vinyl liner pools are known as the cheapest inground pools to build.

Zero-entry pools, also known as 'beach-entry pools' or 'walk-in pools', are a style of swimming pool people characterised by their sloping entrance. Unlike traditional pools, zero-entry pools replace bulky stairs and ladders with a slope, creating a seamless transition between land and water.

A lazy river is a water ride found in water parks, hotels, resorts, and recreation centers, which usually consists of a shallow (2.5–3.5-foot (0.76–1.07 m)) pool that flows similarly to a river. There is generally a slow current, usually just enough to allow guests to gently ride along lying on rafts.

Not only are concrete pools the most popular and highly customizable, but they have the longest lifespan compared to vinyl liner and fiberglass pools. Concrete pools do require a little more maintenance than the fiberglass and vinyl options, but these pools will last much longer with proper care.

Choosing lighter pool colors can create the illusion of more space and make your pool more of a focal point within your backyard. Pearlescent white shades or lighter grays and blues can really make your pool pop and stand out more!

Some of the more popular choices include tiles, pavers, composite wood, brick and stamped concrete. Even ordinary pavers take on a luxurious feel when they're laid in an interesting pattern. For a modern look, opt for large tiles made from slate or some other natural stone.

What shape of inground pool is best? ›

Functionality. Rectangular pools are best for laps or sports. Do you want to be able to dive? Choose a shape, such as a rectangle, lazy 'L' or kidney that can easily include a deep end.

The short answer is yes, it is possible to build your own inground swimming pool. With the demand for inground pools surging, many people believe they will save money and get their fiberglass pool installed faster if they opt to do a do-it-yourself inground pool installation to avoid the wait lists.

Total Time to Build a Pool: 8 to 12 Weeks on Average

After designing, acquiring permits, excavating, installing the shell or gunite, and finishing with a deck or patio, you can finally enjoy your backyard oasis!

The most used areas in the pool will always be areas where you can sit or lie down below water level. So pay attention to step, beach and bench areas. Build areas like spas and steps so they are either built internally within the overall pool shape or half in/half out.

And while you might want to DIY your pool to save money, this will likely end up costing you a lot more in the long run (we'll show you how below). Because of this, it's often not a good idea to DIY your pool. You should stick to the professional pool contractors.

Once again, absolutely yes. You simply need the right framework and resources in order to achieve this goal. Building your own inground pool doesn't mean you'll be taking your shovel to 1.5 tons of dirt, but it does mean hiring the right professionals to do the dig.

Let's dive into the numbers and break down the “average small inground pool cost” for each option. As a quick recap, small fiberglass pools typically range from $40,000 to $80,000 or more, small concrete pools from $80,000 to $100,000 or more, and small vinyl liner pools from $30,000 to $60,000 or more.

The cheapest and most ecologically sound way to build a swimming pool is simply to hollow a hole in the ground. You can make your pool as shallow or as deep as you want, but the key is to make sure the sides slope: Otherwise the soil will cave in. The ratio should be a 1-foot vertical drop for every 3 horizontal feet.