Stunning Backyard Swimming Pool Design Ideas

There are any number of answers to this question, however, the obvious factors that will govern your pool design ideas are: budget and site. If budget is paramount then you’ll be best served by choosing an above-ground, vinyl-lined swimming pool as these range in price from around $5000 through to $20,000 depending upon size, customisation and installation (not including any excavation works or decking etc).

If you’re opting for an in-ground pool, then you have two choices — a pre-cast, fibreglass pool or a concrete pool. Being constructed off site means fibreglass pools can be easily and quickly installed — in as little as one week depending on the weather — making them the more timely of the two options.

Like pets, concrete pools are for life, not just for Christmas, and as such they require more of a commitment in terms of construction, easily taking up to several months to complete. However, once in place they will provide many, many years of enjoyment.

Given their smooth, gel-coat surface, fibreglass pools are generally easier to maintain than their concrete counterparts, meaning ongoing costs can be lower. A potential downside to fibreglass pools is their lack of customisation as they are usually available in a somewhat limited range of shapes and sizes. However, if your site is itself limited in size, then they are an ideal choice. In-ground fibreglass pools run anywhere from $20,000 to $60,000, depending upon size, customisation and installation.

Concrete inground pools are a popular option because they can be tailored to fit pretty much any site, are structurally strong and visually stunning, thanks to the myriad finishing options available including infinity edges and pebble or tile interiors. However, on the downside, concrete pools are the costliest of the three options, coming in at around $50,000 to $200,000, depending upon size, customisation and installation.

Maintenance, too, of concrete swimming pools can be more involved than that of fibreglass swimming pools. The porous nature of concrete means that organisms such as algae can more readily take a hold on the pool’s surface, requiring close monitoring of water quality.

When space is at a premium, a compromise between a large pool and a compact spa can be an option. Enter the plunge pool – not quite a pool and not quite a spa, the Stoked Stainless Plunge Spa strikes a perfect balance between the two with a piece that embraces the art of relaxation outdoors.

Whether an icy dip or the indulgence of a hot soak — the contemporary plunge pool has evolved in leaps and bounds from its humble origins.

“Once associated solely with bracing cold water, the plunge pool is now a coveted outdoor item, allowing people to easily immerse themselves in therapeutic healing or relaxation in the privacy of their backyard,” Stoked Stainless’ Mike Daish tells us. Stoked Stainless has spearheaded the development of the plunge pool in Aotearoa with its range of design-led above-ground plunge spas.

There are infinite possibilities when it comes to pool design. Whether it’s a circular tiny pool, a container pool, or an entirely bespoke solution such as a transparent pool. Pictured above is an above-ground pool designed by G2 Studio and BH Construction in which a 9.5-metre-long, 1.5-metre-high, 1.4-tonne piece of clear acrylic was used as the side of the swimming pool.

Pools are a significant investment, so it's fitting then that the pool house or cabana, along with the landscaping, is designed to enhance the overall poolscape.

In the sculptural pool pictured above by Rogan Nash Architects, the intention was to create a crowd-pleasing folly at the back of a newly levelled lawn. Faceted walls of glassfibre-reinforced concrete panels float above the pool like a carefully crafted iceberg – their reflection in the water doubling the impact.