The best patio pool ideas transform a standard rectangle of blue into a cohesively designed multi-purpose space for you to enjoy in addition to your swim. Combining beauty and functionality, customising your poolside area to suit your personal taste means you get the most out of it.
There are lots of tricks to make the most of your chosen swimming pool ideas so you can celebrate your poolscape, whether it's the main event in your garden design or a tucked away asset that feels like a secluded retreat.
From choosing the right planting and paving for your pool patio to innovative ways to hide your space from view, our favourite ideas will turn your poolscape into something extra special.
1. Choose luxe poolside paving
A blend of old and new is the narrative behind the design of this beautiful pool area in a traditional farmhouse cottage garden that sits at the foot of the Mendip Hills in North Somerset.
"The brief was to create a swimming pool," explains Will Cooke, founder and managing director of Bristol-based Artisan Landscapes. "Then it developed, and we ended up designing quite an extensive cantilevered-roofed pool house, which is the main feature of the garden alongside the swimming pool." The pool house comprises a kitchen, dining space and sunken seating area.
A key element of this swimming pool landscaping is the paving used for the pool surround. Will chose Buscot Limestone with a tumbled and etched finish, which was also used for the relaxation areas.
"The clients had decided on a finishing material on the inside of the pool to create an aquamarine water colour, and we wanted to mimic that with the stone used around the swimming pool," he explains.
The patio planting ideas were designed to complement the stone in the garden too. "It concentrates on balancing the colour of the local red stone and the neutral putty-coloured limestone, while introducing some plants that really popped with colour," says Will.
Will Cooke is Artisan Landscape's managing director. His breadth of experience has provided him with the knowledge, skills and professional insight needed to oversee and manage all areas of landscaping projects. Artisan is a multi-award winning landscape consultation, design, construction and maintenance company. They are known for horticultural expertise, considered design and expertly delivered projects that have gained them awards with The Association of Professional Landscapers, The Society of Garden Designers and the RHS.
2. Blend the pool into the landscape
This sleek, high-performance pool design by Mermaid Pools blends seamlessly into the modern landscape of the garden in Sevenoaks, Kent. The stunning stone patio surround is a Bespoke Milled Natural Stone in Fossil Pearl.
"Patio surrounds for pools are a fantastic way to extend your living space and create a seamless transition between pool and garden," says Gareth Davies, design director at Classic Interiors.
"Many modern patio pool ideas, like modular garden paving ideas or decking kits, are designed with easy installation in mind. This means you don’t need to be a pro to lay them yourself, as long as you prepare the ground properly and follow the supplier’s guidelines."
One popular approach is using natural stone tiles around the pool edge, explains Gareth. "These materials are durable and slip-resistant, making them practical as well as attractive. Because they come in uniform sizes, installation tends to be straightforward and can be done over a few days, depending on the size of the area."
Gareth Davies is design director at Classic Interiors. He oversees all projects created by the design team, and enjoys taking on client projects of his own, as time allows. His design philosophy is to keep it simple. At Classic Interiors he ensures their design team put a huge emphasis on understanding what the client wants to achieve with the space.
3. Turn the poolside patio into extra living space
When planning a pool patio, think about how it connects with the rest of your garden so that it becomes a functional space in addition to being a recreation area.
Think beyond adding a sun lounger or two. Instead this could mean maxing up the space by adding an outdoor living room to the pool area, such as in this design by Cresta Leisure. As well as a sun lounging area there is a separate outdoor living room set-up for socialising poolside.
"Using similar materials or colours to your existing garden paths and borders helps create a unified look," says Gareth Davies. "Adding planting beds or low seating walls around the pool patio can soften the edges and make the whole area feel more inviting.
"With good planning and the right materials, a pool patio can transform your garden into a stylish and functional outdoor retreat."
4. Layer up poolside patio planting for privacy
If you want to create a more private space for your pool use large landscaping plants to create a secluded feel, which is particularly helpful if you're overlooked by neighbours.
Layering multiple types of landscaping plants will ensure effective garden screening that turns your poolside area into a private oasis as well as looking so much better than an average fence.
This award-winning modern design by Centurion Leisure features stylish patio pool ideas that include small trees and hedges to help the space feel more private.
An extra layer is added with corten steel planters featuring smart clipped trees and, combined with interesting sculptural pieces, makes for a cool and edgy look that gives the pool area a boutique hotel vibe, as well as creating a sense of privacy.
5. Jump on the porcelain pool patio trend
A highly sustainable and slip-resistant finish makes porcelain one of the favourite picks for creating stunning pool patio ideas. The consistent colour and finish of the stone combined with excellent durability makes it a great choice for your pool project.
"The go-to product at the moment is 20mm thick porcelain, which is considered low maintenance and is also available with good anti-slip ratings," says Jon Herbert, MD of Rockingham Pools, and current chair of the swimming pool industry association SPATA. "Some ranges also have a step edge version of the tile, which has a bullnose, which can be laid as the pool edge stone to complete the look and provide a comfortable edge to the tile."
The edge stone should always be adhered to the top of the pool shell, explains Jon. "But beyond the edge stone, some people are moving towards installing 20mm porcelain on raised pedestal systems. This can aid drainage and allow rain to drain freely below the tile, allowing the paving to be flat."
When designing a pool patio, non-slip porcelain tiles are a great option, agrees María D Arráez, director at Tile of Spain UK. "As they are non-porous, they absorb very little water which is crucial for a pool surround, and therefore prevents the tiles from cracking when challenged in different temperatures."
Unlike other natural materials that can suffer from wear and tear when exposed to the outdoors, porcelain is extremely durable, slip-resistant and chemical-resistant, allowing its appearance to be easily maintained over time. From large format stone-effect to mosaics, there really are no boundaries in terms of aesthetic.
Jon Herbert is the MD of Rockingham Swimming Pools, a company established in 1974 known for its expertise in the construction and maintenance of swimming pools, spas, saunas and steam rooms for both private and commercial clients. Jon currently serves as the Elected Chair for the SPATA National Council (The UK's Swimming Pool and Allied Trades Association). He is also a member of the PIP Committee working to advance the British Water Leisure Industry.
María D Arraez is the UK representative for Tile of Spain. She promotes the creativity, innovation, and versatility of Spanish ceramic tiles, helping connect the industry with British architects and designers.
6. Add shaded areas to your pool patio
Creating shaded spaces both in and around the pool will make it more functional and enjoyable to use. Trees are the perfect solution for all your pool patio shade requirements, but if you don't already have the benefit of trees in your landscaping ideas there are some other easy options to choose from.
A large cantilever parasol can be positioned poolside to give plenty of shade as needed, while installing a large shade sail over your pool will provide enough cover for everyone on sunbaked days. The addition of a strategically placed pergola idea, cabana or pool house can be factored in too, whether you're starting a pool project from scratch or have an existing pool that needs the addition of shaded areas.
Explore patio pool ideas that offer the best of both worlds with a mix of sun and shade spots to suit individual needs while swimming and relaxing. It's also a good idea to add lightweight loungers you can move around to take a break from the sun as required.
Remember if you want to build a structure overhead to offer even more shade you may need swimming pool planning permission.
7. Include a statement pool house
If you have the budget and can increase your swimming pool costs, a pool house turns your garden into a retreat for unwinding after you've enjoyed a swim. If you're entertaining or throwing a pool party it's an essential space for guests to hang out. Even better if the pool house has a built-in bar.
This Oxfordshire pool house by Okopod is a modern design rooted in simplicity and sustainability. This custom structure is sleek and contemporary, thoughtfully softened into the garden with natural materials.
“Charred timber Yakisugi cladding, a sedum roof and bifold doors were introduced to enable an instant connection with the natural surroundings,” explains landscaping expert James Home, founder of Okopod. ”The multi-use space includes a living room area, home office, bathroom and integrated storage.
"We opted for birch plywood walls and waterproof Creo laminate floor from Quick-Step to fit with the Scandi-inspired aesthetic that helps to blur the boundaries to create a real 'interior' feel.”
Every detail has been considered with sustainability and durability in mind. The pool house is built on a zero-concrete, raft foundation system, which enables rapid installation while minimising environmental impact. The pool house opens up to views over the natural swimming pool, a growing trend in sustainable landscaping according to James.
James Home is the founder of Okopod, an innovative specialist in modular buildings located in Cambridge, UK. Founded in 2019 James wanted to build contemporary, premium garden rooms, sustainably and more efficiently than anyone else.
Add a comfy lounger to your pool patio
This stylish lounger is made from Malaysian dark red wood and treated with teak oil, making it durable and water resistant. It features a pullout side tray under the seat.
This foldable sun lounger offers the ideal blend of style, comfort and durability with five reclining positions. The fabric is weatherproof and the sturdy frame is powder-coated steel.
With five positions for extra comfort and relaxation, this recliner also has back wheels for easy movement. Made from durable all-weather PE wicker on a sturdy non-rusting steel frame.
8. Up the luxe factor with a poolside hot tub
One of the best patio pool ideas is to add a hot tub alongside the main event so you can swim then soak with ease in a space that feels like a luxurious backyard oasis. This sleek design by Lagoon Pools adds an unobtrusive hot tub to the patio area at the end of the pool for the best of both worlds.
Placing your hot tub directly next to the pool helps to create a more cohesive design. Surrounding the pool and hot tub with plenty of planting enhances the natural, relaxing vibe.
Adding a freestanding hot tub will elevate any type of swimming pool, and don't forget you can use it in winter too when your pool is off limits. But make sure there is enough room for both without overcrowding the space. You'll want it close enough so moving from one to another is easy but not so close that it feels cramped.
FAQs
What are the key things to consider when choosing a pool surround?
"There are several key things to consider when choosing a pool surround," says Jon Herbert. "The first is to choose something with a good anti-slip rating. When the pool is in use, bathers will be walking around it with wet feet, and you don’t want them slipping over.
"The second thing to consider is the ongoing maintenance. Some finishes, such as natural stone and hardwood decking, require regular maintenance to treat, seal, or clean them.
"Finally, make sure the surround is laid with a fall away from the pool. This both stops puddling and helps prevent dirt and debris from getting washed into the pool with rainfall."
If you don't have the space or budget for a large swimming pool, the latest trend of shipping container swimming pools could be a more suitable option for your patio space.
And don't forget to think about how to heat your swimming pool if you want to ensure it's suitable for use throughout the year.
