Opening up your pool for the summer doesn’t mean you have to stick with the same old boring look. With some creative pool decor ideas and accessories, you can transform your backyard oasis into a vibrant, eye-catching spot that looks like it came straight out of a magazine. If you think your pool could use a little livening up, check out these ultimate pool decor ideas.
1. Fragment of elegant plants by pool area
A few brightly colored potted plants or flower arrangements can instantly boost your pool area’s ambiance. Choose flowers that can tolerate both sun and partial shade, like petunias, marigolds, zinnias, and so on. For fragrance, opt for sweet-smelling blooms like lilies, gardenias, lavender, roses, honeysuckle, etc.
Place the pots or flower beds around the pool decking, either grouped for impact or spaced out symmetrically. Make sure to go for a variety of colors and textures to create visual interest. You can also have flowering climbers like bougainvillea or jasmine grow on trellises around the pool fence.
2. Light Up the Nights with Strings of Bulbs Popular Pool Decor Ideas
When the sun goes down, your pool can still look festive with outdoor string lights. Get creative and weave strands of globe or icicle lights through plants and trellises surrounding your pool area. For extra flair, opt for color-changing LED bulb strings that let you set the perfect mood, whether that’s relaxing, romantic or party-ready.
And don’t forget to incorporate some lanterns and votives alongside the string lights for added pops of brightness. Place lanterns on tables or benches and add votives to terra cotta flower pots to beautifully illuminate the space at night.
3. Funky and Colorful Pool Floats
Transform your pool into a trendy summer oasis by adding unique, eye-catching pool floats. Companies like FUNBOY and BigMouth Inc. offer everything from giant pink flamingos, donuts, swans, cacti and pineapple floats to rainbow unicorns, mermaids and swans big enough to fit more than one person! You can find floats in all colors, shapes and sizes – pick whichever fits your pool theme or personal taste.
A few of the most popular styles placed around the pool will liven up the entire space and make you want to jump right in! Word to the wise – pick heavy duty vinyl or plastic options that won’t easily puncture or deteriorate in the sun over time.
4. Decorative Stair Risers for Pool Steps
If you don’t already have them, installing decorative tile or Plexiglas covers on your pool stair risers is an easy way to dress up is one of the very popular pool decor ideas and Choose mosaic glass tiles or laser cut-outs in fun colors and patterns that complement the rest of your backyard style. This simple upgrade makes the stairs far more enticing and ties the whole pool area together.
5. Vibrant Sculptures and Statues
Nothing brings a landscape or pool decor ideas to life like eye-catching sculptures and statues. Adorn your pool deck with gorgeous accent pieces featuring vibrant colors, whether it’s an umbrella stand, birdbath, stepping stone or ornamental sun face. Choose items made of durable materials that can stand up to the elements – think ceramic, resin, metal, stone, high-quality Polynesian (not cheap plastic).
Even just one vibrant, artistic piece has the ability to transform the entire space by serving as a focal point. Just be sure to choose sculptural accents that match the rest of your backyard style and brand of decor.
6. Themed Pool Signs and Wall pool Decor ideas
If your outdoor space has a more playful vibe, consider incorporating colorful metal, wooden or plastic signs or wall hangings with amusing pool-themed messages. Choose iconic phrases like “No Lifeguard on Duty – Swim at Your Own Risk”, “Pool House Rules: No Running, No Diving, No Pushing, No Pooping”. all of these are very popular pool decor ideas.
For a tropical or nautical theme, spell out messages like “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem” or “High Dive Ahead” using individual letter tiles or prefabricated signs. Whatever phrasing and style you opt for, a bit of well-placed art or text with a sense of humor adds personality.
7. Geometric Planter Boxes
consider this when going through your pool decor ideas If you have retaining or fence walls around your swimming pool, make them part of your pool decor ideas by adding geometric planter boxes. Wood, ceramic, concrete or galvanized metal planters with clean lines, painted bright colors and planted with flowers, succulents or trailing vines incorporate nicely into contemporary poolscapes. For a cohesive look, stick to one or two main colors and arrange the planters symmetrically along the walls.
8. Properly Anchor All Furniture and Decor
Last but definitely not least – be sure you securely anchor any decor, furniture, sculptures or other accessories around your pool, no matter how lightweight they may seem. The last thing you want is for chairs to blow into the water or statues to topple over and get damaged or hurt someone due to strong winds or storms. Anchor pieces into concrete, weight them down sufficiently and frequently check for stability and safety.
n addition to colorful pool floats, another pool decor ideas that you can really amplify the playfulness of your poolscape with themed inflatables like slides, climbing walls, obstacle courses, basketball hoops and water parks. Brands like WOW Watersports offer exciting water recreation accessories that both kids and adults will have a blast with all summer.
Some top options include:
Giant Inflatable Water Slides – Kids and kids-at-heart can zip down these thrilling slides for hours on end. For added excitement, there are even inflatable slides with water blasters/sprayers built right in!
Rock Climbing Walls – Scale a slippery climbing wall as you try to make your way to the top without falling off into the refreshing waters below. They add challenge and friendly competition to the pool.
Log Roll Games – Two players stand on an inflatable log and try to knock each other off balance into the pool by shifting their weight back and forth. It takes coordination, quick reflexes and strong core muscles to reign supreme.
Basketball Hoops – Practice your jump shots and slam dunks with floating basketball hoops of varying heights. Have playoffs with the whole family!
Water Parks – Choose from obstacle courses, climbing structures, trampolines, monkey bars, tipping buckets and more that connect together to form an epic backyard water park. These elaborate structures provide hours of excitement.
The options for inflatable pool accessories are endless – pick whichever options best suit your family’s interests and needs. Just make sure to properly anchor them per the manufacturer’s instructions.
9. Eye-Catching Custom Pools and Design Effects
If you really want to pull out all the stops with wow-factor, within all your pool decor ideas, consider installing custom pools and design effects like glass tiles, lava rock accents, gradated paint colors, raised spas with spill bowls, built-in benches, fire features and LED lighting. Work with a professional pool contractor to create a completely bespoke swimming space catered to your sense of style.
Some specific customization options that take pools from basic to sensational include:
Glass Tiles – Using glass tiles on the pool floor or as decorative accents adds tons of brightness, depth and visual appeal. From crystalline blues to bold gemstone hues, glass tile comes in so many stunning styles.
Lava Rock Features – Incorporate textured black lava rock sections in the pool flooring or as decorative stripes along walls. This natural material makes quite the dramatic statement.
Graduated Paint – Starting with a deeper color on the bottom that fades into lighter hues towards the top creates awesome dimensional effects. The combo of colors blending into one another makes the pool appear deeper than it is.
Raised Spas – Elevated spas with spill bowls that overflow into the pool amp up the glamour and provide a lovely spot for soaking tired muscles after swimming laps. The sound of cascading water is so soothing.
Built-In Bench Seating – Strategically placed benches along the interior walls give swimmers a place to rest mid-swim. Built-in seating also delivers the illusion of a larger pool since you can’t see the entire floor space at once. most people consider building a bench in their pool when going over their pool decor ideas.
Fire Features – From peaceful flickering flames to lively fire bowls, add striking visual drama and warmth with poolside fire features. Fire and water just go so perfectly together.
Programmable Color-Changing LED Lights – LED pool lighting takes on a whole new life when you incorporate color-changing and programmable light fixtures. Set the mood with bold colors, tranquil pastels, Americana themes and more with just the click of a button from inside the house.
Again, consult With Clear Swim Pools, LLC, to learn about all the high-end finishes and features you can incorporate that reflect your personal pool decor ideas and your vision and style preferences. Completely custom pools may come at a higher price, but they allow you to create outdoor spaces beyond your wildest dreams!
10. Lush Green Landscaping Surrounding Pool Area.
No pool decor ideas is complete without lush landscaping tying everything together! A mix of elegant flowers, sculptural plants, vines, hedges, trees and grasses frames the pool beautifully while adding texture, fragrance and tendrils of green.
Work with professional landscape designers and gardeners to select flora that thrives in poolside environments. Some top plant picks include:
- Flowering shrubs like hydrangeas, gardenias, oleander and camellias
- Sweetly scented vines such as star jasmine, honeysuckle and sweet pea
- Graceful grasses and palms like maiden grass, fountain grass and sago palms
- Shade trees like acacia, jacaranda and fig trees
- Bright flowers including birds of paradise, hibiscus, impatiens and begonias
- Potted fruit trees including citrus, avocado and olive trees
when going over your landscape pool decor ideas Aim for a variety of heights, textures and colors that peak at different times throughout the seasons. This keeps your poolscape looking fresh despite the changing weather. And don’t forget to incorporate loads of verdant green! It wonderfully offsets all the blue from the pool water and ties everything together beautifully.
Over time plants will mature to create intimate, secluded spaces and lush visual barriers from neighbors. Plus flowers and trees will bloom at varying intervals to delight you with pops of color all year long right outside your pool.
There are so very many directions you can take your pool decor ideas to create a backyard oasis uniquely your own. Use any combination of vibrant additions – whether lush plants, chic custom builds, eye-catching sculptures, twinkling string lights or playful themed accessories. With a little thoughtfulness and creativity, your pool will transform into a magazine-worthy sensation in no time!