These proven swimming pool and landscaping design principles will help you focus on key areas which make your living space truly function, saving you money and ultimately adding value to your home.
However, if your budget permits, engaging the services of a qualified landscape architect who specialises in swimming pool design will ensure your pool sits harmoniously in your garden and complements your home.
Existing features
The current position of your building’s underground services and play equipment will influence your pool’s design and location. If feasible, some utilities can be relocated, or the pool designed to consider these existing features.
New features
- Pool safety fencing: Pool fencing, cleverly designed to be discrete and compliant with all swimming pool safety standards, is achieved by careful forward thinking. Glass fencing is automatically discrete and by simply keeping it clean will further obscure its presence. You will minimise dry salt stains by placing glass fence panels at least a metre from the water’s edge. Additionally, you will benefit by allowing easy access around the pool.
- Pool equipment and filtration system: Ideally, locate your equipment near your pool for maximum efficiency and reduced running costs. Equipment hidden from view will result in an aesthetically pleasing result. The most convenient location for equipment is down the side of your house with your other services.
- Outdoor living and BBQ areas: There is a strong relationship between your kitchen and outdoor eating spaces. For convenience, locate these areas close to one another. Preferably position outdoor living areas to provide or take advantage of afternoon shade.
- Clothes line, rubbish bins: To maintain high standards, it's desirable to locate these facilities in discrete service areas away from your line of site.
Swimming pool design & dimensions:
Customising your swimming pool and surrounds to complement your architecture will instantly beautify your home. When designing your pool consider these questions:
- How do you want to use your pool?
- Are you a swimmer and like to do laps?
- Do you entertain and expect multiple families enjoying a swim?
- Do you have a small courtyard and would like to create a usable water feature and focal point?
Swimming pool location:
Glamorise your home by making your pool the focal point.
- Visibility & views: Maximise the wow factor by making your pool the focal point. Imagine a panoramic view of a sparkling swimming pool beautifully framed by your living room window. You’ll gain year-round enjoyment and parents can easily supervise children from inside the home.
- Aspect: Where possible, position the pool to maximise free energy from the sun. Take advantage of the sunlight by facing sun lounges to the north or west. Shade near the pool area is always inviting because it provides relief from the afternoon sun, protects people with sensitive skin and is a place to enjoy a refreshing drink.
- Open desired views: You can exploit attractive views of parklands or large trees on neighbouring properties by blurring fence boundaries with careful planting. This effect, commonly known as borrowed landscaping gives the impression your property is larger because adjacent trees will appear to be growing on your land.
- Screen undesired views: Planting hedges or the inclusion of a feature wall is a great way to screen out undesired views. Your neighbour’s house, a garden shed, power poles or the clothes line are distracting and best hidden from view if possible.
- Privacy: Screen your neighbour’s viewpoints with planting, feature walls or by simply raising your fence height with lattice. Outdoor eating areas are best located away from your neighbour’s sitting area.
Planting around your swimming pool
For excellent long-term results, take into consideration your plants’ growth rate, size and maturity.
- Plants located in the swimming pools splash zone will more likely flourish if selected based on their resistance to pool chemicals and saline water.
- Select plants adapted to your environment and soil type.
- Guarantee lower weekly maintenance by avoiding the cultivation of large leaf plants and messy eucalypt trees because they can quickly block your skimmer basket and filtration system.
- Avoid plants that produce thorns or attract bees and wasps.
Swimming pool Accessories
Choosing the right accessories to suit your lifestyle will provide long term benefits. Cheap, clumsily fitted equipment simply will not do, ever. Your filter, pumps, chlorinators, chemical controllers, in-floor cleaning systems and solar heater work together like a life support system for your swimming pool. Each doing their part to clean, sanitise, balance and warm the water. Selecting high performance equipment is absolutely the best way to achieve a trouble-free low maintenance experience. Cheap undersized equipment will naturally perform poorly.
Spending a little extra on imaginative pool design and landscaping will add value, enjoyment, and be a fantastic addition to your home’s architectural landscape.