Summer is just around the corner, and with it comes BBQs, juicy strawberries, ice cream, and long sunny days at the pool. The warm season is perfect for spending time outside with the people you love, drink in hand, splashing around in the water. It all falls a little flat, though, if you are hosting poolside and the area around the water is bare and uninspiring. Whether it is adding plants, working on the lighting, or putting up a pergola, here are five pool landscaping ideas to turn your pool area into a place you and your family will enjoy all summer.
1. Mix Uplighting and Downlighting
Nothing beats lighting for setting the mood around a pool. Uplighting and downlighting let you highlight specific features in the garden or courtyard and add interest to the patio around the water. Lighting up trees, flower beds, water features, and pathways gives the whole area a luxury resort feel while also making it safer to move around after dark.
2. Add a Water Feature
What better way to dress up the backyard than an eye-catching water feature next to the pool? A waterfall or rain curtain adds charm and turns the pool into a relaxing, spa-like haven. Other popular options include water walls, fountains, and scuppers.
3. Choose Non-Slip Stone Pavers
Stone pool pavers upgrade both the look and the function of a pool area right away. Choosing the right stone matters, since it lets the pavers blend with the garden and give the pool a clean, finished edge. Pick colors that complement your home and outdoor space. Say you have a dark timber deck: bluestone pavers are stunning, but the color will clash, so a lighter marble or limestone makes for a smoother transition between surfaces. A pool surround is also a high- traffic, wet area, so non-slip pavers are a no-brainer for everyone's safety.
4. Install a Pergola
Bring a Mediterranean feel to the poolside with a pergola. Sculptural trellises and full pergolas add character to the whole property while giving you an entertaining space and some welcome shade on hot days. You can even make the pergola a natural extension of the yard with climbers and vines. For some color, try Bougainvillea, Wisteria, or Passionflower.
5. Add Plants to Create a Tropical Oasis
Plants around the pool add color, vibrancy, and fragrance. You do not have to keep them to the edges, either. You can build a small island in the center of the pool and plant a few gorgeous species there for a real stay-cation feel. To build your poolside paradise, mix in Orchids, Cannas, Palms, Tropical Hibiscus, or Agave attenuata. If you like to entertain, that little oasis will wow your guests. Who doesn't love the look of an island getaway?
Need Help Enhancing Your Poolside Area?
At Solicito & Son Contracting, we have spent years helping clients turn their pool area into the space of their dreams. Our team of designers, craftsmen, and landscapers loves turning a vision into a place people enjoy for years. If you want help with your pool area and you are in Rockland County, NY, reach out. We’d love to talk it through.
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