A Splash Above The Rest: Above-Ground Pools Make Luxury Trends Available To Everyone

At the heart of Drake’s $8 million dollar mansion is an outdoor pool with a grotto, waterfalls and a swim-up bar. While we don’t all have Drake’s budget, celebrity pools inspire the current trend in luxury home pools for ordinary people. The increased demand means that incorporating your own little piece of heaven in your garden design doesn’t require a complete renovation: embracing the hottest trends in backyard pools can be done with above-ground pools as well as those built into the design of your home, making them a luxury available to everyone.

Luxury Accessories

Amongst the top trends in current pool design is the incorporation of a bar: summer cocktails on hand without needing to leave the water. While landscaped pools allow for the bar to be built in, above-ground pools can also benefit from an integrated bar, simply by erecting a small bar beside the pool. A narrow wooden bar, complete with bar stools, can be stored away with garden furniture when not in use, or for those looking for something more permanent, a lasting structure can be built at the poolside, much like a built-in barbecue. It’s also possible to buy a small floating spa bar that will attach to the edge of the pool.

Another hot trend in home pool design is the addition of fire. Many of the most sought-after landscaped pools are now designed with a fire pit in the center or tastefully sculpted into a corner. The range of shapes and designs of above-ground pools and liners mean that a patio fire pit can easily be integrated into the pool area by choosing a pool with a curve or crescent shape. Linton’s in the Garden review a number of lining options which can help you make the right choice in shape selection if you want to incorporate a fire pit into your pool set up. If you’re more inclined towards a traditional shape, simply positioning your pool beside a patio area can allow you to have your fire pit close enough to the pool to indulge in this luxury.

Creating The Ambience

Using an outdoor pool in the evening requires light, and a popular trend in home pool design is the use of LED lights that allow you to change the color of the pool when you like, creating the atmosphere you want for different situations. This is easily incorporated into the above-ground pool, and for additional lighting design, lights can be added to the outside of the tub. Arranging planters and sculptures around the pool also allows you to create the ambiance you desire, and while a built-in waterfall may not be possible, pool fountains can be attached to the edge to up the luxury feel.

In The Water

Two of the hottest trends in backyard pool design apply directly to the pool’s interior, so they’re equally accessible to above-ground and landscaped pools. The first of these relates to watercolor. Traditionally, pools are designed in light blue colors, emulating a tropical atmosphere. However, darker colors are now becoming more popular, with the advantage of absorbing more heat than lighter colors, as well as hiding dirt and giving the illusion of depth. The second trend is the saltwater pool, popular for its reduced chlorine smell and more natural feel. While the initial investment is more pricey, maintenance of a saltwater pool is often cheaper, and it’s as easy to apply it to above-ground pools as it is to landscaped varieties.

With the increased variety in above-ground options, luxury home pools have become available to anyone with the space to accommodate one. While a design as elaborate as Drake’s remains a dream to most of us, the home pool is no longer just for the rich and famous, and it’s possible for everyone to bring luxury living to their backyard.