Building Material Selection
Inground pools are classified into three types: concrete, vinyl, and fiberglass. When it comes to forming a shape and creating a style, each type of building material has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Ascertain that the design you envision for your pool can be realized in the material you intend to use. Don’t be afraid to do your research: look into different options, talk to other pool owners, and interview prospective builders of all three types.
Concrete is the most adaptable material for creating a pool shape and style; your only limitations are your imagination and your budget. You can further enhance your concrete pool with a finishing material such as glass tile, colored plaster, or stone aggregate, which is ideal for any type of custom design.
Like concrete, vinyl is ideal for all types of swimming pool designs. The material and styles for vinyl-lined pools have advanced over the years; the number of patterns and colors is nearly infinite, giving homeowners a wide range of options for the interior look of the pool.
Fiberglass pools are made from pre-manufactured molds and come in a wide range of colors, shapes, and styles, including popular designs such as infinity pools. Fiberglass pool companies can add ceramic tile, custom jets, mosaics, and other water features to further personalize your project.
Pool Shapes and Designs
Pools with Infinity Edges
One of the most dramatic pool design effects is infinity pools (also known as vanishing-edge or negative-edge pools). This type of swimming pool, which appears to flow over an edge into a neighboring vista, is actually a product of math and science: the water flows over the pool’s weir wall into a hidden trough where it is recycled back into the pool. Homes with stunning views of the ocean, a river, mountains, or even nearby cityscapes are ideal candidates for implementing this design’s magic. However, an infinity pool may be recommended by a designer for a property surrounded by natural lushness, such as wooded glens or palm tree groves.
Pools with Perimeter Overflow
Mirrors and flat deck surfaces are used as optical illusions in perimeter overflow pools. Water flows in from all sides into a trough in the deck, creating a 360-degree vanishing edge. The pool appears to be a flat surface on the deck when viewed from above or from a distance. The effect is only visible when the wind or another movement ripples the surface.
Pools made of concrete, vinyl, or fiberglass can all have infinity edges and perimeter overflows.
Traditional Rectangle and Lap Pools
If your home is luxurious and traditional, the straight lines of a classic rectangle pool will not overpower the property’s ageless elegance; rather, those clean edges will reinforce the architecture’s magnificence, creating an even greater aura of sophistication.
But don’t let your creativity end there. Rectangular pools are the pool designer’s little black dress. In fact, many designers prefer to use this shape for non-traditional homes because it never goes out of style and always complements its surroundings perfectly. This type of inground pool shape takes on even more character when combined with an infinity edge or a perimeter overflow, allowing the pool to truly become one with the setting.
A rectangular pool can also be used. Many people enjoy swimming laps and exercising in the pool. A lap pool is an excellent choice for those who want more than just a place to dip their toes or float away the day from their pool. A lap pool is designed to accommodate a swimmer’s strokes and turns and can be any length and width the user requires. And, by converting the design to an “L,” you can have the best of both worlds by accommodating a lap-swimming area as well as a fun and games area. But don’t think your pool has to be utilitarian in appearance—use your professional pool designer’s eye for the visual to keep the pool as the home’s focal point.
Pools with Unusual Shapes
Because their contours do not have to follow the rules of geometry, freeform pools can become whatever the designer envisions, making them ideal for most properties. Homes in natural, tropical, or rustic settings are excellent candidates for freeform pools because they blend in seamlessly with their surroundings, morphing into the setting and appearing to be organic in origin. A freeform pool can be transformed into a tropical lagoon, a secret oasis, or a tranquil waterway with creative landscaping, hardscaping, and lighting.
Freeform pools are also excellent choices for homeowners who want to incorporate a pool into an already developed asymmetrical space. The pool will be finished to match the surroundings, keeping the poolscape in sync with the rest of the outdoor space.
Geometric Swimming Pools
Geometric pools rely on the mathematics to achieve their sharp appearance. This type of swimming pool, when combined with special design features such as fountain bubblers, vanishing edges, overflows, and spillways, is the choice for those looking for the ultimate in haute couture.
Geometric pools, which are made up of squares, rectangles, triangles, and other carefully crafted shapes, are best suited for modern properties. Geometric pools complement the overall beauty of the property, which is why they work well in the desert or other Spartan settings.
Because of its ability to complement an austere setting, geometric pools are popular among designers for desert homes. A geometric pool works the same way it does in a modern or contemporary setting against the browns and tans of an arid backdrop: it enlivens the environment’s simple splendor. Many designers finish this type of inground pool in vivid, sparkling glass tile or splashy hues of plaster to make it really stand out against the neutral tones.
Pools Made to Order
These pools are typically constructed of concrete because this versatile material can accommodate any size and shape that can be imagined. For example, if your home overlooks a breathtaking view such as the ocean or a graceful mountain range, you may want your builder to combine the magical effects of an infinity pool with a freeform lagoon style. Over the years, homeowners and designers have let their imaginations run wild, resulting in guitar-shaped, fish-shaped, and even car-shaped pools. Designers have created breathtaking infinity pools that defy gravity by building cantilevered pools off the sides of mountains. They’ve also created meandering pools that look like lazy rivers and “invisible-sided” pools that appear to float on air—the possibilities are endless. Custom pools are for the daring homeowner who wants to create a poolscape that has never been seen before.
Pools With Kidney Shapes
If you peeked over the fence of every home with a swimming pool, you’d notice that many of them have a kidney-shaped pool. The reason is simple: the soft, retro look of kidney-shaped pools complements a wide range of architectural styles.
Many pool designers use this pool shape as a starting point for more elaborate structures. They will add accents such as natural coping, glass tile, colorful plaster, or a textured finish to any building material to customize the project.
Pools from Greece and Rome
Pools in the Grecian and Roman styles are classic rectangles gone wild. These pools start out as rectangles and then get pushed and pulled into something completely different, resembling elements found in ancient art.
Grecian pools have octagonal cut corners, whereas Roman pools have stylized corners and rounded ends. Both types complement a wide range of homes, particularly those in the Tuscan or Aegean styles. They appear to be relics from another era when finished in a colorful glass tile and framed with Travertine coping or decking.
Finally, the swimming pool should be designed specifically for you and your property. When your project is finished, the space should be completely harmonious. The house, inground pool, outdoor structure, and landscaping that surrounds your backyard should all complement one another. When you look around your new favorite spot, you can congratulate your designer and builder, as well as yourself, on a job well done.