5 Pool Design Ideas For a Large Yard

If you’re dreaming of a back yard oasis with a pool, you may also be looking at homes that do not have an existing pool, but that have large enough yards that you could install one. Sometimes it’s tempting to simply look for the most possible space without considering what is involved in planning, locating and installing attractive features in an oversized back yard.

Space Is Not All Equal

Bigger is not always better if you don’t have any idea how to fill that space. If  you have a large yard, it can be daunting to bring it into “human scale” so that it’s not only pretty to look at, but also usable and not overly difficult to maintain. A pool can be less than inviting if it is just set in the middle of a grassy area, but if you connect it visually and functionally with other elements that you like, you will not only make a style statement, but you will likely also increase your home’s value.

Planning begins with a Plan

Whether you are moving into a new house or adding a pool to your existing home, begin with the site plan. Make sure your plan is to scale, and that any existing features such as walls, fences, retaining walls and patios are included. Inspect the house itself. Note location of hose bibs, utilities, electrical outlets and irrigation lines. Draw in existing planting areas and trees.

Finally, check with local officials about specific requirements for your area. Also ascertain what permits and inspections will be needed to approve the features that you plan to install. This is probably the time to call a pool company, but you might also want to consult with a landscape designer or a local gardener, unless you are very sure what you want.

What Can You Add to the Yard?

Here are 5 great ideas for you to consider:

1. Add a screened gazebo with dining space, and locate it between the pool and the grilling area.
2. Create an expansive outdoor kitchen and entertaining space. Add a low bench wall to which you can add comfortable cushions and pots full of flowering plants. Either create a covered area for shade, or plan to have tables and chairs with folding umbrellas to use as needed.
3. Install a second body of water to serve as a Koi pond. If your yard is large enough, site it so it can be crossed with a “Japanese” low bridge on your way to the pool.
4. Add a party pavilion on the far side of the pool; add a refrigerator and a built in ice maker, as well as a sound system to make those pool parties really special.
5. If your pool will have an integral or a remote hot tub or spa, why not create a truly sybaritic scene with an outdoor shower set near a waterfall or in the midst of a private landscaped garden. Surround it with shrubbery to create a truly private space, and include a single lounge for private sunbathing.

Coordinate your installed background landscape plantings with strategically-located pots for seasonal flowers or plan a miniature sculpture garden with a pair of arches, a flagstone pathway, a sitting garden for two, a Victorian gazing ball or a quiet hideaway for a private nap.

If you’re new to the area, it’s important that you work with a local landscape expert or gardener. If you want a yard that’s as easy to care for as it is attractive, it’s imperative to know what plants will thrive in your environment. Also, choosing native plants is an ecologically sound way to landscape. Coordinate not only the size of the pool, but the placement of the equipment with your landscape designer. Plan logical paths to and from the house and between the various yard elements you include.

If you have children, consider adding a beach — you can bring playground sand into your yard even if you have a pool. Just install it in a fenced area, then add a foot bath and a squiggly colorful hose sprayer between the “beach” and the shallow end of the pool. The kids will love it and it will help keep sand out of the skimmer.

Your budget will, of course, be the ultimate guide to what you can do in your back yard, but if you can dream it and are willing to pay for it, chances are you will be able to find a contractor to make it happen. You’ll find a lot of ideas online by looking at luxury home listings or perusing ideas on sites such as Pinterest or Houzz.com.

Most importantly, whether it’s a new pool or a redo of your existing pool, have fun with it. Remember, that’s the reason for having a pool in the first place.

2 Point Highlight

If your pool will have an integral or a remote hot tub or spa, why not create a truly sybaritic scene with an outdoor shower set near a waterfall or in the midst of a private landscaped garden.

A pool can be less than inviting if it is just set in the middle of a grassy area, but if you connect it visually and functionally with other elements that you like, you will not only make a style statement, but you will likely also increase your home’s value.